 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: mags
Date: 2004-02-01 09:25
I am 45 and female..and have been learning to play the clarinet just 4 months now. As I am overweight...but I'm not horrendously unfit....I wondered how excess weight..in particular my lungs would affect my playing..Maybe it doesn't. I've been wondering for ages whether to put this on the site....as you all seem to be very advanced....but I want to know...so that is that..I am 7 stones overweight. I am guessing that any exercise that makes you pant (keep it clean) will be good for me. Tell me your thoughts....I love the site....even although I don't understand a lot of the questions..Lots of Love...I Love you all.......Margaretxxxx
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Author: Rachel
Date: 2004-02-01 09:53
I don't really know anything about the subject, but I imagine that yes, any exercise which "makes you pant" will benefit your overall fitness, which can only help your playing. I would think that playing a wind instrument might have some effect on your fitness, too.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2004-02-01 11:20
Most of us males out here would be extremely hesitant to say anything on this subject, it can be dangerous!
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Author: Dee
Date: 2004-02-01 12:10
Being overweight does indeed cut your wind so improving your fitness will help. There are some long passages that really should be played on one breath. In addition, one needs to be able to control the air support and that is easier if one is fit.
Now at 7 stones overweight, please start by seeing a doctor before beginning an exercise program. That's a tremendous burden on the system. I suspect that he will suggest starting with simple daily walking.
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2004-02-01 14:11
I'm sure that 7 stones excess must have a negative effect on lung capacity, but there have been some successful opera singers that carried a couple of extra stones.
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Author: john gibson
Date: 2004-02-01 14:30
Mags..
Being American, I'm not sure what 7 stones is in terms of pounds....
I have a very dear friend that I've recently been in touch with...she too was overweight, but lost 90 pounds and is now feeling a lot better about herself....Personally I don't worry about a person's "poundage" except it's
affect on health. See your doctor and ask about a program that will be of benefit to you. Lose the weight so you're healthy.....and play that clarinet girl.
John Gibson
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Author: Dee
Date: 2004-02-01 14:44
According to the dictionary, 1 stone = 14 pounds.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-02-01 19:19
I remember a very long discussion about the relationship to weight, physical fitness and playing. I don't think that excess weight would be helpful/harmful to playing. Your weight would affect other areas of life, however some of the best players I have seen/heard are overweight however when you put an instrument in their hands they can outplay some of the most "in-shape" players I've seen. I don't really see a correlation and think that, as far as music goes, to worry about your technique and musicality before even wondering what the effects of weight would do on your playing.
Alexi
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=111091&t=110969
US Army Japan Band
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-02-01 20:27
Meg: There are more than a few players in the bands I play in who are well above average weight and , typically, they are better players than average. This is not to say that being heavy is an advantage. Best wishes.
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2004-02-01 22:09
"there have been some successful opera singers that carried a couple of extra stones"
I can think of a very famous African-American operatic soprano whom I would guess to be rather more than 28 pounds above the medically-approved ideal weight for her height.
I am personally acquainted with at least two clarinettists of near-professional standard who are significantly overweight. Not by 100 pounds, granted.
Please be assured of one thing, we are not all very advanced!
-----------
If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-02-02 01:05
Fat ladies (not to mention Pavarotti) can definitely sing. Gino Cioffi was close to 300 lb, and Philip Meyers hit, I think, 400, though he's lost a lot lately.
Lose weight for your health, but don't let it worry you about playing clarinet.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Sue R
Date: 2004-02-02 02:38
mags,
I to am 45, a woman and overweight. For the past three months I've been taking Tae Kwon Do classes and am slowly losing weight about a pound a week. I started this for the sole purpose of losing the weight but what I've discovered is it has also helped me with other aspects of my life. My concentration has improved (for those difficult passages) not to mentioned my stress level, again for those darn passages !. It also has forced me to pay better attention to breath support and control.
Just to be safe see your doctor if you decide to start a exercise program.
Once again for me it has been well worth it !.
Good Luck !
Sue R
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2004-02-02 04:28
Lose the weight for yourself! I'm 53 and have lost "3 stone" + over the last 2 years. I still want to lose 2 more "stones" but I feel MUCH better with the side benefit of looking better (and younger they tell me.)
