Nina Perlove on Active Breathing for flute

[happybubble201]

Dear Nina and viewers: please please read first chapter of the book called "Yoga Anatomy" by Leslie Kaminoff - an internationally known specialist on breathing and anatomy. Our perception of breathing process is not always correct. It is complex and both voluntary and autonomic. He is explaining the mechanics of it it in a very easy to understand and visual way for non-medical professionals. Diaphragm IS the engine of the breathing and is alwaysed used unless one is paralized.

[pensamentoazul]

I was forgetting to say. The diaphragm is a skeletal striated muscle, and all skeletal striated muscle is controlled by the somatic nervous system, so the diaphragm is controlled voluntarily.

[pensamentoazul]

@pensamentoazul If the bottom of the lungs inflate, it needs to go somewhere, and as the diaphragm descends to be contracted, it pushes down all the organs of the abdominal cavity (stomach, spleen, liver ...), and as there are other things below them, they need to go elsewhere, forward, and the belly stove. You seem to be a very good flute teacher, but please do not teach physiology and anatomy incorrectly. And sorry for my pour english.

[shylipton]

Thank you Nina. Would you please tell me how to decrease the sound of breathing when I take a new long breath? I mean, when I record myself playing the flute, I can hear my breath. I can control my breath for long, but when I want to take another long breath, it sounds loud! I don't want others to hear my breath through my playing. Do you know what I mean? How can I take a long and soft breath in different times?

[DabneyJonesSoprano]

Thank you for confirming everything I have read about breathing! Being an opera singer, I have learned a lot!

[kshraval]

Yeah right … PULL IN YOUR STOMACH AND FILL-UP THE LUNGS … this is the basic principle of yoga/pranayama too. Many sites on internet says to fill the stomach and pull out - I got confused and I felt uncomfortable this way. Now I need to practice breathing with mouth, so far I have been breathing with my nose during yoga – but for flute and singing breathing with mouth is important. Another thing I need to practice is - (1) how exactly to exhale and (2) lips aperture – any tips for this?

[flute1952]

do you do pilates at all? the way you're talking about the muscles being situated is the same concept used by pilates instructors to teach proper posture.You want your abs to be able to support what you're doing without it "all hanging out" when you take a breath - I think that's what Marion was trying to say when you had your lesson on breathing with him. Because when you let it all hang out, you've lost your support mechanism and you won't be able to control the length of the phrase that way.

[VocalWisdom1com]

Your video was shared with me by one of the readers of my blog because what you are talking about is exactly what I have discussed for singers. There are many misconceptions regarding breathing and it is nice to see someone promoting the reality of the respiratory system.

[erikasmus]

i like u

[DanielleakaBarbie]

I love it! It works wonders for mee!

[DakotaDoDat]

Halleluiah! I never did feel good with expanding the diaphragm!  It's like I could NOT "fill my lungs" and I sank - just like you said. I was starting to believe I couldn't get air into my lungs. I couldn't get through 3 measures without dying away. Now I heard it from a pro! Use what works, hu?!?!?

Kat

[nickji]

If I may point out, we do not enlarge our lungs by breathing in, we breath in by enlarging the space around our lungs. By dropping the diaphragm air is naturally sucked in by creation of a parial vacuum. Alternatively we can enlarge the space by expanding the ribs, which is what you are doing - perfectly effective, but by lowering the diaphragm (which pushes out the belly which is not compressible, so has to go out) AND using chest breathing, there will be a larger area for resonance.

[nobodies52]

thats how i learned to breath when i was on swim team ^-^

[massi0003]

Yes i agree with this technic and i find it real strait away ... actually within all my virtual teachers you are my preferite.

If i ask to you for a short flute song notes would you help me?

Greetings

[ColoredDime]

Hey Nina!

First of all: thanks for posting your videos.

Just a short quotation from Wikipedia

"The diaphragm functions in breathing. During inhalation, the diaphragm contracts, thus enlarging the thoracic cavity (the external intercostal muscles also participate in this enlargement). This reduces intra-thoracic pressure,..." Which means, that the diaphragm actually consists of muscles that can conciously be moved! ^^

[micheniche]

I agree with this theory of yours. I tried it few seconds ago on my shakuhachi and it worked. :)

[musicianfish]

Do you suggest inhaling through your mouth or nose?

