 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Funfly
Date: 2014-03-18 23:57
I am doing breathing exercises and my tutor has me playin C for as long as possible in one breath.
Currently working towards 45 seconds but she wants me to get to 1 minute.
So how long can any of you play a steady C in one continual breath?
Mart
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Author: Funfly
Date: 2014-03-19 00:19
Norman, don't avoid doing it...
The C in the lower register (don't forget I am a beginner)
And if you are brave enough to write the result here you could give an indication of your age.
Quality not important, stop when you fall over.
Puffed Mart
Martyn Thatcher Mature Student Cheshire U.K.
Clarinet - Yamaha SE Custom
Alto Sax - Yamaha YAS 480
Guitar - Yamaha FG 375-S
Post Edited (2014-03-19 00:20)
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Author: ThatPerfectReed
Date: 2014-03-19 00:31
Mart:
Is my assumption that you are still school aged and relatively new to the instrument a correct one?
There's something in, at least single reed instrument play, if not other winds called circular breathing http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=circular+breathing+clarinet&sm=1 that allows the player to put air into the cheeks, close off thir respiratory system's exhalation but continue to blow air into the clarinet from that in the cheeks, all while breathing in through the nose.
The popular saxophone recording artist Kenny G. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_G sustained a note this way for nearly 46 mintutes.
...And yet, I suspect we aren't talking about circular breathing.
Mart...if I may make a metaphor: it isn't just the distance you run but the quality of your stride...
to point, yes, seek to increase this length, but not at the expense of the quality of the sound you make.
Do you know what also builds endurance in addition to non-practice aerobic training......?
practice itself. Which also improves technique. Try to take fewer breaths every now and then. Provided you are healthy, you'll improve lung capacity this way too, and develop as a player.
Note: your teacher may also be training you to sustain an embouchure for durations of time, or even holding the clarinet, not just increasing your lung capacity. Confirm with them what their intentions are as it relates to this exercise.
(P.S. I am of the opinion that clarinet holding endurance is very low on the totem poll of priorities. Players with issues doing this, new and old alike, should, IMHO, wear clarinet neck straps.)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-03-19 00:35
52...........about 50 seconds.
My favorite long tone exercise involves volume and rhythm as well. You sneak into a low E (start blowing with a lax embouchure and snug up until the note just starts out of nowhere), then count slowly (around 56 equals the quarter) gradually getting louder 1 through 8 with 8 being as loud as you can possibly play, then count back down to 1 fading out to nothing. Do this twice on low E, twice on low F, twice on low F#, and twice on low G.
This is just as exhausting as playing "for as long as you can" with a few more benefits (got this from Clark Brody).
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: Funfly
Date: 2014-03-18 20:50
ThatPerfectRead.
You are right, I am pretty young.......
Just coming up to my 76th. Birthday.
It's no wonder I'm getting low on puff.
Just wondered how the 'proper' players on here could manage?
But if you are too chicken to do my test then .............
Mart
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2014-03-19 00:51
Hi Mart..
you are doing well at 45 I think. Using my normal VD 3 strength reed I find it hard to get much past 30 !! I think on a soft reed I would last a bit longer.
Lets just say I don't have to pay for my TV license!
I believe though that more fruitful breathing exercises can be done away from the instrument.
When doing my morning (fastish) walk I use time to sync my walking rhythm to my breathing e.g. breath in for 4 paces hold for 4 out for 4 but with a myriad of variations 3/0/3, 3/0/5, 4/0/5 2/4/6 etc etc ad nauseum.
This exercise can be tuned anyway you want it and importantly doesn't take up valuable practise time and can be done any time any place.
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Author: Funfly
Date: 2014-03-18 21:45
Norman,
Don't get too cocky about your licence exemption.
Do you realise that they are considering doing away with the licence and replacing it with PAYG? Bit like Sky. So we will loose our free BBC.
I know that length isn't everything.
Bob made a suggestion about asking my tutor to put her hand on my tummy while I breath out.....back to Max Clifford methinks.
Mart
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Author: ThatPerfectReed
Date: 2014-03-19 02:19
Well Mart, I was half right, you're new to the clarinet if not life!
I've honestly never tried to time myself, but I can if you'd like, of course sans circular breathing, and get back to you. It does seem a bit silly though as I am in good shape and can circular breath.
I must admit though, this is beginning to sound like (being from across the pond I'm not sure you can relate)
the Mandelbaum episode of Seinfeld where a bunch of oldies (I'm the young one at 50) compete for braging rights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88M9-rBXubAte
Perhaps another Seinfeld reference is in order when its lead character chooses to not enter a race ("I choose not to run") against an old high school rival. ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXPiEicc59s
The cheekiness of this notwithstanding, let's say, not even for argument sake you win. There's plenty of other attributes about clarinet play, that if you're new to the craft, I'm pretty sure that after 40 years of work, without sounding full of myself, that odds are that I stand a good chance of doing at least as well in as you Mart,
...unless you're related to the great Julian Bliss.
Post Edited (2014-03-18 22:28)
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Author: Funfly
Date: 2014-03-19 03:19
It's not a competition.
I just wondered how long everyone could blow on one breath !!
Just a bit of fun.
I really am at the point where I exhaust myself by the end of one piece of music and this is what I am addressing. I am blowing inefficiently as well as requiring to develop my breathing technique.
My tutor is getting me to concentrate on breathing, she is getting me to produce air from my diaphragm rather then from my chest, she is getting me to blow without 'tightening up' she is getting me to blow without raising my shoulders and she is giving me advice on producing better sound.
One of the many exercises she has given me is to blow one note continuously, hence my asking for lighthearted feedback from you.
I know length isn't important; some of you may remember the observations about US men made by our more amorous ladies in the 1940s. A revelation to us English men that has resulted in our inferiority complex ever since ;-)
Mart, still puffing. ![[rotate]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley25.gif)
Martyn Thatcher Mature Student Cheshire U.K.
Clarinet - Yamaha SE Custom
Alto Sax - Yamaha YAS 480
Guitar - Yamaha FG 375-S
Post Edited (2014-03-19 03:22)
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Author: muppie
Date: 2014-03-19 08:00
I'm 30 something, non smoker. Struggling with my last puff to get to 48s, and that's by blowing very lightly whilst still making a soft sound. If I blew harder, I can hardly make it to 25s. I tried several times.... couldn't get past 48s mark.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2014-03-19 12:08
IME just stopping your breath, or under water, or playing a note on a clarinet... any of these vary a lot between different people. It's possible to improve but for whatever reason natural ability varies a lot. I know some people who can stop their breath for over two minutes and never practiced at all. I know people who can't do it for more than 15 second or even less. If I remember, the record (by some diver with unusually big lungs... or something) is about eight mintues.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2014-03-19 18:18
I'm a 65-year-old female, have never smoked and used to run long-distance (recreationally, not competitively) until I wrecked my knees. I don't know how to circular breathe. On a Bb clarinet, I can trust myself to hold clarion C as quietly as I can play it for 48 seconds on one breath. Occasionally (but not consistently) I can hold the clarion C longer than that, up to 53 seconds. I can hold chalumeau E quietly for between 51 seconds and 55 seconds. I need more air for the C two lines above the staff -- I can only trust myself for 46 seconds and my record while answering this question was 50 seconds. I wouldn't appreciate a composer requiring me to hold notes that long, however! -- I develop an unintentional vibrato in the last few seconds and often my tone will go sharp, too.
Equipment for this test: Buffet R13 Bb, Vandoren B45 mouthpiece, Mitchell Lurie Premium 3 reed.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2014-03-19 14:26)
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