 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BaconLord
Date: 2020-02-02 11:51
I’ve been focusing lately on the whole Air Support concept.
As we know, when one breathes in correctly for clarinet, we breathe in from our diaphragm, thus making our belly expand.
But what about when we exhale and push out the air? I’ve heard different answers from multiple clarinetists and colleagues ranging in skill level.
When I push out the air into the clarinet and tighten my core (to support), does my belly need to go in our out? Or what does it need to do?
Also, how can I make my airstream more narrow and focused so that my sound doesn’t spread?
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-02-02 14:00
Belly out. This was discussed between two of the best teacher/players I knew growing up, and that's what they found to be common amongst them and others of their ilk.
It may be helpful to think of the whole thing as a system under pressure. The reed sets up the number of vibrations per second for the air column in the clarinet (what we actually hear) but it is the pressure generated and maintained in the mouth and down through the lungs that gives the air column in the clarinet energy.
I believe it is further helpful to think of your oral cavity like a bicycle inner tube. If we were able to use an air pressure gauge on our mouthes while blowing, there might be an ideal number representing pressure per square inch for a nice resonant sound.
There are lots of other ideas about making the process more efficient (avoiding AHHHH posture for tongue which actually slightly blocks the free flow of air, or ensuring the tip of the tongue remains close to the tip of the reed to focus air flow at that point) but I feel that maintaining air pressure is the key factor in creating resonance and a steady sound.
................Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2020-02-02 19:41)
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2020-02-02 15:59
"As we know, when one breathes in correctly for clarinet, we breathe in from our diaphragm, thus making our belly expand."
This concept of inhalation is now largely considered "old hat" (despite much of the misinformation that you will read here) and can lead to all kinds of problems and unnecessary tensions. And what does "breathe in from our diaphragm" mean, anyway? It's impossible to breathe in without using the diaphragm. A far more effective way to think about breathing could be described as "full torso" breathing. Here is a very basic explanation by an Alexander Technique teacher:
https://alexandertechniqueinternational.com/what-is-the-alexander-technique/why-use-at/voice-breath/
The advantages of this include increased volume of air, increased resonance in the sound and less unnecessary tension and associated postural problems.
It is my personal opinion that the concept of "support" for playing the clarinet, as described by many here, is largely over-emphasised. And I think the reason for this is because of the insistence on "belly breathing". Once you can take full, relaxed breaths and play with more resonance, you won't need to play overly resistant material and Blow Like Hell to get a full, rich sound. That's my approach anyway. There are many ways to play the clarinet...
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Author: igalkov
Date: 2020-02-02 18:07
Belly stays out at all time. What potentially can became smaller during exhale is upper chest. No any added stress in or tension in the belly, chest, shoulders or any other muscles. I’ve developed a beautiful visualization of exhale. It’s a direct continuation of inhale. I inhale deep through my body, in the «center» of it, like pushing a «rod» of air deep in my guts and even deeper. And when I exhale, I do not breath into instrument of change the direction the inhaled air in any way, I continue pushing a rod of air deeper in guts and out from the bottom of the body. God if I only found this twenty years ago...
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