[ninaflute]

@musicianfish I think I mostly inhale from my mouth but I may take in a little air from my nose as well.

[stargirl2007a]

What if you relax your diaphram when breathing, THEN slowly contract your abdominal muscles while playing so you could PUSH the air out.....? That's what my flute teacher taught me. Thanks :).

[ninaflute]

@stargirl2007a I agree that it is ok to do what your teacher says, relax the abdominals while inhaling, then pull them in while playing, but I don't think of it as pushing the air out, but rather of creating back pressure so the air doesn't come shooting out too fast...this should be the subject of a future video!

[stargirl2007a]

@ninaflute Thanks a lot! I'll try to do that....thanks for responding so fast! :)

I learned so much from your video on flute sound production! Everybody loves my sound now! Thanks again!

[omgategate]

Hi Nina, thank you for posting these lessons online--I played flute for about 5 years then stopped for another 5 years and I'm just getting into it again. I feel very grateful to have looked found you on here: I just watched the video about sound production and since I haven't played flute in so long, I easily picked that up and it sounds much better! Also with this video I tried holding my abs while breathing and playing, and I am able to play more with one breath. Thank You Infinitely, Allie

[SoundColorful]

I'm really glad I found this video. I also find that breathing this way works for me. I've been told many times to "push out" with the abdominal, but I find I get very tired and feel weak this way. I feel as though my lungs take in much more air when I let them expand at the chest and not at the stomach. I also feel that it's easier to support the tone when the abs are underneath the lungs. My tone is much stronger with this method. It works for me so it must be right for me!

[ooPIKKIEooRAOToo]

thx nina

[gabbocorg]

Exelent, I play in a prog rock band I'm a guitar player who uses flute once in a while and now I'm getting more into this beautifull instrument and this tecnique really helped me to get more consistent sounds, thanks

You should be in heaven...

[nutmegat]

This sounds an awful lot like the abdominal technique used in Pilates exercises. I also agree with the other commenter who said it's the same kind of thing that singers use - this is what I was taught in choir.

For what it's worth, this kind of control over your breathing is also helpful during childbirth (see the Bradley method, which recommends that your noises be lower pitched and controlled in order to support your body's efforts during labor).

[lmaraya]

search for: Arnold Jacobs breathing_1

[lmaraya]

Arnold Jacobs breathing_1 watch?v=lJqx3ruSx2Y

[loveduckman]

the diaphragm has to contract to increase the volume of the thorax (where your lungs are) to draw air into the lungs, and so making you inhale.

you can't breathe without using your diaphragm. its a lot more than just a membrane, its a big and very important muscle.

no wonder society is dumbing down.

[johnmohanmusic]

The diaphragm does contain muscle fiber, but it is involuntary muscle. You cannot control it or move it. It only works when you are not thinking about breathing, for instance, when you are asleep. All voluntary inspiration and expiration is facilitated by the muscles of the chest, back, and abdomen. Google "Fluoroscoopy of the Diaphragm During Trumpet Playing" for more, complete info. This is a paper discussing research done by a Medical Doctor that is very accurate.

[johnmohanmusic]

Sorry, I misspelled the title of the Research Paper in my previous post. It should read:

"Fluoroscopy of the Diaphragm During Trumpet Playing"

[consunzione]

I agree. It works better. This technic is also used in yoga.

[kontheven2]

Oh for God sakes. The diaphragm is a thin membrane?? Making you play better doesn't mean it's a good way of breathing. Your meddling with your body's physiological breathing systems and that will not be good for. If musicians will tell us how to do these stuff, then we doctors better sit at home and play the flute.

[Aislinnmomma]

Guys -guys-guys! I don't think she means keep the abs *tight*, but activated. Keep your ab muscles activated so that your "support" or your muscles "under your air" are always active. Active breathing. I think this is really the way singers breath also. Great video!!

