Chiff and Fipple Forums

I'm a low whistle player, but I'd like to be able to play flute as well, for variety, but I've found that my throat dries out while I'm playing flute for any extended period of time, meaning more than just a few minutes. This never happens when I play whistle. Is there something I should be doing to prevent this? The only thing that helps is to stop and drink some water, but my throat is uncomfortably scratchy by the time I finish the next tune.

AngelicBeaver wrote:Is there something I should be doing to prevent this?

Practice, practice, practice ... and work to develop a focused and efficient embouchure.

It's hard to say what may be going on without watching you play but my guess is that you are using to much air - both in and out - drying out the throat in the process. A bit too much huffing and puffing might be at play. It's not uncommon in the early stages with the flute or if you are an occasional player. If you don't have the same issue on a low D, say, then I'm guessing you need to work a bit more on your embouchure to tighten it up some. The flute is a very efficient instrument compared to a whistle and should require less air. You should be able to play longer phrases between breaths on the flute. But mind you this is just a guess on my part.

Otherwise dry mouth can happen on both instruments. Placing a hard candy,a piece of gum or similar in the cheek can help get the juices flowing to solve some of that. Water and the usual adult beverages are common cures as well. I usually have a glass of iced tea handy for between tunes this time of year. Best to stay ahead of the drying out.

I'm sure others will have thoughts to share as well.

Feadoggie

Just a thought, but could you be subconsciously vocalising while playing as I used to do (still do sometimes)? In which case, you need to consciously stop it.

benhall.1 wrote:Just a thought, but could you be subconsciously vocalising while playing as I used to do (still do sometimes)? In which case, you need to consciously stop it.

Someone should tell Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull to stop!
EDIT: Is this you Ben?
http://youtu.be/zic2jFZ745w

FWIW, I too get a dry throat after a few tunes. I have a bottle of water with me when I play or practice, and that seems to work for me.
good luck, keep playing !!

Thanks for the replies. I've been playing on and off for a couple of years now (more off than on), so my embouchure definitely has room for improvement. I still struggle in the second octave, although the consistency is getting there. I stay late at the office to give myself 15 to 30 minutes of practice every day, as well as any time I can squeeze in when I can.

The flute has frustrated me from the beginning, so I'm trying to throw a ton of practice at it in order to get over the hump. I want it to be as easy as whistling. Right now, it's like I'm playing a bad whistle with interesting tonal characteristics, and my wife hates the sound. I don't know if she'll ever like the sound of the flute, but I'm hoping that I can (at least) get to the point where I'm confident that it's flute she doesn't like, and not my terrible playing.

My suggestion (fwiw): get a few lessons with a flute player! Doesn't matter if the teacher plays Irish or silver. From your post, it sounds like you're just reinforcing bad habits. If that's the case, no amount of practice will cure it! Just one or two lessons with a teacher will get you on the right path. We can say "focus your embouchure" 'til we're blue in the face, but if you don't know how to do it, well, see above...

Just thought of another option - maybe take a Skype lesson (or three) from Blaine Chastain...

Good luck!!!

Pat

P.s. If you post a clip (if you're brave enough), maybe we can make better suggestions.

AngelicBeaver wrote:I want it to be as easy as whistling.

Unlike whistling, Lauren Bacall may not be the best teacher, sad to say.

AngelicBeaver wrote:The flute has frustrated me from the beginning, so I'm trying to throw a ton of practice at it in order to get over the hump. I want it to be as easy as whistling. Right now, it's like I'm playing a bad whistle with interesting tonal characteristics, and my wife hates the sound. I don't know if she'll ever like the sound of the flute, but I'm hoping that I can (at least) get to the point where I'm confident that it's flute she doesn't like, and not my terrible playing.

Listen to Plunk111.

Feadoggie

I have the problem of no dry eyes in the room when I'm playing - everyone's falling about laughing.

AngelicBeaver wrote:Is there something I should be doing to prevent this?

Yeah, keep playing and don't think about it. This is one of those issues that will mysteriously sort itself out with time if you play enough. Focus on the tone you produce rather than any of the mechanics. Your subconscious will sort it out and then you'll never have to think it out again*.

*Except after long non-playing layoffs, when you might need to play in your lip to regain your former sound.

Lars Larry Mór Mott wrote: Someone should tell Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull to stop!

With pleasure, but with little expectation of success. Le sigh!

I had the same syndrome to, after sometime I got over it after perfecting my embouchure.


If it does happen, my theory is you are exhaling a lot of air and you lack control of embouchure.

Embouchure control minimize the air and perfects the not execution.

I do expect a dry lips instead of a dry throat.

Embouchure is often a matter of muscle tone as much as technique. Sometimes you just have to play through it and wait for the right lip muscles to develop.

If you're using a lot of throat articulation, it might be worth examining that a bit. I used to find that using a lot of "energetic" throat articulation caused some irritation, and is counter-productive in any case. If you're not using throat articulation, then ignore!