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Post by chaoky on Jan 15, 2017 20:32:25 GMT
Hi everyone, I've recently been practicing circular breathing on the flute, but I'm having difficulties with the embochure and creating a strong tone. Has anyone here mastered this technique? If so, do you have tips specifically for the embochure and sound?
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Post by edcat7 on Jan 15, 2017 20:51:49 GMT
Difficulties with the embochure and circular breathing are two separate things. When I started playing the dizi, I thought I would need to learn circular breathing. It's nice if you can do it but not necessary.
Regarding embochure, it's important to have the finest flow of air as possible and directed entirely into the blowing hole. My guess is your lips are too wide and a lot of the air isn't entering the dizi. Do you here whooshing sounds?. Try practising in front of a mirror.
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Post by chaoky on Jan 15, 2017 22:32:32 GMT
Difficulties with the embochure and circular breathing are two separate things. When I started playing the dizi, I thought I would need to learn circular breathing. It's nice if you can do it but not necessary. Regarding embochure, it's important to have the finest flow of air as possible and directed entirely into the blowing hole. My guess is your lips are too wide and a lot of the air isn't entering the dizi. Do you here whooshing sounds?. Try practising in front of a mirror. I have good embochure when I'm not trying to circular breathe (I've been playing for 6 years) . What I was asking about is creating a good sound when pushing the air out of my cheeks while circular breathing. If I try to push the air out to get a note while breathing in, the embochure changes and the sound wavers or I don't have enough time to breathe in.
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Post by davidmdahl on Jan 15, 2017 23:21:55 GMT
Maintaining a good embouchure while circular breathing is a challenge. You should find a good resource in Robert Dick's book "Circular Breathing for the Flutist". It is written for the Boehm (Western flute), but applies to any sort of transverse flute.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by chaoky on Jan 19, 2017 5:47:53 GMT
Maintaining a good embouchure while circular breathing is a challenge. You should find a good resource in Robert Dick's book "Circular Breathing for the Flutist". It is written for the Boehm (Western flute), but applies to any sort of transverse flute. Best wishes, David Thank you! I'll try to find more information on Robert Dick's technique. By the way, this is the first time that I've heard the western flute being referred to as "Boehm" Interesting!
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Post by billdsmall on Jan 20, 2017 16:22:44 GMT
There are some Shakuhachi players that use circular breathing, Cornelius Boots, Akikazu Nakamura and Masayuki Koga to name a few. They don't puff out their cheeks to store air, I'm guessing because that would mess up their embouchure. They each have Youtube videos using circular breathing, and somehow they store air in their throats...
Does anyone know of any Xiao players that use circular breathing??
Bill
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Post by chuck on Mar 18, 2017 12:59:36 GMT
I am a beginner for Dong Xiao. Kenny G does circular breathing with Sax and some other people can do it with flute and or wind instruments. I guess that it may be difficult to do that with Xiao to store air with a puffy cheek unless one find someway to use other mouth or throat muscle to push the air. I am interest to know from anyone practicing or mastering this circular breathing for Xiao.
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Post by theblackadder on Mar 19, 2017 5:31:54 GMT
My impression of circular breathing is that it works easier on mouthpiece type woodwinds vs flute/xiao types. I can do it on a recorder but not on my dizi or xiao. I also puff my cheeks so it interferes with the embouchure. A friend tried to teach me how to do it without puffing my cheeks but it was too much of a mental hurdle for me.
Apparently, jaw motion is involved, instead of puffing your cheeks, move the jaw to change the volume of your mouth. Try holding your breath and moving the jaw up and down to blow out and suck in air. Cool trick: you can play staccato like this without even breathing, useless though. Then try to blow while breathing in. You have to be faster breathing in because you store less air this way. One problem you'll face is switching octaves by acccident due to jaw movement and air speed difference. If you can even get a sound in the first place.
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