[elpapasito1986]

i have been strugling with that sice i started singing because i notice that i had more suport to sing by pulling in, i used to use an exercice were i used lie on the floor put a book on my belly inhale en then exhele with out leting the book to go back down that easyly, but that insted of helping me it took away my suport.

[stargirl2007a]

@elpapasito1986 Of course it didn't help......get a private flute teacher! NEVER LIE ON THE FLOOR WHEN PLAYING THE FLUTE, OR ANYWHERE ELSE! ALWAYS HAVE GGRREEAT POSTURE WHEN PLAYING THE FLUTE! Sorry.

[musiquedechristo]

WOW my abs hurt now!!! i can really tell it's working, only after 5 minutes of practicing: my vibrato, phrasing, intonation, have all improved greatly!!! thank you soo much!! i've been trying to change my normal method of everyday breathing to this...is that how you breath normally or just while playing flute?

[turbomantic555]

You might be the greatest flute teacher in the world, but your ideas on the anatomy and physiology of the breath are utter poppycock! The diaphragm is a muscle, and it is the principle muscle of respiration, not just a "thin membrane." Let me paralyze your diaphragm, and then we'll see how much breath you get! Maybe you got confused, because playing the flute requires active expiration, and the abdominals do play a huge role in that. But to have any breath to exhale, you need a diaphragm MUSCLE.

[johnmohanmusic]

Here's a few medical facts: The diaphragm is a thin membrane containing some muscle tissue. Upon post mortem examination it is thin enough that it is translucent. It is INVOLUNTARY. It only works when you are not thinking about it (as when you are asleep). It is shaped like an upside down salad bowl. When it contracts, it flattens downward causing the lungs to be slightly expanded, drawing air in. When it relaxes, the natural elasticity of the lungs allows the air to go out.

[lenakog1]

I just started flute lessons so i'm not the proper guy to jugde anything about the flute lol. I tried this but i feel like it's completely opposite my nature. I mean every time i try to do this i feel wierd, it's like my stomach wants to go out and i keep telling it not to go out. Is that natural? Will it feel more natural if i keep trying to breath in that way? Please answer! I don't want to learn things in a bad way and then change everything from the beginning. Thank you!

[ninaflute]

lenakog1: If you are currently breathing a different way and it works, then don't bother changing to this method. If your current method is not where you want it to be, experiment with this method for a week or two and see if you get good results.

[lenakog1]

Ok Nina, thanks a lot!! I'll try it and i'll let you know!

Ps. I totally appreciate you, greetings!

[trombonekaren]

The more traditional way of breathing for wind instruments is not to PUSH the abs out, but to release them to allow space for the air to come into the lungs. This allows for a natural rebound in which the abs are then contracted as the air leaves the body. The idea of pushing the abs out to breathe is not a part of traditional teaching on the subject, in my opinion.

[goatcheesegoaliex3]

i think that it depends what you as an individual are most comfortable with. each person is different and which ever way helps you more you should use.

[Lampers123]

i love this lady so much! i've been taking private lessons from a man from china and a few flute directors in Colorado State Uiniversity, and I've heard many different way to do things on flut ethat are very contridicting. But this way of breathing by far has seem most effective. My virbrato is so much more clear and relaxed! THANK YOU!!!

[shmoco]

the diaphragm lowers when you inhale to allow the ribcage to expand--expanding your lungs which allow for more air.

[WaffleSharpie]

this is helping me alot

[andreacjanz]

This helped me soooooo much! I always felt (especially during concerts) that someone had punched my in the stomache. I was always so whipped after I played. Thank you thankyou!!!

[thepeacemaker008]

Wow, this helped.

[velvetnazgul]

And I really like the 360 degree visualization! Really cool!

[velvetnazgul]

Hi! So, I found your videos through the YouTube Symphony and really love what you've been doing!

I just wanted to say that when I studied in Strasbourg, France (with Sandrine Francois), I was introduced to this way of breathing as well and it really changed how I play. I also find it helpful to picture my abs pushing in and squeezing out the air from my lungs for really long notes. I know thats not anatomically possible (haha) but it helps! :)

[itzmanuelll]

i don't speak english!!

i want to learn to play!!!

