Respiratory parameters during professional flute playing

We studied three professional flautists while playing to determine: (1) wha t respiratory muscles and percent vital capacity (%VC) were used; (2) how m outh pressure (Pm), embouchure resistance (Rem), embouchure aperture (Aem), flow ((V)over dot) and velocity (Vel) affect sound loudness (I) and freque ncy (F). We measured Pm, esophageal, gastric, transdiaphragmatic, transpulm onary (PL) pressures, diaphragmatic EMG, sound and chest wall displacements directly. Lung volume (VL) was estimated from Pr during playing and the st atic deflation PL-VL curve measured separately; (V)over dot from Delta VL/D elta t; Rem from Pm/(Delta VL/Delta t). Staccati and sustained notes at dif ferent F and I were performed. I increased mainly with ii and F with Vel. ( V)over dot and Vel are independently controlled by Pm and Aem. The variatio n of mean Pm was small (6-11 cm H2O) and large for VC (72-53%) Suggesting b raking inspiratory muscle activity while playing. However, rib cage (RC) an d abdominal (Ab) motion were different for each subject. One displaced Ab > RC at high VL and RC > Ab at low VL, another the opposite pattern; the thi rd was in between. We conclude that while different flautists use different strategies to control Pm, the results are similar. Independent control of V and Vel by Pm and Aem allow flautists to control I and F regardless of ho w Pm is generated. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.