This follows on from our previous discussions on air column direction. I’ve just come across this device and a search herein does not reveal any mention.
This looks like a tool for indicating and informing on air column direction that may help those that are not entirely happy with their tone production. It does appear to be set up for Boehm flute but it looks like it could be adapted.
“The Pneumo Pro is a great device; just the right tool needed for beginners to get both a physical and a visual aid in learning to blow the air correctly and form an embouchure. BUT! I’ve used it for more
advanced players and they have all found it quite revealing and helpful in refining the aim and direction of the air. I must say that I’ve experimented with it myself and found it useful. This is certainly a ‘must have’ device for any flute studio.” – Carol Shansky - professional flutist & teacher
I guess for adult players, you don’t really need the device, just watching the videos gives you the idea. Kids would probably think it’s much more fun blowing the fans than practising on that pesky flute!
It’s cut away to allow the air to flow so won’t produce a tone. It’s designed to inform you of the air column direction & therefore the information to improve/understand the principals.
I think that’s exactly its purpose - a toy that will engage kids and let them “see” the invisible jet. What really interests me in this is the graphical illustration of the enormous range of jet direction now advocated in “classical” flute playing. Those 4 fans must cover an included angle of 90 degrees or more. (Although I imagine that top one is the “blowing too high” alert!)
I remember none of that in my brief run-in with “classical” flute training - I was just told to blow at the edge. So things are definitely looking up, err, down, in the art flute field too.
I’ve been trying to think of an approach that would enable us to determine where the air jet is really going on a working head, for the purposes of my Flute Tone Investigations. We talked about smoke, but this has its problems. I’ve also considered an array of tiny filaments, such as out of festoon bulbs. Run a current through the filaments to heat them, then detect the change in electrical resistance when the air jet impinges on them. A bit tedious to build, and you could end up with a burnt lip! It would sure deter those people who feel for the edge of the hole with their tongue (a practice abhorred by at least one 19th century writer!).
It might be enough to just use some fine piano wire as a probe, and listen for the effect on the flute tone as introducing the probe into the jet causes turbulence. Map the top and bottom of the jet, and the bulk of the air must flow between. We might also be able to pick the point that introduces the greatest turbulence, which is possibly the middle of the jet. The probe (or a filament) could stick out from a special stopper that could be rotated without changing its longitudinal position. The stopper could be calibrated for degrees of rotation.
But before I do anything rash, what other ideas do people have for determining the location of the jet?