Place subtitles in Spanish

PLEASE!!!

for the love to the music

[WaffleSharpie]

... yeah. you dont speak english?

[itzmanuelll]

I use a translator.

It is not the same thing to write that to speak English

[WaffleSharpie]

i see. sorry about that. its just i saw the comment. and i was confused

[hluttje]

listen to the great opera-performers, it is yust air from the abdomal muscles when they moved their audience. You don't move them, you are playing notes..sorry

[hluttje]

I can hear on your vibrato that you don't use your diafragm when breathing, it is on top of youre tune, not in it. Yust the muscles of your diafragm give the intense of it vibrato.

[shmoco]

hlutteje..the "d" doesn't or is not supposed to aid your vibrato

[hluttje]

I am sorry to say, but I hear it in the tune of the flute from NIna, it's high-rated, not in bottom from her belly, even if her embouchure is correct.

I am prefer the sound of Jennifer Cluff, and her videos tells us how to breath well..

Sorry, Nina

greetz

a dutch flute-teacher

[hluttje]

I am also a flute-teacher, but what Nina tells her about breathing is nog good, offcourse your breathing need all space of your chest, but also the diafragm and your abdomel muscles to put space in the lower bottom

[BunnyHanyou]

FAVORITIED.

Thanks so much for the advice! :D

[powellpicc1985]

Hmmmm. This is tricky for me as I've definitely been taught the opposite. I do find that my sound has more freedom when I push outward and lower things, though I also find that the biggest flaw in my playing is frequent lack of energy. I'm not sure what I think. I wonder if the two could be somehow combined. I'll have to think on this for a few days.

[flatleysdancer]

thank you very much and I completely agree now and realize I have been doing wrong all these years. Thank you

[etherberg]

Oh! and by the way, you look great!

[etherberg]

I've been playing the recorder for years and recently transitioned to a trasversal flute. Though I have experience with wind instruments, this video has been the most significant class I have recieved, definetly breathing this way is the best tecnic, though I never told my collegues because they might think I've gone made too. Nina, you're not crazy... And the sound class video was great too. Rhankyou and best wishes

[caikayla]

thanks for posting the video, i've always thought it was easier to breathe when you keep everything in. I always hated it when my teacher would tell me use my diaphragm. thanks again =D

[Rodier1128]

I had to say:

My Director says '4 Measure Phrases' and I have no problem with that, its really true. But he also supports the "Wrong" method. So I try to just hold in but often I forget. heh.

Anyway, this method can help with Longer phrases.

[mollyphloot07]

This is awesome. My teacher talks about my diaphragm all the time, and it has never worked for me. Thanks so much!

[julul72]

Je suis entièrement d'accord.Bravo elle est longue cette phrase du prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune.

[juncamahalan]

hi nina,thank you very much for all the videos that you have shared with us.i have learned a lot from you.stay healthy always.

[guchigoo]

your breathing technique is right. im still unable to understand why they ask to push the abdomen out as it is very uncomfortable situation to be in.

[guchigoo]

hi nina, im a doctor and flutist too. now coming to the breathing,when u inhale the diaphram moves down creating a negative pressure inside the chest cage but outside the lungs, as there is more negative pressure around the lungs so the lungs also expand & we inhale. during exhalation the chest cage and diaphram passively compress the lungs so we exhale. if u push the abdomen out during exhalation then u r using the diaphram to push down rather than up & interfere with proper exhalation.

[emogirl371]

hey great clip

[alieannie]

Dear Nina,

I know you have gotten a lot of flak for your breathing methods, but after repeatedly referring to this video and working on this type of breathing method for months, I find it superior. You're right; pushing everything out makes me slump. It takes me too long to re-support, if you will. So if I simply keep that support constant and use my LUNGS to breathe, I find this is much more efficient while playing. Thanks for all you do for the flute community!

[ninaflute]

alieannie: I am so glad you are having success and found this video helpful.-Nina

[ninaflute]

Dear hoypoy: I didn't know Keith teaches this way but I am happy to hear that since I respect him tremendously. I hope I can meet up with him to chat about breathing sometime!

Good luck to you!

