Playing the Noseflute

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Mar 22 - 03:59 PM

I heard somebody today speaking disparagingly of noseflutes, so My Good Friend the Devil inspired me to refresh this thread.

Don't be hard on nose flutes. Some are far more sophisticated than those plastic things we've seen. A few years ago, I was recruited to record and mix music for a spoken word presentation. The instrumentalist was a local musician who seems to be able to play every instrument known to humankind. For this project, she played a variety of flutes, including an African nose flute. It looks very much like an ordinary flute, but it's played with air from the nose - and it sounds lovely. I couldn't believe the amount of music she got out of that thing. You COULD spend all day watching the variety of nose flute performances on YouTube. And some of them might even be good.
So, have some respect and compassion for nose flautists.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHYd0hdDR8I
  
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NThFrr2vt-s

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: SharonA
Date: 10 Jul 08 - 10:18 AM

More variations on Nose Fluting:

Nice carved wood flute (again):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZWbX3hSEXU&feature=related

From the Phillipines: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUR5NsAU-Ag&feature=related

Performance art from Canada: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ARyDrWZ1Fo

Performance in ?? (Asia?) -- great technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMq8-ZdyJXw

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: SharonA
Date: 10 Jul 08 - 09:27 AM

Thanks, AWM! I could have just ordered a frog on the internet, but in thrift shops there's a joy in discovering unexpected treasures. :-)

Here are some variations on Nose Flutes:

Carved wood (2 octave range): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvsh7R1Hd8Y&feature=related

Hawaiian: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TRik8Q75V4&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvJtLpDYJNs&feature=related


Vietnamese: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kYuvjFJ_OQ&NR=1

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 10 Jul 08 - 09:12 AM

Perhaps you should have picked another...


I'll leave now...

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 10 Jul 08 - 08:16 AM

Sharon,

I'm delighted that you finally got your frog.

Regrettably I still haven't learned to play the noseflute either. :(

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 09 Jul 08 - 07:38 PM

Joe, I just HAVE to ask --- why did you pick the nose flute?

ah, oh...

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: SharonA
Date: 09 Jul 08 - 07:28 PM

Well, it only took seven years from my last post here, but I finally found a Musical Frog in a local thrift store. He doesn't have the "Beater", though (the wooden stick to play him with, that rests between his jaws when not in use).

And I still haven't learned to play the Nose Flute yet...

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 09 Jul 08 - 06:14 PM

I always had trouble with the nose flute. You're shaping your mouth to get a specific note, but you are exhaling through your nose to make the sound. Sort of like rubbing your belly and patting your head at the same time.

Big RiB

Subject: ADD: Nose Flute Advice
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Jul 08 - 04:36 PM

It's a hot, smoky day here in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and suddenly I felt the urge to play my nose flute. I looked in the cigar box that holds jew's harps and kazoos and harmonicas and such, but couldn't find my nose flute. I looked everywhere, and no nose flute. In frustration, I went to emusic.com, and downloaded this song:

Nose Flute Advice
(as recorded by Kentucky T. Dutchersmith and The Rubber Band)

[open with instrumental (!) break]

If you want to play the nose flute,
I have some advice for you.
If you want to play the nose flute,
I have some advice for you.

If you want to play the nose flute,
Make sure that you first blow your nose.
If you don't blow your nose first,
Stuff from your nose may flow.

If you want to play the nose flute,
And another instrument at the same time,
You can rubber-band it to your face,
But it won't look very nice.

If you want to play the nose flute,
Don't play really really really really long notes;
If you play really really really really really really long notes,
You just might pass out.

[close with instrumental (!) break]


Transcribed by ear.

Anybody know anything about Kentucky T. Dutchersmith and The Rubber Band? emusic.com identified them as a "Christian" group, and I found record of them performing at a Mennonite church and at a Church of the Brethren. Anyhow, I liked the song.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: Burke
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 08:33 PM

I can get about three notes out of nose flute, then I start laughing. I'm not sure where mine is, but I think I'll see what I can do.

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 12:13 PM

On the Herdman question-- if an instrument was used in addition to the nose, then probably yes. If it was nose only, then no.

Could it have been trumpet lips?

~S~

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: CarolC
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 11:53 AM

Why thank you, Chris. (I think.)

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: SDShad
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 11:37 AM

Ya know, CarolC, I'm not sure which I find more disturbing: the fact that there exists a recording of Pachelbel's Canon in D on the noseflute, let alone that stunning rendition by Robert "The Schnoz" Buccigrossi, or on the other hand the fact that you could so readily rattle off the link to same. You are a veritable storehouse of interesting links....

Regards,

Chris

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: GUEST,chip2557
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 11:49 PM

After some experimentation, I've found that I cn get at least one octave from mine. Which tends to drive the parakeet bananas..hehehehe.

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: GUEST,cetmst
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 09:23 PM

In Priscilla Herdman's song "Old Woolley" a cat from Alabama got up and played his nose. Is this a nose flute ?

