 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinet60
Date: 2013-09-17 23:34
About 8 months ago I began the slow process of getting back into shape. As a 53 year-old, I was starting to feel my age and knew I needed to do something about it (although I was never terribly "out of shape" I wasn't particularly in great athletic condition either). It is has taken me a long time before I could even jog a mile or two -and it was REALLY difficult. I started walking, then going a bit faster - running a hundred feet, then two, etc.. A bit more each day. Finally after 8 months, I'm feeling quite a bit better. I didn't set out to start running because of my clarinet playing (I've played my whole life - degree in music/semi-pro) as I never noticed a problem. However, when I was playing the other day, I noticed that I was getting through long etudes, Baermann, JeanJean, etc..., where there is continual music with no real place for breathing, that I could grab the quick breath and keep going without having to stop. I also noticed that my breath control was much better and also my tonal focus. It appears that the running has helped my playing in quite a few ways. Now I'm hooked. I've always heard about the cardiovascular benefits of exercise, especially for wind players, but I didn't really think about it until now. I know that jogging or running is not possible for everyone and it certainly can be a chore, but any type of physical exercise, biking, swimming, fast walking, and the like, where you really get the heart rate up is going to make a difference, especially if you're in a sedentary type job like me. Stamina improvements are great when you're playing long pieces in ensemble or solo. I would recommend this highly to anyone who is looking to improve their playing as it also helps mental focus. I never thought I would be the one saying this but I did want to pass this along as its a great way to kick your playing up a notch. If you've had a similar experience, it would be great to hear about it!
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Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2013-09-18 01:22
As a runner and clarinet player, I couldn't agree more! It does get easier when you're in better shape overall and especially better cardiovascular shape!
On the flip side, it gets harder when you get more out of shape (I broke my foot and haven't been running in a few months!)
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2013-09-18 14:04
Little different experience. I played for 50+ years before catching a debilitating breathing condition, perhaps caused by a virus. Recovered from it partly because playing all those years made my lungs very strong.
richard smith
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Author: Roxann
Date: 2013-09-18 15:23
About four years ago, I started playing my clarinet again after a 40+ year hiatus. In addition, I've been a mountain biker for about 25 years and always noticed that I just didn't seem to have the lung capacity my riding buddies had. HOWEVER, after a few months of playing, I noticed my lung capacity improving while biking. I feel the biking is helping my lung capacity with my playing and visa versa. A great combo.
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Author: MSK
Date: 2013-09-18 16:34
It is also my experience that those times in my life when I am in better cardio condition my breath control and ability to hold those long sustained tones is also better. Really it's just common sense. I never understand the wind players who smoke. Surely, it must compromise their breath control.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2013-09-20 15:03
I did long-distance running as a hobby for years before my knees gave out. I'm convinced that running and playing wind instruments both fed the hot-air machine. (And it no doubt helps that I've never smoked.) The benefits haven't entirely gone away, even though I've had too much arthritis in my legs to run at all for a number of years. It seems to me that playing winds has helped kept my cardiovascular system healthy since I quit running. Or maybe it's just that people lucky enough to be born with decent cardiovascular systems in the first place tend to gravitate to running and playing winds -- sort of the opposite of a vicious circle.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2013-09-20 21:31
I used to run but stopped because it felt bad for my knees (and I was about 25 at the time).
I now do some sports and especially swim.
But I know a sax/clarinet player who smokes like an old train and can "outbreath" me easily. I think genetics are probably a big part of it.
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2013-09-21 14:12
I agree that regular exercise is helpful to playing. I used to run, but my knees can't take it anymore, so I walk and bike instead.
A couple of you mentioned smoking . . . there are still some fine wind players out there who smoke, but I would guess it isn't as common as it once was.
I knew a principal clarinet player (who is no longer with us and who shall go nameless) in a major symphony orchestra who was a heavy smoker. He was an outstanding player, but he once had to cancel a concerto performance at the last minute because he was feeling shortness of breath. I really wonder how those heavy smokers--who were great players--did it.
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