-Nina

[kidddvodka]

hey nina,I love the videos and the real flute real music concept, I just got back into playing the flute and I have a piece, 'think of me' from phantom of the opera, and there are two notes both C's one low and other high right behind each other, and I know how it is suppose to sound, but when I played them its the same and I checked the fingering and thats correct, so my last resort must be my breathing or could it be something else?can you give me some tips on correcting it please?

[Rodier1128]

Hey nina. I would try this but its 6:30 in the morning an d i dont think the neighbors want to hear a piccolo screeching over here =)

[ninaflute]

Rodier1128: probably a wise decision!

[FRC27]

ur theory is way better than what i've been gettin all these years...thnx

[askslotoe]

Hello! I am a physiotherapist from Denmark!

Here is some corrections!:Yes you should hold your abs in when you EXHALE! But the diaphram CAN be used volunterialy, when you push your stomach out. diaprham is a muscle that pull or drag the lungs down under inhalation so they can be filed with air! and it is very important!

...So stomach out in inhalation and in under exhalation! (sorry the bad spelling! :-))

[ibarang96]

ms nina do you really exaggerate pushing the abdominal muscles in? as in super? al the way or just so so???? thank you

[ibarang96]

hello ms nina. iam from the philippines. am a mother now. i think i spent my whole playing life looking for solutions for breathing. mother hood made me feel cold towards flute playing. iam trying to bring everything back. Thank you for sharing everything to us. iam just confused on what to do after a long line. my stomach muscles seem to want to collapse its pos in, when taking a breath. hope you can answer this. thank you very much

[Machu1000]

I can see exactley what you mean. Using the abs really does make your tone much more stable and makes breathing a bit easier in my opionion. Thanks :D

[qwerbnm22]

um

but every band director

and teacher says that

you should push your stomache out

_____confused...

[floppityflip]

I have a difficult time reaching the  higher notes. Any suggestions? Thank you

[iClarinetzero]

i am sorry, but could this work on a clarinet?

[ninaflute]

I think it would work on clarinet. Try it and let us know.

[iClarinetzero]

do you tight the abs, or are they just normal?

Do you push them in? I will try, and let you know. I'm afraid my teacher would said it is wrong, but it is importen to be open for other techniques, and i am thankfull for that you learned me that, trhoug your youtube videos.

[frenchproject]

When I breathe using my diaphragm, it is especially harder to expand your lungs the fullest because your whole body has to expand with it. Also it is very easy to expand your body without even breathing in any air. When the abs are pulled in, the abs are minimizing the amount of expansion the body has to make and so much more air is taken in at a quicker time.

[mordantraillery]

Would it be alright if I just expand my stomach and just such it in slowly while im playing?

Or do you just suck it in the whole time ? Cause when i do it it hurts my head lol

[dorymarlin955]

I'm a highschool flute player and I stumbled across your videos today, thank you so much!! Your performances are really inspiring!! Watching this has helped already, I used to always breath by tensing my abs and almost doing the opposite of what's "supposed" to happen, it seems like I have better control over my tone. Do you have any advice for circulatory breathing or how to elongate a breath to be more even?

[brysava]

Nina

Do you have the stomach muscles as tight as, say, you were pretending you knew that someone was going to punch you in the stomach (rock hard as possible)? Or are those muscles just moderately firm, or somewhere in between? I feel a slight loss of relaxation in the throat when I have the stomach muscles super tight, and when moderately tight, they still expand very slightly when I take a breath.

[Flauticka25]

hi, I have practiced it, but it doesnt work! It is really difficult. I feel, I have no oxygen in my lungs...

[scootilybootily]

percussionist learning how to breathe, thanks for the video.

[Ailanto]

However I can see a disadvange in your method. Expanding the ribs requires more effort than expanding the abs muscles when you breath in.

[DrgRiderz17]

but the more you do it would be a second nature, and you wouldnt even notice it taking more effort to do it

[Ailanto]

You say you sink when you expand your abs when you breath in. I don't believe that, at least that does not happen to me at all. I just cannot see the disadvantage of the traditional techinique... Maybe simply both work.

[juliasaidhello2]

This techniqe really helps me a lot but when my teacher sees me doing this he says I'm wrong. Woe is me.

