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Respiratory parameters during professional flute playing
I Cossette1, P Sliwinski, P T Macklem
1Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill University, 3626 rue St. -Urbain, Quebec, H2X 2PZ, Montreal, Canada. icosse1@po-box.mcgill.ca
Respiration Physiology
|June 16, 2000
Summary
Professional flautists utilize a significant portion of their vital capacity (VC) with controlled breathing. Independent control of airflow (V) and velocity (Vel) via mouth pressure (Pm) and embouchure aperture (Aem) allows precise control over sound loudness (I) and frequency (F).
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Physiology
- Acoustics
- Musical Instrument Performance
Background:
- Understanding the physiological mechanisms underlying wind instrument performance is crucial for musicians and researchers.
- Previous studies have explored aspects of breath control in wind players, but detailed analysis of muscle recruitment and aerodynamic factors is ongoing.
- The interplay between respiratory muscle activity, lung volume, and aerodynamic parameters in flute playing requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the respiratory muscles and percent vital capacity (%VC) employed by professional flautists during performance.
- To determine how mouth pressure (Pm), embouchure resistance (Rem), embouchure aperture (Aem), flow (V), and velocity (Vel) influence sound loudness (I) and frequency (F).
- To explore the strategies flautists use to control aerodynamic variables and achieve desired musical outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Direct measurement of pressures (esophageal, gastric, transdiaphragmatic, transpulmonary), diaphragmatic EMG, sound, and chest wall displacements in three professional flautists.
- Estimation of lung volume (VL) using transpulmonary pressure and a static deflation curve.
- Calculation of airflow (V) and embouchure resistance (Rem) from volume changes over time and pressure.
Main Results:
- Flautists used a substantial percentage of their vital capacity (72-83%) with evidence of inspiratory muscle braking.
- Sound loudness (I) primarily increased with airflow (V), while frequency (F) increased with air velocity (Vel).
- Airflow (V) and velocity (Vel) are independently controlled by mouth pressure (Pm) and embouchure aperture (Aem), allowing for independent control of loudness and frequency.
Conclusions:
- Professional flautists exhibit diverse strategies in managing respiratory mechanics (rib cage vs. abdominal motion) to control mouth pressure.
- Despite variations in muscle recruitment patterns, flautists achieve consistent control over aerodynamic parameters.
- The independent control of airflow and velocity by mouth pressure and embouchure aperture enables precise manipulation of sound loudness and frequency.