Quote:
Originally Posted by SATCHMO
I had a chance to talk to the flutist for the David Grisman Quintet (can't remember his name for the life of me) who also plays the bass flute, quite amazingly, and learned that it requires a great degree of diaphragm control to play correctly. I can't imagine what a challenge a contra-bass flute must be to play.
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Is his name Matt Eakle? That's cool that you got a chance to talk to him.
All flutes require a lot of diaphragm control and lung capacity, especially the bass flutes. There are many exercises that can be practiced to improve lung function for flute players, and also to strengthen the muscles around the mouth. Good embouchure control is essential in order to get a clean tone. The mouthpiece on bass and contra-bass flutes are larger so it takes some practice. After having played the bass flute for a year in a flute ensemble, I noticed that I can take bigger breaths and not take so many catch breaths in the middle of phrases, on a regular flute. It helps that I do not smoke either.
09-09-2010, 08:10 AM
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