 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: 2E
Date: 2007-07-17 23:45
Hey everyone,
Heres an interesting thought for consideration.
Your physical differences, no matter how miniscule, affect your playing through the mouthpiece and reed etc. In terms of breath support, if you're unfit does this suggest you're not playing with the correct breathing technique? Do we all need to work out and get six-packs to really support and fill up our instruments with heaps of air? I'm not unfit or out of shape so to speak, but a six pack would be nice if it helps my clarinet playing ... among other things :p haha
Your thoughts? 2E
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-07-18 00:13
a sixpack (of beer, that is) makes me burp and consequently my pitch falls by half a note. ![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif)
Re "breathing technique": I profited most from replacing the bell with a balloon and inflate it via the otherwise normally assembled clarinet. Strenghtens your embouchure, diaphragm and lung, teaches you how much finger pressure is actually needed for a tight seal, and is a free leak test. Plus it can be done at whatever time of day you want. Do this five minutes every day and you should be sixpacked in no time.
Be sure you select a mouthpiece/reed combination where you don't waste air. If the reed is too hard, it might sound airy, and your embouchure will be tired before your lung capacity is exhausted.
--
Ben
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2007-07-18 08:08
I do a lot of sport and I didn't notice that it improves anything in my playing. We have some VERY out of shape clarinetists/saxophonists around here and their breath when playing is great.
Post Edited (2007-07-18 08:15)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-07-18 14:57
Why have a 6-pack when you can have a barrel?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2007-07-18 16:24
Too funny!
I feel that I do have very very good muscle control in my abdomen. Like David, it's somewhere under a bunch of fat though! My students are always surprised when I have them tap my tummy while I'm "supporting" my air.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-07-18 16:43
Sensative subject . . . . but here's what I think . . .
I thought a lot about this. I think breath capacity is different than "being in shape". Being in shape, I think is how well your body utlizes the oxygen and how your muscles react. If I remember my health class from college correctly (hopefully) your body develops more red blood cells so your muscles can get more oxygen (for aerobic exercise, which would also increase your lung capacity).
When playing clarinet, we want more lung capacity to be able to simply blow air through the instrument. We're not using so many muscles that our body will need to necessarily be in better shape to keep up.
A crude, rough reasoning that I've come up with.
FWIW (and i'll use the Army APFT scoring scale so we have a scale to measure fitness on), I'm in decent shape according to army standards, but musically, I have a LOT to work on to come close to the ability of some (according to army standards) not in as good shape musicians that I've met.
Alexi
PS - However, if you are going to be a part of any type of musical group that moves at all (marches in parades, marching bands or drum/bugle corps, dance and play, etc) being in good shape would help you to keep from panting while playing.
Maybe we should all run around a track a few laps a week while playing scales from memory. In order to efficiently use our time and get in better shape . . . .
US Army Japan Band
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-07-18 17:08
> Maybe we should all run around a track a few laps a week while playing
> scales from memory. In order to efficiently use our time and get in better
> shape . . . .
There ya go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0kBETseDmQ
(edit: clickable link)
--
Ben
Post Edited (2007-07-18 17:13)
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2007-07-18 18:42
Wow Ben...
I wouldn't wanna try that with a clarinet though. I don't wanna be impaled!
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2007-07-19 07:32
Hey Chris LOL! 
Ben I want to see that clip with them using slide instead of valve trombone
Just remembered one time that shape actually was very important. I played with dancers and I was also dancing, pretty fast, and was circular breathing the whole time (not that long about 5 minutes I think). After that it felt like it was much bigger effort than running 5km. I guess the nerves of dancing in front of many professional dancers didn't help. I'm not even sure how I did it, but someone completely out of shape probably could not do it at all.
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Author: mk
Date: 2007-07-20 04:16
its interesting to note that lung capacity actually will increase dramatically for woodwind musicians. Health care providers involved in pulmonology use a device called a peak flow meter to help measure expiratory volume to help determine how well the lungs are working. If you get a chance to try one out you might be surprised how well your lungs have developed compared to the average person. As far as the 6 packs, they certainly can't hurt although many fabulous clarinetist's are lacking them.
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Author: 2E
Date: 2007-07-20 06:24
I know there are alot of out of shape musicians out there whether clarinet players or otherwise. Just look at Maynard Ferguson hmm. But if your not supporting with the right stomach muscles when you play woodwind - thats bad right? Maybe I'll just try working on those muscles haha.
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Author: CJB
Date: 2007-07-20 08:43
Clarinet playing can seriously effect the expected results from peak flow meters. I suffer from moderate asthma and went to see a doctor to investigate changing medication. Despite wheezing audibly throughout the consultation my peak flow was still above average.
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