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Question: Flute: How can I improve my sixteenth note runs!?
I play flute and I cannot learn the sixteenth note runs

also I run out of air really easily!.

what can I do to improve this!.!. other than practicing!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
i sing alot, and breath is a problem for me too!.
I dont know how hard it would be, but for me singing while laying down (stomach, sides and back all have different affects for different people) helps!. Gravity gives me the support i need for breath control, and over-excessive air loss is kept in control because your diaphragm is naturally working how it should!.
there is also something called Circular Breathing, i'm sure you've heard of it!. It doesnt work for singing, but for flutists, and other wind instrument players, its perfect!.
Circular breathing is when you fill your mouth with air, and using your cheeks, no lungs, no throat JUST your cheeks, you push the air out of your mouth!. then once you have filled your mouth with enough air, you take a breath IN!.

Push air OUT with your mouth, while pulling breath IN with your lungs!. This requires alot of coordination, and consentration, but once you get the hang of it, it can be a life saver!

to get the hang of this, imagine that you have TWO sets of lungs!. the first set are your actual lungs, then the second set is your mouth!. Now your mouth-lungs cant connect to your heart and keep you from suffocating, but it can store oxygen!. your goal is to learn to use your "mouth-lungs" without using your lung-lungs to pump OUT air!.

to practice, try closing your throat with your tongue, make sure you dont suffocate though, and open your mouth, and make an O with your lips and push the air out!. keep doing this over and over until you dont look like a puffer fish with air in your mouth, but you have enough air to pump out with your cheeks that it can last you for a few counts!.

now comes the hard part!.
while doing the above, blowing air out of your mouth, using only your mouth, you are going to breath in through your nose!. you are now using both sets of "lungs"!. you want to replentish oxygen in your real lungs, and pump out oxygen with your mouth-lungs!.

this takes alot of practice, but for alot of flutists, its a sign of talent and experience, and it means you can move on to ALOT harder pieces

good luck, and i hope i helped!Www@QuestionHome@Com

You had to stick 'other than practicing' on there!.!.!. lol

Well, if you have the same problem as everyone else then your fingers are getting lost and your running out of air!.

Two things that aren't too hard to fix!.

To get your fingers moving faster you should practice your scales!. While we all hate scales, they are necessary!. They help you get used to the patterns that your fingers follow in different keys (which is why it's harder to play faster passages when there are a lot of accidentals)!.

Improving air capacity is KEY to becoming a better flutist!. Your problem is most likely not your lung capacity, but how much of it you use!. Always take deep breaths using the diaphragm!. This means you shouldn't be shrugging when you breath!. Your shoulders should stay where they are as you expand your diaphragm downwards!. You can also do deep breathing exercises to help improve your lung capacity!. Contrary to what its size suggests the flute requires a LOT of air so this is definitely something to work on!.

Take a metronome and play all of your major scales!. Gradually speed them up over time and you'll find yourself being able to play faster!.

Just remember to breathe :)

BTW: Circular breathing is VERY difficult to master!. Most people don't even bother with trying!. It's not terribly useful because composers allow room for you to breathe anyway!. I don't suggest using that!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Well, practice helps a lot!. But how you practice makes a huge difference!.

For the sixteenth notes, try going very slowing, tonguing each note separately!. Slowly get faster and faster till you work up to the tempo the piece is played at!.

As for the running out of air problem, breathe with your stomach!. Right now, take a huge breath and let your stomach expand!. If you're having trouble, try laying down on the floor and taking deep breaths!. You'll find that you use your stomach more for breathing when lying down!.

Hope this helps!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

I just wanna tell you that I love you!Www@QuestionHome@Com