Klarinet Archive - Posting 000466.txt from 1996/06

From: "Scott D. Morrow" <SDM@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: playing speed and breath technique
Date: Fri, 28 Jun 1996 11:02:21 -0400

>One of the greatest problems I have as an amateur clarinet player
>is playing slowly, or perhaps I should say "evenly." I imagine this
>has much to do with my breathing technique (or lack of one). I'm
>a good player with a tone that makes me very happy and an
>altissimo that has promise. The thing I seem never to be able to
>bring under control is my breath. It is hard for me to play slowly
>and evenly. As my breath runs out, my playing becomes sloppy
>and somewhat frantic. This disturbs me greatly because my musical
>sensibility is offended. I'm also a pianist and I'm very attuned to
>expression. ----Bill Fogle.

Way back in high school, one of our tests in band was breath control: the
goal was to hold an acceptable tone for one minute. As with any type of
endurance exercise, you need to work up to the goal little by little.
Maybe, as part of your "warm-up" exercises, you could see how long you can
hold a tone, and try to beat your record. (Even now, I test myself during
performances to see how long I can go without a breath on long passages.)

Some hints:

1) When you inhale, REALLY fill your lungs. Expand them more than you
think you can.
2) Don't concentrate on your lung capacity while you're playing - imagine
that that air is your "reserve" ( DON'T succumb to the "gas guzzler"
mentality: I've got the air, let's see how fast I can use it up!). Try to
play "normally"; the air will be there when you need it in the form of
support.
3) Find GOOD places in the music to take a breath BEFORE it starts getting
thin. And make those breaths good, DEEP breaths.

Overall, try to develop your lung capacity and control.
Hope this helps!

-Scott

Scott D. Morrow
Department of Biochemistry
School of Hygiene and Public Health
Johns Hopkins University
(410)-955-3631

SDM@-----.edu