Klarinet Archive - Posting 000133.txt from 2000/12

From: Ann H Satterfield <klarann@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Breathing, the Diaphragm and all that......
Date: Sun, 3 Dec 2000 01:16:45 -0500

On Sat, 2 Dec 2000 13:50:50 EST Knaphet@-----.com writes:
> I agree that thinking "oh" is a good way to breathe. But again, in
this
> area, recent classes with a breathing teacher showed me that once
> one is comfortable with "oh", there is a better way. When we say a
deep,
> Darth Vader-like "oh", that sound we hear is the sound of the tongue
back
> in the throat, actually it may constrict the air flow some. He told
me
> that Joe Allard (NY clarinet and saxophone teacher) had an idea that
letting
> the tongue relax (as if saying the word "Heather") and breathe in a
> little more laterally, as if the air is going in the sides of the
mouth more
> than the middle. For me, if I think of the space of the air as about
Hershey
> bar shaped (2 inches wide, 1/4 inch high) I get the best effect.

I *like* these refinements. I'll be using these myself and with
students.

That is why these discussions are useful, in spite of the
difficulties of translating physical processes into word-only
descriptions.

> When we breathe in on "ee" or "ay", or "uh", the tongue is more
> poised or tense and constricts the air for sure, so I agree with you.
See if
> "Heather" works for you. For years I have taught "oh", and it brings
about
> good results, but I think that "heather" and thinking laterally may be
a
> nice refinement.

"Refinement" is a great word. That was fine, thus and so will be finer.

> Arnold Jacobs used to talk about using the terms "blow" and "suck"
> to describe air going in and out, because he recognized that "inhale"
> and "exhale" bring about more torso involvement which often turned out

> to be detrimental. I remember Jacobs in a masterclass at Florida
State
> say to imagine one's self as a decapitated head when breathing in,
with no
> torso at all. He said that many people breathe most effectively while

> sleeping, when they are unaware of breathing or *how* to breathe,
because the body
> knows how to breathe. It is when we try to get a "good" breath that
we
> overuse our muscles a little. So when I suggest breathing into the
mouth, I am
> only trying to suggest *not* thinking about the torso too much.

With this clarification i think we are on the same track.
>
> I am not a large person, but with these recent changes to my
> thinking (i.e. allowing the rib cage to move more) I have nearly 6
liters of
> capacity. The next experiment I want to try is to somehow check if I
am
> substituting one limitation for another, and compare capacity. So in
what ways do
> you think I am substituting one limitation for another?

Same track again, but maybe different stages.

I have recently made big improvements from the awareness and
techniques i learned from voice lessons. I also have smaller
than usual lung capacity (but i don't remember the measurements).
I am able to play longer phrases now.

And what I needed to focus on is more controlled use of the torso
support. Voice teacher chanting, "Don't allow your rib cage to close
until al else is used, don't close..."

> I welcome your honest opinion of these ideas.

Anthony T., that is why this discussion is useful. The list at its
best!

(notice the *proper* use of the apostrophe) (wry grin)

Ann
`````Ann Satterfield```(Central Florida, USA)```
Imperial Symphony -- Principal Clarinet & Music (Librarian & Personnel)
Manager
Polk Community College -- Assistant Instrumental Music
~~~~www.imperialsymphony.org~~annhsatt@-----.com~~~~~~~

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