Practice chanter

[auld argonian]

I'm not sure what you mean by "stamina for my lips"...I can tell you that, when playing the transverse flute, I have found myself "clenching" and becoming prematurely tired and achy in the face muscles as well as the fingers...relaxing and concentrating on tone is the only way that I can relieve this problem. I currently have a really crappy chanter (it was a misguided gift...I'll probably buy a Dunbar chanter sometime soon) and it isn't worth the time it takes to pick it up and blow in it...I'm sure that you have a decent one and that the instrument isn't the problem.

A while back I learned about something called "The Alexander Technique" which is a sort of lining up, relaxing and being conscious of your posturer in any activity that you engage in...I'm by no means an expert in this technique but just reading some of the basics has helped me to find ways to avoid unnecessary stress and discomfort while doing all sorts of things. Our Australlian and NZ members might know more about Alexander as he was a big noise down under and was, I believe, in politics down there.

Anyway, I hope that the solution to your discomfort is something as simple as being aware of it and consciously trying to relax. I've had friends that are guitarists that have had their chiropractors analyze the way that they play and adjust things like arm position and strap length and they have all found that it has helped relieve stress considerably.

Mellow out, man....BE the chanter.....grooovy!

Best

AA

[Iolaus]

Like Chasem said, Practice, practice, practice. Your lips aren't used to having to grip something, so the muscles in your embouchure are having to develope from scratch - think of it like working out, or running; you can only do so much at first, but with regular practice, you get better.

I play the concert flute. I'm getting back into it after a twenty year hiatus (I used to be very good), and I'm suffering from the same thing; after so long, my lips just lose it, and I can't focus the air for that upper range anymore.

[Macman]

Porrick, I've been on the practice chanter for about a year, and I have found the same thing as you. I've just gotten real pipes, and it's the same issue. For me, the lips are the limiting factor. I practice for as long as I can, and by the end I'm blowing more air out the sides than down the chanter/blowpipe. All I can say from my limited experience is that if you just keep at it, gradually your embouchure gets stronger and stronger. I sometimes approach it like weight training: practice until your lips fail, take a 30 or 60 second break, then go at it again; practice, fail, then break, etc. Good luck!

[highlander_Daz]

As far as the PC goes Id reccomend that you make it a priority to practice your scale once up and down and rest a second, listen for passing notes
this will start to make your lips stronger, then practice G Grace note befor your melody note, practice the whole scale with G grace note then D then E resting in between, each run. Forget AG, practice the scale, grace notes and doublings from every melody note, until you crack this you wont progress, and youll be that busy concentrationg you wont notice your lips!! make sure you have a couple of seconds break before you perform each excercise. PM me if you need more advice

[porrick]

As far as the PC goes Id reccomend that you make it a priority to practice your scale once up and down and rest a second, listen for passing notes
this will start to make your lips stronger, then practice G Grace note befor your melody note, practice the whole scale with G grace note then D then E resting in between, each run. Forget AG, practice the scale, grace notes and doublings from every melody note, until you crack this you wont progress, and youll be that busy concentrationg you wont notice your lips!! make sure you have a couple of seconds break before you perform each excercise. PM me if you need more advice

Good advice is always appreciated I do my best practicing the scale and grace notes etc, but I also have a dvd (haven't got it here, but it is the one with "American Piper" as a bonus track. Invermark or something? I'll check), and AG is lesson number 7 - as far as I've got at present.

Yupp, practice, practice, practice - but it is nice to work on a tune to break the potential monotony

[highlander_Daz]

yeh my first tune was "High road to Gairloch" and I thought I was ready to make Pipe Major when I cracked it!!!

seriously work on those grace notes and doublings, nice crisp sharp embelishments are what make a good piper, after the scale and grace notes I think i learned GDE, D throw and Tachums and Leumleurth/Talourth from every melody note. I was lucky to have a very good instructor, a grade 1 Pipe Major with 50 years experience who charged peanuts, hes still playing and hes awesome, we're not worthy!!

[Nick]

I play the concert flute. I'm getting back into it after a twenty year hiatus (I used to be very good), and I'm suffering from the same thing; after so long, my lips just lose it, and I can't focus the air for that upper range anymore.

After 4 years, I'd hate to think what I'd look like if I picked up my trombone again!

When I first started with my practice chanter it took a week before I figured out the right air amount to not make it sound like a trombone with a bucket mute. My biggest problem is that my little fingers don't bend out far enough to cover the holes, so I have trouble with that. I need to start practicing again, it's been a while.

[beerbecue]

My biggest problem is that my little fingers don't bend out far enough to cover the holes, so I have trouble with that. I need to start practicing again, it's been a while.

Hmmmm.... Bending your fingers on the PC? I was taught to keep my fingers straight, flat, and to raise them from the hand.....

[Nick]

Poor choice of words on my part. I should have said spread. It's difficult to get my fingers down to the last couple holes.

[beerbecue]

Yes, that does take some getting used to.

I just bought a PC from Mark Cushing, and that particular PC has the exact spacing (and tone) of a 'real' chanter.

Took a little work, but the transition to pipes will be that much easier (at least for my hands)