Klarinet Archive - Posting 000670.txt from 2001/03

From: "Diane Karius" <Dkarius@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] The spirit is willing but the lip is weak! - from a
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 19:25:29 -0500

Sorry this is so long. I kept trying to make it short and sweet and =
failed miserably... Hopefully you will find this useful despite its =
length.

David Kumpf wrote: =20
>One thing I would be curious about, particularly if there are some =
exercise
>physiologists who read the list, is the relationship between general
>physical conditioning and ability to play for longer periods of time...=20=

General fitness (such as running, walking etc...) will certainly help the =
cardiorespiratory components of playing. Swimming would be particularly =
good because it specifically works both the inspiratory and expiratory =
muscles (more explanation below (note #1) for those that want it...). =20
The cardiovascular side of this is also postively affected, but the =
metabolic demands of lip muscles maintaining a contraction in the shape of =
the embouchure shouldn't impose a significant strain on the heart. The =
diaphragm itself receives a (somewhat) disproportionate amont of blood for =
its size and anything that improves the cardiac muscle will help the heart =
deliver the extra blood to the working diaphragm while you play. Unless =
you have significant heart disease, this shouldn't be a limitation to =
playing clarinet anyways...

As far as the lips specifically - no such luck. Strength (related to the =
number of myofilaments in the muscle) and endurance (related to the =
oxidative capacity) in a specific muscle require contraction of that =
muscle. In particular, the endurance of a muscle is increased by 1) =
increasing the number of capillaries in the area so that there are even =
fewer cells supplied by a given capillary (more blood per unit tissue, 2) =
increasing the amount of myoglobin (a protein related to hemoglobin, which =
binds oxygen and "stores" it for use when cellular oxygen consumption =
exceeds oxygen delivery); 3) increased mitochondria and enzymes for =
increased ATP (energy) production from the oxygen. =20

So what's happening as you pick up the clarinet again after years away =
(also known as: why is it going so slowly?): =20

If you think about most of the things that lips do, you have a list =
of short duration contractions - even with talking included. Based on =
this, I'm going to go out on a physiological limb here (see note #2 at the =
end) and speculate that the bulk of the musculature in the lip in most =
non-woodwind playing people is of a fast-twitch variety (fast twitches, =
easy fatigueability - good sprinting muscles). Now think about a clarinet =
embouchure - some fairly strong contractions (at least compared to what =
lips are used to) may be maintained for minutes on end with only a second =
or two for a breath (as far as your lip is concerned, this may represent a =
marathon). The muscles of your embouchure have to be biochemically =
"reprogramed" to cope with this change - they need more oxygen delivered =
to them (more capillaries), possibly more ability to "store" the oxygen =
(so possibly more myoglobin), More ATP (energy) over a longer period of =
time (more enzymes/mitochondria for making ATP using the oxygen), more =
strength (new myofilaments). This biochemical reprogramming is inititated =
by the discharge pattern of the alpha-motoneuron (nerve cell) innervating =
the muscle (this is why just general fitness won't help - the nerve has to =
start telling that specific muscle to do something different). It takes =
time and consistent training of those muscles for this all to happen - =
would you expect to be able to run a marathon two months after starting to =
jog regularly for the first time in 30 years???? =20

Another thing to think about - you can get a least partial training =
benefit by practicing your embouchure without the clarinet. =20

Note #1: on swimming: Inspiratory work is increased because, as you =
breathe in, the inspiratory muscles (diaphragm, external intercostals) =
must work against the weight of the water to increase thoracic volume. =
The expiratory work (abdominals and internal intercostals) increases =
assuming you are exhaling into the water - if you are not, expiration is =
actually a little easier than normal because of the weight of the water. =
=20

Note #2: I've short-cut the entire discussion of fiber types into the two =
opposing fiber types, I and II. This is a gross over-simplification, =
especially since I suspect that the clarinetist's embouchure muscles are =
of the intermediate type... =20

Diane R. Karius, Ph.D.=20
Department of Physiology
University of Health Sciences
1750 Independence Ave.=20
Kansas City, MO 64106
(816)-283-2219
dkarius@-----.edu
www.uhsweb.edu/physio

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