[cyryusai]

thanks nina, now i understant better....

a few months ago i went to Jonas Brolin's trumpet workshop,he taught us the similar way of yours to breath,but i couldn't get it quite clear....

i will discuss this matter with my winband director...

thx again...

cyryu

[missykissel]

Nina I am so thankful I found you on youtube! Thanks for being so open to share the knowledge you have! In a world today where everyone is just out for themselves, you are a real breath of fresh air! I look forward to everyday learning something new from you! Thanks a million!~

Missy

[stevendr44]

I always enjoy your lessons, I've been taught both the in/out tech. but I think rather than debating whether right vs. wrong we should celebrate the diversity. I liked hearing your perspective on breathing a very big hurtle in the task of flute playing. Keep the lessons comming!

[earlywirlybird]

Thank you so much for this info! My band director was always telling me I was breathing wrong (expanding and opening my lungs - what you were explaining). She wanted me to let my diaphragm out, but it just felt wrong - like I wasn't filling up my potential lung capacity. I watched this video, and now I might be brave enough to explain to my director an optional way of breathing.

[Allizasrainbow]

Thank you so much. This makes so much more sence to me. I totally understand!

You rock!

[InvalidMemberAccount]

Thank YOU!!!

[peacejones]

What about playing with a detuned group (1/2 step lower)? Open headstock? Can u move cork in to reach a sharper C?

[fabian200348]

Gracias por los consejos Nina, me han servido mucho, sobre todo el video del vibratto, cuándo vienes a Colombia a dar clases magistrales? Felicitaciones y muchisimas gracias pro el trabajo que estás haciendo con nosotros los flautistas a nivel mundial.

[mdb2303]

Nina, could you post another video on breathing explaining how to breathe in really fast pieces (e.g. the end of variation 5 of Schubert's Trockene Blumen, or an arragement of Paganini's Moto Perpetuo?). I don't have any problems breathing when I've got plenty of time, but have difficulties when there isn't much time to breathe in!

[ataque2007]

muito bom, tem clareza e simplicidade nas colocações, o que facilita a compreensão.

[elmobaby95]

Hey Nina,

I am 12d years old and currently in 7th grade. This is my 2nd year of playing but I still can only hold a note 3 whole notes long tops. My music teacher says that by now I should be able to hold a note at least 4 whole notes long. I think I may be letting my air out too fast but my music teacher says faster the better. When I blow high notes like a b flat, c, d, etc, I Can only hold the note about two whole notes long. Please help nina!

[ninaflute]

Hi elmobaby: my guess is that you are probably blowinbg too MUCH air at the beginning and not saving enough air for the end. The amount of air is not the same as the SPEED of air. You can blow a little bit of fast air, and save save save the air for the end of the phrase. Try it and tell me if it helps.

[elmobaby95]

If I dont blow as hard in the beginning, will my notes still have the same support through out the phrase?

[ninaflute]

elmobaby95: If supported throughout properly, beginning to end, then yes. You hold the energy internally even when controlling the amount blown so as not to overblow. Maybe this should be another topic for a video??

[SweetMusic223]

I find this very controversial yet very effective. In my seven years of playing the flute, I never thought about pushing the abdominal muscles in and breathing in. I think this is more natural, I agree Nina. And if I push the abs out, yes, it is harder to keep my back straight. This is a great idea.

[cconyap]

you're right very controversial yet the natural way i wasn't conscious I've been doing the right thing.

this video proved me yet musicians are different depending on the method they were thought but still i suggest some more improvements for those who oppose this and i suggest this method to improve them je je je!

[awkwardmoment3]

You're absolutely amazing!

Everything you say is easy to understand and simple to do.

I wouldn't mind studying with you. I know I would learn ALOT. =]

Keep up the awesome work!!

[heypearl]

Dear Nina!Tried your method on myself, worked great, got longer phrasing, still I noticed that people are teaching breathing with pushing out because beginners automaticly are pushing sholders up when they take a breath and use only 1/3 capacity of their lungs... Still, can you say something more about taking breath considering opened and relaxed mouth. I still get stressed in fast moovements with short time for big breath, how to breath quickly and have open throught and tensed abbs?