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 12:47 PM

There's a wonderful little nose flute section in the lead song, "Down in the Diving Bell" on Jeff Warner's and Jeff Davis's 1994 tape, "Two Little Boys". Jeff Warner plays a lovely little counter melody, which covers a range of at least a fifth.

I find it takes a lot of air to play, and the biggest problem for me (aside from hayfever season) is that it's impossible to play when you're laughing -- mouth and throat shape are critical to good tone. That means all my attempts to play in public have failed miserably.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: GUEST,Cleigh O'Possum
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 11:58 AM

FROGS? .....harrumph.........

I am the ONLY Ass-Blown possum besides my little sister Didi.

Frogs...........psshawwhh.......ffllluuubbb.........

Cleigh O'Possum

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 10:22 AM

Regarding the frogs, you can also buy them in sets and play them like a xylophone..

Lady P You could try Ray Mans oriental instrument shop in Camden???

I can get a single note out of the flute (apparently its a solo nostril design) but can't figure out how to change note or how to breathe in while playing (do you use cyclic breathing like with a didgeridoo or just suck air in through your ears??)

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 02:47 AM

Hey JenEllen, meet me here:

http://steelfingers.com/dancecity/tophat.html.

~S~

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 12:58 AM

Ok ...here's my story ... two friends of mine "Grunt and Groan'" Grant (don't ask!) open our Mayne Is. mini music festival every year. They dress up like Mounties, and play "Oh canada" on (plastic) nose flutes! I always thought it was something they invented! ... guess I don't get out much!

LL

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 12:51 AM

Plastic, because the seal is better, and it sticks to the lip in no time at all. Why, I imagine with a little energetic application that thing would stay on there for... longer than we want to imagine.

Jen... silly! The Ritz! In *** pumps!

~S~

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: SeanM
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 12:30 AM

One guy from a band I was in did pitch perfect R2-D2 impersonations with his. I could get various "Harpo Grouch" esque noises, but not much more. I HAVE seen people who have put the practice in do some serious work on it, but it's sorta like the kazoo - it doesn't matter how much you practice, or how beautiful it sounds. It's always going to be an awfully silly instrument.

As to the frog... band I was in has a 'rhythm frog' player in it. Silliest thing we'd seen, so on the spot we swore we'd write it in to a set. I don't know about local shops, but I've seen them forever on Lark in the Morning. They aren't TOO rare, though. Local music shops may have one or two that they buy just for the comedy value.

M

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: JenEllen
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 11:41 PM

LOL petr....shameless

Actually, the 'Snot Just Noseflutes' played Janis Joplin's 'Mercedes Benz'. I don't usually count myself among the easily impressed, but it sure was something else...

Anyone have any preferences as to the plastic or wooden varieties? I'm assuming plastic is more sanitary, or do these things develop a patina (ick) from usage?

Susan, you've got a date. Waffle House or Dennys?

~J

Subject: RE: Playing the Noseflute
From: GUEST,chip2447
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 11:35 PM

I play "no greensleeves" on my nose flute...
YUK YUK....
But seriously, if I can use that word and nose flutes in the same sentence. The little hole in the plastic flutes sharpens/flatens the note, and I've never really thought about how many notes I can get out of mine, now I have to experiment and find out.

Subject: RE: Playing the Nose flute
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 10:51 PM

I dropped the "BS" from the thread title. This is serious music business. Maybe it should be included in the "music-related" PermaThread.
I can get only about three notes out of my plastic nose flute. Can anybody get a full octave? any hints?

I note that the Pachelbel Canon recording plays only about four notes.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: Playing the Noseflute
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 10:31 PM

what tune would you play on the nose flute?

..

.. . . . Moonlight Snotta petr

Subject: RE: BS: Playing the Noseflute
From: GUEST, Dan
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 07:34 PM

I say that Neil's dad doesn't plant potatoes, and I slide quickly into the muck (not without assistance from me my own self, admittedly.) I've been hanging around only a few days, but maybe that irate guest/ex-member has a point or two justifying some introspection. Just maybe, I'm saying. Not a flamer, I, and I don't have nearly sufficient information to pass judgement. (And with all due respect to the poor monitors who have to sift through the grievances.) But notice, the flamer just recently bragged that he knows how to get you guys going every time. Worth thinking about. . .