I lost the weight not for my playing or singing, but I'm a carpenter/ woodworker and I was feeling it when I was framing or climbing a ladder. I didn't add exercise as I've always been very active, I'll walk 5 miles+ just for recreation, my problem is over eating. I just cut out sugars, some fats, and cut down on portions.
Good Luck!
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-02-02 04:31
Margaret, the greatest problem regarding overweight and wind instruments (including voices) relates to the size of the belly.
From Physiology 101:
Inhaling is most properly done by a contraction of the diaphragm muscle. This moves the center of the dome-shaped diaphragm downward, compressing the abdominal organs and reducing pressure in the chest cavity. This expands the lungs, decreasing their internal pressure, so air flows through the nose or mouth into the lungs. When the diaphragm is released, the abdominal organs return to their original positions. The lungs thus are compressed, and air is exhaled. Forcing air from the lungs more rapidly, when necessary, is done by contracting the abdominal muscles, squeezing the abdominal organs and forcing the diaphragm's center upward.
When the abdominal organs are crowded by fatty tissue, the diaphragm is prevented from going downward as far as otherwise possible without extreme straining (perhaps not at all), and the volume of air in the lungs can't become as great as it should. So it's easier to run out of "wind."
Breathing that isn't as good can be done by expanding and compressing the upper chest, but that will not even come close to using all of the available lung capacity.
Exercise to make you pant for a while is good aerobic stuff, which can make your heart healthier. But for general weight loss, running five miles will yield hardly more caloric consumption.than walking five miles. But it will take a longer time.
See your physician. Explain that you would like to start a weight loss program. Many people have been successful by reducing high-calorie food intake and adding regular mild exercise, such as walking. By the way, removing only a single three-ounce (85 gm) chocolate bar from your food intake each day can result in a loss of about three stone total over 12 month's time. After two years, your weight would be almost "perfect." There would be no overnight miraculous improvement, but you would experience doing better slowly over the entire period of time. Get your physician's recommendations before making any changes, though, so you can be sure you are doing it safely.
Do well, and enjoy more wind. Thanks for requesting information. That in itself says you are serious about this.
Regards,
John
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2004-02-02 21:06
Attachment: SyBo Passport photo before the diet.jpg (4k)
Attachment: SyBo after the All Carrion diet.jpg (59k)
As a fat boy in training, I can say that my well earned extra baggage doesn't hurt my playing, or wind capacity. It can't help, either.
The real reason top professional musicians are skinny is that they can't afford both reeds and food.
The principal flautist in the nearby top orchestra is a huge man.
My teacher can't even be seen behind him... and that guy can play!
******
Seriously, if playing makes you see "stars" or feel like you may pass out in a dead faint, see your doc about a bloodpressure check.
Ya dinna need ta be Kylie Minouge to play a horn!
See ya in the funny papers, Mags.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-02-02 22:36
Quote:
The real reason top professional musicians are skinny is that they can't afford both reeds and food.
Now that's gonna keep me laughing every time I think about it! Thanks SB!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: diz
Date: 2004-02-03 03:37
To put it bluntly ... being overweight does you no good. There are no positive benefits over being overweight and certainly none to being obese ... this is detremental to your health. End of story. Once you flick your mind around, the challenege of loosing those extra kilos/pounds/stones is made much more easy.
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Author: mamashep
Date: 2004-02-03 04:28
Mags,
I can only assume that you have heard all of the arguments for weight loss before, so I will skip the lectures on that subject and only address your question about how extra weight affects playing.
I, too, carry a good deal of extra weight, and have since I began playing 15 years ago. From the beginning, the biggest detriment to my playing because of weight was from personal insecurity associated with being an overweight teenager, not the physical demands of playing the clarinet. I've always led the pack in technique, breath control, musicality, etc. Building good technique will go a lot farther that simply losing a few pounds.
Practice plenty of long tones to build (abdominal) muscle strength and lung capacity (just like everyone should), and you will be well on your way to happy clarinetting for years to come.
On the flip side, there is certainly nothing wrong with trying to be as healthy as you can!
BTW, I finished my degree in music performance (clarinet) and have been a happy and successful player around my community, even lugging around quite a few extra pounds.
Good luck, and happy playing!
mamashep
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