Klarinet Archive - Posting 000114.txt from 1997/05

From: Jonathan Cohler <cohler@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Air speed
Date: Sun, 4 May 1997 08:34:20 -0400

David Blumberg wrote:

>I have to disagree with the part that states that you can't control air
>temperature. It is possible to blow on your hand warm air with a small
>mouth opening by changing the air speed.

The temperature of the air does not change (as I mentioned in my original
note). Your perception of the temperature changes because of the "wind
chill" effect. When you blow it faster it feels cooler, but it is *not*
cooler. Because of the cooling effects of evaporation and perhaps some
other reasons, moving air *feels* cooler than it is to us human beings.
But, unfortunately that has nothing to do with the actual temperature.

>Fast air, or slow air- what is
>difficult about that concept. I think a 4th grader could easily grasp that
>concept. I teach Flute, and Sax also - I use those concepts every day. When
>you push out the air hard - doesn't it come out faster?
>

Yes, but the point of my note (as with the skater example) was to emphasize
that there are at least four or five (perhaps more) different ways of
changing the air speed. And "changing airspeed" is not something that a
normal person does.

Instructions such as "lift your tongue up", "say ahhhh", "open your throat
as if you are yawning", "press harder against the reed", "press less hard
against the reed", "push harder with your stomach muscles"

these are all different ways of effecting the air speed. And different
techniques are needed depending on the music being played and the player's
individual circumstances.

Saying use "fast air" or "faster air" is at best very ambiguous and at
worst confusing and meaningless.

-------------------
Jonathan Cohler
cohler@-----.net

   
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