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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000037.txt from 2003/10
From: "Sameer Al-Abdullah" <simsim29@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] bodybuilding and sound
Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2003 03:31:21 -0400
Andrey,>
|Very interesting subject!! I too am a body builder (beginner though) and I work out 5 times a week doing all sorts of things from yoga and aerobics to weight lifting and abs. Basically I do EVERYTHING!
I will tell in my own personal experience that yes it does affect your ability to play the oboe. BUT maybe not the way you think it does.
Being fit, having flat stomach or even being fat does NOT affect your sound production. Its all in your abdominal muscles!! For playing the oboe the sound has to come from down there. you have to squeeze out the air from the bottom of your stomach as if you are squeezing tooth paste out of a tube!
I don't need to remind you how to breath and how to push inwards and slightly upwards but I do need to remind you that having a tight stomach/belly will not help you play well I think.
There were times when I came back from the gym after having done so many crunches and sit ups and I tried play the oboe but I jus felt uncomfortable. My stomach's muscles were a bit tight and soar from the work out. Thus it was a bit painful for me to push inwards and upwards to create the right proper pressure needed to vibrate the reeds well which eventually would produce a good oboe sound.C>
SO in other words it does not matter if you work out or not. Its all about being flexible down there and feeling healthy. If you have stomachache I don't think you will be able to squeeze all that air in your stomach without feeling so much agony!!!
I cant play the oboe right after a meal. I usually have a cup of coffee on an empty stomach then play. The caffeine gives me the little boost and energy to blow properly. To me its like going to the gym!!! You cant run or jog when your stomach is FULL.
Think about what best suits you. Notice all the things you do before you play, your level of energy etc etc. But remember it all depends on how flexible your stomach is as well as your embouchure, jaw and throat. You cant play well if you have a soar on your lip or have a soar throat or the flu!! when everything is in good health you can play OK.
Another thing i like to share is that the beginning of my private lessons are always a bit of an agony to me. I just don't feel as energetic and my sound production is a bit ugly! But after i do those long notes and scales and all the proper warm ups, I'm in love!!! I cant put the oboe down. the sound is great and warm and just sweet to the ear. AND I feel good when i blow!! I have more energy and my breathing is much better.
So do your warm ups. Play those long notes. after 20-30 minutes of warm ups take a minute break and take the oboe again and place the reeds on your lips and blow. Compare the feeling you are feeling at that moment and the feeling you felt in the beginning of your warm up!!
I better stop here before i get kicked out of this email group!!
Sameer Al-Abdullah
=and I miss you like the desert miss the rain=