Subject: RE: BS: Playing the Noseflute
From: catspaw49
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 07:18 PM

Awhile back Dr. Cojone at the Neil Young Center for the Terminally Screwed discovered a new use for Nose Flutes as you can see from this post from 1999:

I called Dr. Cojone but was unable to reach him as he was busy with his new study on sex perverts. When Cletus finally arrived back home he had this story all about how Cojone has discovered a "channel" of some sort between the sinuses and the genitals. The most inner sanctum at the Neil Young Center for the Terminally Screwed houses 50 perverts (and of course Neil himself) where Cojone has been carrying out his experiments. The guards here are members of Crazed Tiple Bands who have failed in their mission and are waiting reassignment. Cletus says that Dr. Cojone uses Nose Flutes and not tiples to treat the perverts. It seems that the "channel" he discovered can aid in controlling the sex drive and specifically deviant activity, if the pervert simply continues to play "I Love a Parade" on Nose Flute, hence all inmates have Nose Flutes permanently affixed to their schnozzes. Cojone must have gotten a new batch of sexual deviants to work with since Ol' Cletus tells me there was a terrible accident while he was there. It seems as though some form of sinusitis epidemic struck and when their noses plugged up the excess pressure caused by the Nose Flute on the channel caused their balls to explode. The details are too gruesome to go on, but it sent Cletus packin', that's for sure!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Playing the Noseflute
From: MAG
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 05:32 PM

Now I can quit feeling guilty about keeping mine on my instrument shelf. It's the only one I never take down.

Subject: RE: BS: Playing the Noseflute
From: lady penelope
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 04:49 PM

I must disagree with you CarolC, I find "By the waters of Babylon" far superior!

Where can I buy them in england? they're the perfect gift for other people's children!!

TTFN M'Lady P.

Subject: RE: BS: Playing the Noseflute
From: SharonA
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 12:57 PM

Wandering Minstrel (re the Musical Frog): How cool! I want one!!! Wonder where I could find one here in the States?

Subject: RE: BS: Playing the Noseflute
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 12:40 PM

Bring two, Jen, mine's gone.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Playing the Noseflute
From: JenEllen
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 12:39 PM

Saw a great noseflute player last weekend. The lead blower in the band: "S'not Just Noseflutes" I don't know that I'll ever be able to play one, but it's one of those things I'm just going to have to try.

Susan, can I got out to dinner with you? *bg*

~J

Subject: RE: BS: Playing the Noseflute
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 12:37 PM

Thanks Art I'll give it a try this evening when I get home!

Sharon re the musical frog, it is a hollow piece of wood carved to look like a frog with its mouth open, It has a zig-zag wooden ridge running down the centre of its back.

It comes with a beater, You can either play it as a wood block, or sit it in the palm of your hand and run the beater up and down the ridge, This makes a sound like a frog croaking. (you can change the note by blocking the sides of the mouth with your fingers)

Subject: RE: BS: Playing the Noseflute
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 12:35 PM

I won 4 of the plastic one's from the Basic Black radio show on CBC. It took the shows producer, Chris Straw, about 20 min over the phone from Vancouver to teach me how to play one. My wife got it about the second blow, not me though. We then had to tape two minutes of nose fluting and send it back. He played all the submissions on the radio. We got two T shirts, two caps from the Vancouver Nose Flute Ensemble, four books four CD's, four packets of Kleenex and one bottle of Nasal decongestant as our prize. Follow the instructions above and you should get it eventually. The only advice I have to add would be, breathe softly from your nose and almost a slight exhale through the mouth at the same time seems to works best for me. Don't overblow it, it could be nasty. Good Luck. JohnB

Subject: RE: BS: Playing the Noseflute
From: Art Thieme
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 12:23 PM

In earlier times these were made out of carved turtle shells in the South Pacific. Mine is one I bought from a former member of the New Crusty Nostrils. This may sound strange to some, but snot what it seems at all. Originally ? Who's to say---but there was a rumor going around that it was invented as an I.U.D. for Catherine The Great. But Catherine was dyslexic and was always being arrested for Driving Under the Influence (D.U.I.)

But seriously folks,

Put the instrument over your mouth and nose and blow into it with your nostrils (AIR ONLY). Keep your mouth open and change the pitch by altering the inside of you mouth the same way one might alter the sounds of a jew's harp. I never saw a wooden one either. Just plastic and tin.

Hope this helps.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: Playing the Noseflute
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 12:11 PM

Sorry, I never heard of a wooden one, mine is plastic and configured differently. With that one, you hold it over the space between nose and mouth so that the nose breathes across the slit, and the mouth forms the resonance chamber (opening variable) for pitch. At least that's what I recall. It's been awhile.

But the BEST place to PLAY one is in a restaurant.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Playing the Noseflute
From: SharonA
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 11:51 AM

I'm intrigued by the Musical Frog. How do you play that?

Subject: RE: BS: Playing the Noseflute
From: CarolC
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 10:31 AM

Here are some sound samples of noseflute virtuosity, including, of all things, Pachelbel's Canon, played by Robert "The Schnoz" Buccigrossi.

Subject: RE: BS: Playing the Noseflute
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 10:16 AM

Oh, dear. I'm afraid you were in an adult instrument shop. What you've bought is actually an attachment for the skin flute.

Subject: Playing the Noseflute
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 09:50 AM

No Honestly! stop laughing at the back there!

I was passing an instrument shop in Salzburg (which I can highly recommend) about a month ago and I bought a noseflute and a musical frog

I figured out the frog, but can't get a sound out of the flute.

It is made of wood and consists of a triangular bit formed from two pieces of wood with an airspace between them and a hole at the top then there is a rectangular block with a hole in it stuck on the back.

Any guidance gratefully received