[johnny102marvin]

Nina, how many seconds can you sustain a note in the middle range? I am going to try this. However, when it comes to singing, I always push the air down and allow the diaphragm to naturally push the air out. All my voice teachers told me to do this. But, I will try your method on the flute.

John

[mickey89mouse]

Erm, actually i don't really get what you mean. So according to what you say, when we breathe in, do our stomach get bigger? or smaller? Thanks.

[ninaflute]

When I breathe in, I feel my abdominal muscles stay tight and firm and my lungs expand in 360 degrees around me. Try it and see how it feels to you.

[MusicIsxAi]

I think I understand what you mean by holding it in. My teacher says to support the diaphragm or abs but I don't push out, I push up and keep my abs firm so it is sort of similar to what you are teaching, but pushing up instead of just in puts less tension on my back, at least for me. Pushing out obviously gives less control. Letting the abdominal muscles go out when you take a breath does seem to let more air in, but the only way to support all that air is to push up and in.

[hluttje]

nina: When I breathe in, I feel my abdominal muscles stay tight and firm and my lungs expand in 360 degrees around me. Try it and see how it feels to you.

that's right, bot your bottom (diafragm) is the lower part of your body, so you spend 360 degrees around and 30 back down by using the muscles of your belly to bring your diafragm down, and dan when you play, you use the flexible muscles to give the tune more or less strengh, your ribs/chest are'nt not so flexible as that.

[DiegoHCantor]

Was that prelude à l'après midi d'un faune? Thanks Nina.

[ninaflute]

Diego: Yes it was the solo from Faun.

[p0miki]

I loved seeing this video. I must say, putting the stomach in and breathing to the chest always seem more natural and easy to me, especially as it was a life long habit from my hobby of running and hiking. Trying to breathe into my stomach, I always got myself bending downward, but I kept trying it on my teacher insistence. It's nice to see that there are other views out there on the matter that actually supports my intuition.

[yumiflute]

Hello from Japan. This video is quite amazing. My first opinion was "what a crap". But when I tried to do this, I had a similar result like FenAllo1. I can play long phrases like never before. Thanks a lot. You are a great flutist.

[ninaflute]

Dear yumiflute: I am so glad you gave it a try and got positive results. It is true that most people think I am crazy, but people also thought Copernicus was crazy when he said the earth revolved around the sun (ha ha)!

[FenAllo1]

I'm so glad I saw this. Breathing this way has definitely helped me. I can hold out phrases much longer when I take air in like this :D thank you for the video!

[ninaflute]

I am so glad to hear you had good results with this technique. Visit my other videos, too.

[citruspunk]

GREAT!

[heypearl]

Really eloquent and simple teaching! It is a great help and inspiration! You gave me ideas for teaching my students(beginners)..

[ninaflute]

I am glad you found this helpful and it is exciting to see my videos reaching Croatia! I will be uploading videos on articulation soon.

[zooboy1990]

I'm an Amatuer Musician at best, and to those of you that may disagree with this theory, please remember one thing:

Every musician is different, just like every instrument.

=)

What may work for some, may not for another. I take a little of what everyone tells me, and I keep what works. There is no such thing as a universal Flutist.

This method worked for me.

[ninaflute]

I am so glad to hear that this breathing method gave you some productive results and I 100% agree with your statement!

[dasteufelhund]

Hey Nina it's always good to refer to your videos for some basic reminders!

[KyoKun22]

hi nina! this video was a great help. i am not a flute major, i study oboe, but i love taking out my sister's flute and teaching myself, it is a wonderful instrument. unfortunately my sister is in middle school and only owns an amature close-holed flute. i love all of your videos, you are amazingly talented and i enjoy the way you teach!

~matt

[Painislife28]

i agree with SeriousFluteMan with the whole why push at all. one shouldn't need to push at all because that leads to a forced pushed sound. . but i disagree with the whole keeping throat open. keeping your throat open pulls the tongue back. keeping your embouchure forward helps with maintaining your sound. additionally, a raised embouchure will help.

