Hey folks, I’m curious if any experienced players here have any tips for switching between multiple flutes. I find that when I play my large-hole R&R style flute for a few months, switching to the pratten is pretty difficult unless I’m going to play it exclusively for a while. I end up with an inefficient embouchure on the pratten to the point of hyperventilation, and then when I go back to the R&R I’m overblowing like crazy. Do folks here mostly just play one flute at a time, or do you “get to know” multiple instruments side by side and just build a skill of “remembering” how to approach each flute in its own right?
I’d say, for me personally, it ends up being the latter. Its not that I want to swap back and forth intentionally, for my own playing or practice. I just have a large flute collection (antiques and modern) and make several different models of flute myself, so I quite often swap back and forth to compare requirements and response etc. You can learn and internalize the differences. However, if your main interest is the music and optimizing your playing, you might be better sticking to a single instrument and getting really dialed in on it.
I do think there is some value (at least in the long run) to developing some versatility as a player though, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say that its necessary, or even that important.
One thing that might be going on in your specific case is that Pratten’s tend to require a bit more air to “fill the flute” and get it to produce the same resonant response you can get on a Rudall. This is especially true talking about originals.
I think it has more to do with the bore profile than the embouchure cut. So its not just a matter of adjusting your embouchure, but also adjusting your expectations regarding air requirements when you are shooting for the same level of resonance.