If you take your ney flute out of its bag and start playing straight away, the notes come out half-formed and your breath runs short. That is not your fault or the ney's: neither of you has warmed up yet. In this article I describe, step by step, the warm-up I do myself before a concert or a recording.
The ney has a tuning too
String instruments such as the oud, violin, bağlama or kemençe are tuned with pegs, often for minutes. The ney has no such adjustment; its tuning is fixed when it is made. But as the reed warms up, the notes come to their proper frequency. Only then can you blend with the instrument next to you.
The same is true for the player: until your hands, neck and lips have opened up, you cannot show your real potential. Both you and the ney need about 20 minutes to warm up; before a concert I extend that to half an hour.
Reed needs moisture
Every instrument with a cane reed at the mouth is moistened before playing: duduk, mey, clarinet, zurna, oboe, bassoon. These reeds all come from giant cane (Arundo donax), and they do not sound good when dry. The ney is giant cane too.
By moistening we do not mean giving the ney water; we mean bringing the reed to life with the warmth of our breath and the moisture of the mouth. That is why a ney that is played regularly and stays moist does not need routine oiling. If you will not play it for a while, you oil it and put it away. For details, see Why does a ney get mouldy or bend?.
Step-by-step warm-up
- Moisten it with your breath. Take the ney and first breathe into it to moisten the reed.
- Work your lip and cheek muscles. Use long tones to give your lips, cheeks and jaw a workout. Meanwhile your fingers settle onto the holes.
- Ripen the low dem notes. The low notes feel weak at first. As the ney warms up and your lips firm up, their volume grows.
- Practise grace notes and vibrato. Ornaments open up your ear and fingers.
- Play short exercises in the makam you will perform. If the concert opens in Segâh or you will record a piece in Hicaz, prepare your ear and fingers with small melodic exercises in that makam.
- Hiss for your diaphragm. Five to ten minutes before the concert, open up your diaphragm with hissing exercises.
At the end of this warm-up the volume of the sound grows noticeably and the tone becomes sweeter and more pleasant. Because the diaphragm has opened, long tones come easily and the chance of the sound cracking drops to a minimum.
What happens if you play without warming up?
At a family gathering or among friends, if you take the ney out and immediately try a piece, a hymn or a taksim, the notes come out half-formed, your breath runs short and you cannot hold a long note. Then your confidence goes and you end up explaining, "I actually play better at home."
Instead, say "give me a moment" and warm up in a corner. Play once the notes have settled in you; both you and your listeners will enjoy it.
I explain how to check your tuning after warming up in What does an out-of-tune ney mean?.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to warm up a ney?
About 20 minutes. Before a concert or recording, I recommend allowing half an hour.
How do you moisten a ney?
Never put water inside a ney. The warmth of your breath and the moisture of your mouth are enough to moisten the reed.
Which notes should I play to warm up?
First long tones, then the low dem notes; after that grace notes, vibrato and short exercises in the makam you will play.