[fatpratmatt]

Painislife: Sorry to be ignorant, but what would you consider a 'raised embouchure' to be?

[SeriousFluteMan]

3) Many people play flute using way too much air, so there is more need of holding back than pushing. When the throat is really open you are forced to do everything else right automatically and just have to care for a good control of releasing your breath and providing a maximum of resonance in your mouth and throat plus the control of your embouchure.

Best regards

[dasteufelhund]

air is circular and continous, hold it is good to get the feel of tension in the diagphram, but it creates tension if you do this all the time.

[SeriousFluteMan]

2) For me it is like holding breath before a loud scream and then releasing the air by relaxing in a very controlled way when playing the flute.

The advice of pushing in or out always brings the danger of unnecessary tension in muscles that are not really needed when playing. Flute playing is not about pushing air into the instrument like when you play trumpet or oboe.

[SeriousFluteMan]

1) So before Marion you believed in pushing out and it worked and afterwards you believe in pushing in and it also works. You see: it does not really matter in or out; and to many people pushing out feels more comfortable otherwise they would not do this.

But why push at all? Is this really necessary as long as your throat is open and you are holding the breath from below and do not control it with the throat?

[WendyB13]

Hey Nina,

Great teaching, I agree with you, I breath the same and it works well!

Bravo, I really like you as a person and the way you teach.

Greetings,

Wendy

[Pug40]

thank you for replying to my comment from the video "Playing Flute in Petrushka." I am now one of your subscribers. I look forward to more instructional videos.

[zooboy1990]

I totally agree!! Wow! You're an amazing instructor!!! @.@ I can breath alot better now. I always thought that there was something wrong with usuing the so called "diaphragm." Ever since my friends began making me use my "stomache" me breathing has never been quite the same. What's wrong with taking a nice big breath, of fresh air?! >.< I can play loads longer! And I like the technique of "holding in!" It work marvelously!!! Thank you!

[dasteufelhund]

natural breathing and breathing for woodwind instrument is very different. Because of the engagement of the diagphram.

[JSBHK]

This is totally new to me, one of my teachers asks me to push-out, another teacher to sink-down, my parents to push-out, never heard of push-in.

[ninaflute]

Try it seceretly for a week and then tell me what your result is!

[dasteufelhund]

essentially your entire body should be engaged as you breathe in and exhale. As you exhale, you diaphrgm is in and up, just as you would with a balloon and you tap the bottom to silate support, as you exhale in and upward, your upper body will feel like it wants to be straight, and open. the hard part is to keep your shoulders relax and to feel all this process at the same time.

[dasteufelhund]

Well, I think you are a good player, and you are hot too! Is that a Murumatsu you're playing on? Not that it matters what brand, your sound is quite warm. Reminds me of hugging, no guard up and just all trust.

[ninaflute]

I play a Burkart flute, silver with platinum riser. You should tell Lillian Burkart that her flute sounds "warm, like hugging, no guard up and all trust." I am sure she would get a kick out of that!

[dasteufelhund]

^_^

[snufkinthegreen]

Hey, I gave it a try and I agree with you. It works much better for me when I hold in rather than push out.

[mamaglee]

Hi Nina,

Another great video. Is this like yoga breathing? Do you know my friend and professor, Barbara Houghton @ NKU? She was my photo teacher 30 years ago in Colorado.

[ninaflute]

I do not know her.

I don't do yoga so I'm not sure. Perhaps I should start!

[mamaglee]

Hi Nina, I might have posted this elsewhere - do you give Master Classes anywhere? I'd love to study with you in person. These short videos are so helpful. I tried the sucked in belly tonight and I had MORE WIND than the other way. I also tried placing my flutes lower on my chin, but didn't have as much success. I'm trying a few different flutes, including an Abell. Did you mention what kind of flute you play most often? Thanks, Marcia Mamaglee

[ninaflute]

I play only one flute, a Burkart silver with platinum riser. Glad you are having some success.

[lietzen]

Thank you very much!!! Of course you cannot be totally wrong, your playing is toooo beautiful!!!!

"Support comes from holding in", I think this will be helpful for me! You give very interesting new aspects of "body mapping" for me.