 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: derf5585
Date: 2015-01-22 23:49
What are some ways to increase breathing capacity?
fsbsde@yahoo.com
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2015-01-23 00:59
* purchase a Wind-o product (expensive)
* blow into ballons of varied resistance (with control, not to blow your brains out)
* aerobic activity
* play long tones on clarinet
* simply play clarinet
* don't smoke if you do
* Make sure you get any outstanding respiratory problems looked at by a Pulmonologist.
* Get allergies, if any, under control.
(check with a doctor prior to physical activity)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2015-01-23 01:15
Here's an exercise from the great singer Jean Hakes. As you walk down the street, take a deep breath for one step, hold it for one step and let it all out for one step. Then increase it to 2+2+2, 3+3+3 and so on up to 10+10+10.
Then decrease it to 9+9+9 and so on down to 1+1+1 and begin again. An adult should be able to do this fairy easily.
I got it up to 13+13+13 and over the course of several months got to 16+16+16. Once, on a downhill block, I got to 20+20+20.
Another exercise is to play open G at the lowest possible volume and hold it for as long as possible. 60 seconds is an attainable goal.
I've also held two thin, hollow plastic coffee stirrers between my lips and blown against the resistance. An oboe staple (the corked brass tube, without the cane) also works.
I've also used an incentive spirometer (a/k/a Volodyne). http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DLDTC/ref=biss_dp_t_asn. It's made for use after surgery, but it works well for wind players. You INHALE slowly, stretching your lung capacity http://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments_and_procedures/hic_Your_Pre-Surgery_Visit_to_the_IMPACT_Center/hic-how-to-use-an-incentive-spirometer.
Arnold Jacobs, the tuba player in the Chicago Symphony, was a great expert on building breath capacity. Of course that's more important on tuba than clarinet, but he used a number of devices with his students http://www.windsongpress.com/breathing%20devices/breathing%20devices.htm.
Ken Shaw
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2015-01-23 01:23
Beyond what's mentioned above, here's an exercise taught by the Euphonist Brian Bowman at the camp I went to last summer:
First learn to breathe in properly. A lot of people don't use the full capacity of their lungs because they create unnecessary tension when breathing. Breathe in deeply and naturally, with an open throat as though you're yawning, making sure to stay totally relaxed and to not shrug your shoulders. You should feel your abdomen expanding on all sides "like an inner tube."
Once you've taken in (what you think is a) full breath, "sip" a few more sips of air. Even though you feel like you've already taken a full breath, it is likely that you will be able to fill your lungs even further by doing this.
Then let the air out with a "tsss," also making sure not to unnecessarily force the air out upon exhalation. Repeat.
Over time this will train you to be efficient with your breathing by staying relaxed, taking in your lung's full capacity and breathing out without undue tension.
He also suggested that while playing you should try taking "3-second breaths" whenever possible as a way to reinforce taking in a full, relaxed breath. Of course, most of the time the music won't allow for such slow breathing - it's just a method of reminding yourself from time to time.
Post Edited (2015-01-23 01:24)
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2015-01-23 01:38
Besides the good suggestions above, you could look at it from another angle:
Play using less air. Figure out how to create a big sound by using resonance like singers do, not by blowing loads of air into the instrument, like many people on this forum recommend.
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2015-01-23 01:42
After reading what Licquorice said, I'd like to clarify - the exercise I mentioned is meant for improving simply how much air you can hold in your lungs, not how much air you can blast through the instrument all at once. I agree with Liquorice's suggestion.
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2015-01-23 07:26
Another way to increase breath capacity is to become a castrato before puberty. Something about the long bones in the chest continuing to grow. Castratos were known for their awesome abilities in this area.
Kidding aside, for whatever reasons I have decent breath capacity. I have one of those incentive spirometers; I can max it and then continue inhaling at the same rate for about half again as long.
In my first incarnation as a clarinet student (until 1974) I was jogging several times a week and lifting weights the days in between. Lifting always included 3-4 sets of full squats. Doing reps of squats with added weight makes strenuous demands on your breathing; anyone who has done this exercise will readily agree. Some call them breath squats. Doing them will, over time, increase your breath capacity.
Despite that, there were some music passages that were torture for me, like the slow movement of the Brahms quintet using the breath marks and tempo my teacher wanted. (50 bpm)
Let me embarass myself. Back in '74, one Friday after work I went drinking with the guys. I was supposedly a "good" young man and had limited experience with drinking and other temptations. That afternoon I innocently drank way too much. While I was driving home I got pulled over by the local police. I failed their sobriety check, and they took me to the police station.
At the station, they wanted me to take a breathalyzer test. There were several cops with me. I was very cooperative and listened carefully as the officer instructed me on how to do the test. He said, "First exhale ALL the air out of you lungs, and then inhale the biggest breath you can, and then blow ALL that air into this tube."
I did exactly as he said. I exhaled until it hurt, then I slowly inflated my lungs until I thought I'd choke, and then I started to blow into the tube (which was connected through the device to a balloon on the other side.) No hurry, I thought, I'll just pretend I'm playing the Brahms quintet. So I kept slowly blowing, and the balloon kept expanding. I sensed the cops getting quiet, like they were holding still.
As I was nearing the limit of my exhale, the device suddenly emitted a distinct "snap" and came apart in my hands, and the balloon plopped to the floor. One of the cops exclaimed, "Jesus, he broke it!" I said, "I didn't mean to!" I thought I was in even more trouble then.
One of the cops picked up the pieces. He was chuckling. They all started to try and put the breathalyzer back together. I helped. We got it reassembled, and the cop told me, "Ok. We need you to blow into this again, but this time only half as much." I did so, and they had their sample.
(My BAC came back 0.19. It cost me $1000, I lost my driving license for three months, and I attended CRASH class. Overall it was one of my best lessons ever.)
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2015-01-23 07:32
Ken, when you do that Jean Hakes exercise you described, do you do the 1+1+1, then immediately on the next breath start the 2+2+2, and so forth, with no "recovery" breaths between the increases as you ramp up (or between the decreases ramping down?)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2015-01-23 18:19
Philip -
Yes. No recovery breaths. In fact, taking a good breath and exhale is difficult on 1+1+1 and 2+2+2.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2015-01-23 18:52
Ken, thanks. That continuous pyramid is quite demanding. It's tricky to make the inhales and exhales even at the different levels, so it's not just capacity, it's also about breath control. I like it; I'm going to practice it in my daily walks.
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Author: cyclopathic
Date: 2015-01-23 19:58
Google or youtube "Breathing Gym". There are quite a few videos.
Just remember if you not getting lightheaded or passing out, you are not doing them hard enough
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Author: TomS
Date: 2015-01-23 21:14
Blow up hot water bottles until they burst!
Tom
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