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Re: techniques to develop diaphragm breathing

Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2019-07-31 10:08

Although the Alexander Technique is pretty amazing and surely worth studying it is not directly related to breathing. I feel it is more related to balance. Taking the tension off of your body when playing the clarinet or any instrument and even going for a walk. So lets say the human head weighs about 12 pounds on average or so. When you walk if your head is in position and balanced it feels great when you walk, but if you tilt your head forward just a shade the weight of your head is suddenly putting 12 pounds of force in your neck and your shoulders.

Thus proper head position, the Alexander Technique, when playing the clarinet and other instruments, takes away stress.

Well do you know where the diaphragm is located and how it actually works? This topic bugs me. Yes I've studied with Bob Marcellus and before that Fred Ormand who I feel had a keen sense and a strong hold at teaching young teens how to play. My feeling is the whole area is important. The easiest way to perhaps learn how to get comfortable is to walk fast or run a short distance and feel what your body is doing. You can't stop your lungs from working, the stomach muscles to stop , nor the diaphragm. If you aren't in the mood to exercise you can blow up a balloon. Once the balloon gets some use it becomes much easier. If you do this exercise for a bit, maybe looking into a mirror you can see what your body is doing.

So forget about the diaphragm. Most people have no idea where it's located and how it works and how big it is. Is it on the right side or left side of your body? How big is it? Does it work when you inhale or exhale? Where is it connected to? My guess as I write this 1 out of 500 people reading this really don't know! Don't worry, I didn't either until I looked it up in a medical book and realized it was a word that wasn't used properly. "Breath through your diaphragm?" What does this me? Forget about it. Buy a balloon or go for a fast walk or a jog.

Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces

Yamaha Artist 2015

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