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Breathing during a piece by Lefevre

Author: DLE
Date: 2003-01-24 15:10

Hello,
I was just wondering how all of you manage to not run out of breath during for example: "sonata no.9" by Xavier Lefevre. My accompanist and i have run through this piece as fast as we can, and still by the end of the first movement I am gasping for breath. Any tips on helping me breathe in this piece would be appreciated.
Thanks.
DLE.

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RE: Breathing during a piece by Lefevre

Author: nzdonald
Date: 2003-01-24 16:56

my experience playing any of these sonatas (both in the "piano versions" and the original "clarinet plus bass instrument" versions) is that you will expire. On the early clarinet you needed to less resistant setup, and this may have contributed to them being able to play longer.
One bit of advice that helped me was from a German flute teacher- he said that i was getting tired not only because i was running out of air, but because i was also taking too much air in sometimes and needed to exhale- so he had me practise phrases, only breathing in as much air as i needed (small breaths for small phrases etc) and this REALLY HELPED.
.... another thing that helped was doing scales- this improves stamina
good luck
donal

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RE: Breathing during a piece by Lefevre

Author: Tim2
Date: 2003-01-26 03:02

It helps to breathe out any bad air before taking in a breath for the next phrase, getting rid of the "bad air."

nzdonald is right, build that stamina, scales, long phrases, and sonatas by Lefevre.

Practice long tones, each one starting ppp growing ever so gradually to ff and then ever so gradually back to ppp. Listen to your pitch on each note as it grows, not letting the pitch fall. Listen to your quality of sound as each note grows in dynamic, that the sound does not become distorted playing ff, staying as clear and focused as when playing ppp. Pay attention to the breath support you give each note, that you support as much when you play ppp as when you play ff. Support will give your sound strength. Good luck.

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RE: Breathing during a piece by Lefevre

Author: DLE
Date: 2003-01-27 10:56

Thanks for the info. I do have one further query though;
Many of you have glorified how much easier the piece is on a period instrument. I wonder since I play a leblanc clarinet with a vandoren mouthpiece, if for this piece I should switch to my leblanc mouthpiece as it is 'easy blowing'. This would however slightly damage the tone quality. Also i am not sure whether this will solve the problem as it will probably mean I will have to breathe even more! Will probably stick to the set-up I've got and have practised on, but just thought I might take some advice anyhow...
Practising's going well by the way.
DLE.

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