Just a beginner type question, does anyone has any average number of notes or length of time a breath should last when you play? I’m getting between 4 and 6 notes to a breath right now. Is there some benchmark I should be trying for as far as the length of time I can effectively exhale for? Just wondering.
Jim,
When I first started playing the flute about 8 months ago, my teacher began each lesson with some deep breathing exercises. He had me fill up with air–starting in the lowest chamber, the diaphragm, and moving slowly upward, finishing with filling the upper back area (which was a surprise to me)–to the relaxed count of 12. And then I gradually exhaled with an ever-so-slightly audible sound, with my mouth shaped as if on the embouchure hole, for as long as I could. I remember reaching the count of 16 one time. (Heh, I just tried it now and could go way longer, so I guess I’m improving!) Then after a few of those, exhale the same way into the flute, controlling the release of air to make it last as long as possible.
For me, breathing well and efficiently aiming the airstream remain the most challenging parts of flute playing.
How many notes per breath depends on so many things, especially tempo. Shaping phrases musically is more important than number of notes, and the more familiar you get with ITM, the easier it will be to know where you can leave out a note to catch a breath and which groups of notes you should try to play all in one breath.
Real helpful, huh? 
Carol
Jim,
I can made a breath last about four or five bars. But holding your breath for that long is actually bad because when you have to inhale you have to inhale a lot of air to make up for all that you pushed out. The result is a long inhale but it’s more like a gasp and it really interupts your rhythm and flow. It also takes longer to inhale a large amount of air as you can find out if you experement by holding your breath as long as possible. What I would recommend, is find comfortable breathing spots while you playing that are from anywhere from 1 to 8 notes apart depending on your playing style and phrasing. The bottum line is that you want your breathing to be naturul, so natural in fact that playing the flute is as easy as breathing. This a one of the main difficulties on the flute and it will only straighten out by practise and playing. Hope you find this helpful.
Jack Murphy
-Ideally, a breath should last until the next, except for one’s last. 
(Sorry, -the easy joke appealed to my low character.)
-Seriously though, I am a sponge for advice on it, and thank you for broaching the subject. My air runs out pretty quick.
Brian O.
[ This Message was edited by: brianormond on 2003-02-12 20:59 ]
Didn’t we just do this thread? I believe it was under “Long phrasings, do or don’t” or somesuch.
Finding a place to breathe is more important than how long you must hold your breath; if you’re actually running out of air, shorten the phrases until you build up more stamina. Nothing ruins a tune faster than weak notes, deep gasps for more air, and fainting players.
Building up your breath stamina takes some time, but finding good spots to breath, and keeping your embouchure direct and non-wasteful (not a word, I know, but…) is more important than how long you can play without taking your next breath. It really shouldn’t come to that. Faster playing gets you farther, but it’s best to build up your playing and phrasing with slower playing. In other words, worry more about tone and phrasing than how many notes you need to play before the next breath.
Also, swimming laps, long walks,
etc. help considerably in
developing the wind, in my
experience, anyhow.