Klarinet Archive - Posting 000559.txt from 1997/06

From: "L. BORCHERT" <lborcher@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Air?
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 1997 13:36:05 -0400

The problem may be the air escaping through the nasal passages,
but that can be aggravated, or indeed, caused by elevated muscle tension
in the throat area, particularly the area just above and below the larynx.
The constriction in the throat passage forces the air upward and out
through the nasal passages.
I have had good responses from my students with this problem by
working and reworking the open, relaxed throat approach to the inhalation
portion of the breathing cycle. Also, forming the syllable "eeeh"
in the oral cavity actually opens up and relaxes the back of the
throat. Try singing different syllables, ahh, ooh, eeeh, etc to
help you get this feel. Most vocal pedagogy texts have good x-ray
pictures of this as these different syllables are being sung. (Diane
Karius on this list, may have a better description or explanation of
this).
Tension, wherever it occurs, can be a problem in playing. Just
like wrong notes or rhythms, it needs to be corrected or eliminated from
occurring in the first place. That includes unnecessary tension in the
throat area.

Laroy

Dr. Laroy Borchert
Professor of Clarinet
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM 88003

P.S If you are going to the convention, I am premiering a new piece by
Sam Hollomon entitled "Scherzo" on the first recital on Wednesday morning.
I know it is early, but I think you will really like the work. I know I
am enjoying playing it.

On Tue, 24 Jun 1997, Karl Krelove wrote:

> At 05:06 PM 6/24/97 -0700, Ryan Lowe wrote:
> >Recently, when I practice, I have trouble closing off the nasal passageway
> >and there is a constant hissing of air that would *normally* be stopped. I
> >have tried to fix this, and I do not know what caused it. I am neither
> >sick nor have done anything abnormal (ie; changed climates, mp's, reeds...)
> >recently. Is this a common problem (as was my bleeding tongue:)) or what?
> >
> Ryan,
> I've had trouble with this for years (ever since I had my tonsils out
> when I was in college). It seems to happen mostly during the warm weather
> and I'm fairly certain that for me it coincides with a low-level allergic
> post-nasal drip problem I have more or less chronically, but especially in
> the summer. When it's at its worst, I use antihistamines for the allergy
> symptoms and the nasal air leak seems to go away as well. I can control it
> during rehearsals or on commercial jobs where I can keep a glass of Coke or
> seltzer with me as I play by taking frequent sips to keep the mucous from
> building up in my throat and interfering with the seal. I know from
> experience that it isn't just an annoyance. At its worst, the leak can
> become so severe (at least for me) that it's disabling, because I can't
> generate enough air pressure at the mouthpiece to make the reed vibrate.
>
> Karl
>