 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Matthewlawson3
Date: 2006-07-19 23:38
Hi I am a clarinet player and I have been playing for about ten years...and have had a private teacher and enjoy playing and all. I tried when I had my private teacher to fix my biggest problem..and I guess I did not fully apply what he taught me at the time about how to take full deep breaths, I don't even remember what he said now. That has always been my problem I don't take full enough breaths so I kill myself sometimes...what can I do to practice taking deep breaths and making it stick..so I won't die? Thanks.
Matthew Lawson
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Author: FDF
Date: 2006-07-20 02:44
Lie with your back flat on the floor, your legs shoulder length apart, your body in perfect alignment, with your head straight. Place your hand on your stomach and take a deep breath on a count of four while pumping up your stomach. Your hand will rise. Hold your breath for a count of eight. Then, slowly release the air on another count of eight using muscles at the bottom of your stomach. Visualize squeezing a tube of toothpaste from the bottom. Your hand on your stomach will go down; your muscles will support a sustained column of air. Breath deeply without raising your shoulders, but use your diaphragm. The way to assure you are using your diaphragm is by pumping up your stomach. Repeat and memorize this action sensation. There are other exercises that follow, but deep diaphragmatic breathing is the correct support you are seeking.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2006-07-20 23:04
I have heard that current thinking for singers is that intercostal breathing (using the muscles between the ribs) is just as important.
For this breathing, the sides of the chest should expand sideways - feel it by placing the backs of the hands against the sides of the chest - and the back should expand also. Of course the front of the rib cage will also expand somewhat.
Use both diaphragmatic inhalation as explained above, and also intercostal breathing, but do NOT raise the shoulders. Raising shoulders has nothing to do with breathing, but only introduces unwanted tension.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2006-07-20 23:15
Another item of import, from my teacher some 20 years ago...
Think "O" when inhaling. This will help to get as much air in as possible while following the other advice above. Additionally, relax the muscles at the front of the neck/throat in order to have less resistance. Keep these muscles relaxed while playing too!
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