The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: claclaws
Date: 2005-01-18 03:32
Even though my teacher kept telling me 'relax', my shoulder, neck, upper arms just couldn't get relaxed. As I started to learn the yoga for the first time, I found out how stiff those parts of my body were and still are.
I hope my daily yoga exercises will do wonders.
Could anyone share their experiences about yoga and better clarinetting? I think we have once heard many workout options(sports for clarinetists), but I'd like to have more info especially about yoga and clarinet.
Lucy Lee Jang
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Author: Avie
Date: 2005-01-18 04:12
I think that doing yoga stretching in between clarinet practice sets prevents you from getting stiff so that alone would bennefit your clarinet playing. And you will get fit physically and mentally at the same time. Im not a yoga salesman, just a believer.
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Author: Erdinet
Date: 2005-01-18 09:33
Its not yoga, but I do pilates workouts at least twice a week now and have noted an improvement in my ability to hold the instrument in place longer, sit and concentrate for longer periods, and also just generally feel more flexible. The one caveat with pilates is the breathing though. It is the opposite of the way I breathe when playing. So my pilates technique suffers....
All musicians of all levels should be doing some sort of activity. We all sit around in funny, unnatural positions for too long. It takes a toll.
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Author: VermontJM
Date: 2005-01-19 10:31
I do Ashtanga Yoga. I have found that my posture is MUCH better and my breathing is better and deeper when I am regularly doing yoga.
I also tend to be able to sit longer, concentrate more and have a LOT more patience with myself. Yoga's ideas of nonviolence towards self and the idea that I have a lifetime to learn a pose have trickled into my clarinet playing- I no longer "play through the pain" and I don't get angry at myself when I can't play a part perfectly. Instead, I tell myself that I have an entire lifetime to learn that part. This makes me less tense and I then tend to learn the part faster because the tension is gone.
I am all for yoga.
Cheers!
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Author: Erdinet
Date: 2005-01-20 00:01
Pilates is a system of exercises developed in the early 20th Century by one Josef Pilates. It takes some from yoga, tai chi, and may be even the martial arts. It can be done on a mat like yoga or with machinery that was developed by Josef Pilates.
I often describe the work out as "Yoga with out the spiritual stuff." I find that yoga has an overtly prostelityzing tinge to it at times. Pilates is strictly a work out. You can take it as "deep" as you like. Its somewhat low impact and does not build bulk. It is poplular among dancers and has become more known due to the number of celebrities that endorse Pilates work outs. Pilates focuses mainly on building up the "core muscles" the abs, lower back, and ham strings. I tend to describe the feel of a work out as a cross between weightlifting and a massage.
I cannot say enough good things about it. Also, if you are in an area that has it, try gyrotonics...its pretty cool too.
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2005-01-20 13:57
I've found QiGong movements (similar to Tai Chi) to be very helpful with respect to physical conditioning, breath support, relaxation, etc.
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Author: leonardA
Date: 2005-01-21 03:48
I do both Yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi, and they all relax me and make me more flexible, which makes me relax when playing.
Leonard
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Author: diz
Date: 2005-01-21 04:02
Pilates is fine, so long as you've not eaten a curry an hour or two before the class ...
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
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