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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The Clarinet BBoard
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