Hi
Have had problems playing in low humidity. Just got a new Rudall Refined 4 keyed McGee flute with the elliptical embouchure.
Have no humidifiers in the case at this point. Wondering what types of humidifiers work well in a case.
Am also working on Trevor Wye’s “Practice Book for the Flute, Book 1, Tone” to improve my embouchre But low humidity seems to be the problem at this point.
Any ideas would be welcome. Thanks.
Jeff Zajac
A fiddle-playing friend friend got me one of those small-instrument humidifiers that works just great. You squirt distilled water into it thru a syringe, put it in a Rubbermaid or similar tote or lidded bin along with your flute – and well, that’s about as technologically advanced as it gets. I can’t remember the name of mine, but you should be able to find one in any fiddle or guitar catalog.
Good luck!
cat.
Posted: 13 Dec 2004 20:44 Post subject: Low Humidity
Hi
Have had problems playing in low humidity.
If your fingers are the problem, as they tend to dry up under these conditions, apply some skin softening cream before you play, rub it in well. Helps the fingers seal the holes better.
As for the flute, I bought a few travel toothbrush holders (plastic), drilled a few holes in each half and cut a sponge to fit inside the flute case. I moisten the sponge, close the holder and place in the flute case. In severe humidity, put the case in a large plastic bag. Check it now and again to assure it remains moist.
I’m not sure how the low humidity effects the embouchure but you might want to use a lip balm (Badger balm, natural, is great - http//www.badgerbalm.com).
Not sure I answered all of your queries but hope these help. They work for me.
I have a humidity question that has been bothering me lately. It seems to me that the storage temperature is also relevant. I have a very old flute that is not cracked and I am getting worried. My apartment is kept pretty cool and even if the storage atmosphere is at 100% relative humidity it is still pretty dry since cold air doesn’t hold much water as warm air in absolute terms. In other words, even if the flute is in a saturated atmosphere the moisture available to the wood is much less in cool air than in warm. What does this mean for the wood of a flute?
I don’t really care to play it since I am still learning my embouchure on my CB folk flute and switching just adds to the struggle, but I do try to play 1-2 times per week just to get a little moisture into it.
Is there something else I should do besides worry less and practice more?
Thanks
Roger
If the concern is that cracks will form because the flute dries out, then the temperature of the air doesn’t matter. If the air is 100% saturated, none of the moisture in the flute will evaporate (because it has nowhere to go). Flutes (and just about everything else) are sensitive to the relative humidity, not so much the absolute humidity.
If you’re talking about taking a relatively DRY flute and putting it into a WET case . . . you’d need a hygrometer (and a way to seal the case hermetically) to see if the flute was absorbing a significant amount of moisture from the air. I seriously doubt that flutes made from hard tonewoods (like most of what we’re talking about) have the capacity to absorb enough ambient water vapor to change the ambient relative humidity. I guess it might matter in a little tiny case that was hermetically sealed, but sheesh.
Don’t worry, be happy; practice more and worry less. 
Stuart