Circular Breathing Lesson for Flute (with Melissa Keeling)

Dear Sofie, knowing whether the throat is blocked a really common issue for people learning to circular breathe! I have two things for you to try: first, put some water in your mouth and hold it there (don't swallow). Tilt your head back, blocking your throat so the water doesn't go down. Now, breathe through your nose. If you are doing this, then you are blocking your throat; try to imitate that sensation without the water and you've got it. To practice squeezing the cheeks, hold your nose and squirt the water out of your mouth. Here's the second idea: have you tried the exercise circular breathing using a straw in a glass of water? This is a little easier than circular breathing on the flute because there is some resistance (the water) to your air. Try it: get a glass of water and a straw. Blow air through the straw to make bubbles, and slowly fill up your cheeks with extra air. Then, block your throat/quickly inhale (sniff)/squeeze your cheeks, then unblock throat/blow normally. Try to keep the bubbles going all the way through (if you are, then you are blocking the throat correctly). I hope this helps!

i really wanna learn how to do this since my lung capacity sucks and i can barely even hold a whole note without having to stagger breath with the other flutes (i’m in highschool been playing for 4 years) 😪

Probably one of the hardest instruments to do circular breathing with. Little to no back pressure from the instrument.

I always lose my embrochure

I seriously didn't know that circular breathing for the flute was even a thing! I learned how to do it my freshman year, but that was for trombone and brass in general. Now, I am learning the flute, and if I try to circular breathe, it isn't focused enough. Any tips on how to focus the air into the embouchure hole while circular breathing?

I can circular breathe, but the only problem is putting it through the flute.......can I get any tips on how to continue circular breathing while playing the instrument?

Me: Needs to circular breath for audition tomorrow Her: practice for about ten minutes every day and your get it after a month or so Me: -_-

I CAN DO IT WITHH the straw and thing but for some reason I can’t do it on my actual flute 😭😭

Hello. The problem that I have with this is that I can't even get enough air pressure when using to the air from my cheeks to get the flute to make a voice, much less one consistent with my normal breathing. Any tips ?

The only problem, I stop blowing when I take a quick breath

This is the best explanation that I have heard! Thank you!

This is amazing c:

Dear Melissa. I am not a flute player, but a professional Circular Breather as a didge player. I think it´s getting easier to hold the embrochure if one focusses on a tongue push instead of a cheek move. Also your cheeks almost don´t move, or move after breath, but I see your tongue does (its attached to the larynx, and that moves;-)

THANKS!!!

I just can't push the air out of my cheeks. I'm not sure whether I actually block the throat or if I do something wrong. Do you have any advice to practicing squeezing out the air?

I almost passed out the first time. XD

I turned blue!

Great great, Thank you! I have been wanting to learn this for ages! Ok, on my first 5 mins, I get to blow out from my cheeks. And to breathe in from my nose while blocking on the back with the tongue. The closest I have been to achieve it... it happened 3 or 4 times.. i am able to breathe in, but i breathe in too less, so i get too less oxygen, and the air i have inside my cheeks goes out all at once, instead of slowly, therefore there is a gap :/ edit: i did it with a glass full of water and a straw.

great video! i need to work on actually doing it on the flute. any exercises for doing so?

Gosh its so difficult for me. Maybe I'll get it though. Someday.