 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Laurie
Date: 2000-05-29 23:39
Help everyone. I find myself running out of every two notes. I don't know what my problem is. I have a friend named Yogurt who has the same problem. We sometimes try to play together and it's just no good. We're just huffin and puffin away and we can never find enough air. I also have another problem. My "friend" "Yogurt" He has some personal hygene problems too and it makes his clarinet smell really bad. So bad that i can smell it from where I am sitting when we play together. How can I tell him nicely about this? And what can I suggest to him for getting rid of the odour. I would really appreciate your help. Thank you!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jack Itov
Date: 2000-05-30 03:33
I have seen some good advise in the past where you have to breathe in heavy before blowing, this will help you with your air issue. You will never have wind problems again. As for your friend. I think I know who you're talking about and there really is nothing you can do. He just smells and you'll have to live with it. Try playing with him less this way you won't have to stand it for long periods of time. Don't be afraid to tell him that he smells. He will appreciate you in the end and love you forever. Thanks.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Willie
Date: 2000-05-30 04:37
I've found this problem with several students that were absolute couch potatos. By not exerting themselves with outside play or sports, they just have never developed a need to breath deep. I know some pro musicians who taken up jogging, not for physical fitness, but to improve thier breathing and lung capacity.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Meredith H
Date: 2000-05-30 05:37
Are you trying to blow your guts out at band? I can hold a note indefinitely at home but when it comes to the fortissimo sections in band I can barely make a bar. I can't offer anything too useful though other than to say that you must be doing something wrong with the way you breathe in or control the outflow of air to have to breathe as often as every 2 beats. Can you play long notes during practice?
As for the hygiene problem if you find a way to deal with the situation tactfully let us all know. I have to sit next to a girl in band who has such bad halitosis that she nearly knocks me out, as well as the girl on the other side of me, while we are playing. I don't know how to tell her without hurting her feelings so I just suffer in silence.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-05-30 05:57
Oh, boy... maybe you both need to be seen by a health care provider ????
ron b.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Eoin
Date: 2000-05-30 11:07
There are two possible reasons why you don't have enough air. You might not breathe in deep enough or you might blow out too much air when playing. It is more likely to be the second of these. Most people are able to breathe in; it doesn't take much practise. Blowing out evenly takes much more practise.
The first rule is to hold in your stomach. If you play sitting down, sit up straight without putting your back against the chairback. You may need to slope your thighs downwards slightly. A good way to do this is to perch at the front of your seat with your feet in under the chair. Now pull in your stomach while you play. If you stand while playing, things are a bit easier. Just remember to pull in your stomach.
Once you have done this, you should be able to produce an even stream of air which will last a lot longer than two beats. You should be able to get to the end of phrases and still have lots of air left over.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-05-30 12:29
I think basic physical fitness is the key. In early 1998, I spent a total of 44 days in the hospital in a two-month period, and even when not in the hospital, I was pretty well flattened. I managed to exercise a little bit. My husband figured out that 13 laps around the hospital ward was a mile. He pushed the IV stand and we trudged two miles a day that way, but it was very slow walking -- really just enough to prevent pneumonia and the other circulatory problems that develop in people who have to stay in bed. (Two miles seems like a lot if you set out to walk it for exercise, but think about the amount of walking you normally do every day just running regular errands and doing housework -- two miles is far below normal activity.) About a week after I finally made it home from the hospital for good, I got out the clarinet and found that I couldn't play it *at all*.
I had no air support and would literally gasp for breath after a few notes. In fact, that's when I started reading this BB, for some inspiration. My husband had signed us up for the Internet in part to give me something to do while I got well! I couldn't even pick up the bass sax out of its case, let alone play it. I had to start gradually on a soprano recorder and work my way back to reed instruments. The value of a strong cardiovascular system became totally apparent.
It was quite a shock to me to be this out of shape, since I used to run marathons (recreationally, not competitively). I was also way underweight and somewhat anemic, so my blood lacked its normal oxygen-carrying capacity. As I recovered and returned to more normal physical exercise, my breath control came right back. That was an extreme example of what can happen to anyone who's out of shape and gets back in shape again.
I think swimming, running, doing aerobic dancing or walking regularly can all build good lung power. Just check with the doctor if there's any question about general health, before starting a vigorous exercise program.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Laur
Date: 2000-05-30 21:19
Laurie/'Yogurt' -
Also before practicing - do long notes .. Take a C - play it a pp - then gradually build up to fff - etc... creshendo it - Do this repeadly on each note. My director recommonded this to me -and it really works.
Lelia - wow.. that's all i could say. I hope i have the same courage/motivation as you if something ever happens as such in your situtation - Good for you
Laur
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Meredith H
Date: 2000-05-31 02:28
Eoin said 'Now pull in your stomach while you play. If you stand while playing,things are a bit easier. Just remember to pull in your stomach.'
I have been taught the exact opposite of the 'pull you stomach in' bit. I had some lessons from a professional musician a couple of months ago and he said that you stomach should be pushed OUT and tight the entire time you play to properly support your notes. He made me play and placed his hand over my stomach to ensure there was firm pressure there while I was playing. Furthermore, the more you run out of air the harder you should push with your diaphragm.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Eoin
Date: 2000-05-31 14:08
You are right, Meredith!
Thinking about it, pushing out your stomach should lower your diaphragm, increasing the size of your chest cavity and giving you more air to play with.
I think it doesn't matter so much whether your stomach is in or out; the important thing is that it should be tight. To tighten it, you must sit or stand with you back straight as I said.
Eoin
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Eoin
Date: 2000-05-31 14:11
Perhaps the best way to let Yogurt know about his problem is by posting it on a public discussion group like this one, less than 15 minutes after Yogurt has posted a message on the same group. That way, he's sure to see yours when he looks for answers to his question. :^)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
