 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Alfred
Date: 2008-06-24 05:22
Clarinbass mentioned circular breathing in a thread, and it made me wonder, how many people here circular breathe, or have implemented circular breathing in playing before? I circular breath quite a bit, personally. But I've found that I need a reed that adds a bit of resistance if I'm going to utilize circular breathing effectively.
I also have trouble circular breathing in faster passages, and in higher passages. Circular breathing also sends me tone south, and makes me go flat.
So, again, how many here circular breath, and could anyone give advice?
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2008-06-24 13:12
I can. I use it sometimes in performance emergencies, but because of pitch, I avoid it if I can. However I DO use it everyday in practice. It helps when I repeat a phrase over and over. With circular breathing it is a difference of 80 passes in 2 minutes or 20 passes in 30 seconds. It is great for things like that.
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Author: Tara
Date: 2008-06-24 13:54
The only time I've ever used it was holding some note forever in the vamp of a musical. I sort of did it by accident one night, and then I worked on it and used it every night after!
But I personally can't use it effectively on anything technical. Just the piano long note
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-06-24 14:58
I don't remember the last concert I haven't used circular breathing. I use it anything from playing longer phrases to music to a few mintues without stopping (usually solos but sometimes duos or more). I think in the music I play circular breathing is simply a natural part. I don't play usual repertoire so I have no idea if you really need it if this is what you play.
I only rarely use it when reading parts, only when it is necessary. It's also not often that I use it to hold one note, though I did have one piece where I needed to hold a low E on bass clarinet for I guess it was about seven minutes.
I think not playing flat is just a matter of practice. I can only say how it was for me. After not managing to do it for a while someone showed me in person and shortly after I "got it". After I managed to do it basically, I then found the two hardest parts are to make a good sound the moment you use your chicks air, and the moment to come back from the chicks air to regular air. I think I practiced it almost every day for a long time (usually until I just couldn't anymore because it hurt, which I can't really recommend).
At first the higher register of soprano clarinet is harder but after practice all the registers are possible.
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Author: HudsonAD
Date: 2008-06-24 15:28
I circular breathe very frequently, both in performance of contemporary and classic solo literature as well as in an orchestra or wind ensemble setting. I think the technique seems very daunting at first, but if one can find a simple methodology from a teacher experienced in the practice, it can take virtually no time at all to begin circular breathing in some form or fashion.
In my experience as far as pitch is concerned, there is often a tendency to really bite hard on the reed while breathing in, and then the relaxation of ones jaw while returning to the regular airstream causes the pitch to plummet! Keeping the embouchure feeling really natural is essential to developing an organic circular breath.
Here is a great method to begin experimenting if anyone is interested!
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Study/CircularBreathing.html
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Author: vjoet
Date: 2008-06-24 17:12
I don't recall where I read it, possibly on this board. In essence the quote was:
Mr. ? taught that circular breathing and multiphonics should be meticulously practiced and mastered, and then promptly discarded as abberations.
Sounds good to me, an amateur.
Vann Joe
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2008-06-25 00:11
Dr. Johnson had similar views about cucumbers;
"A cucumber should be well sliced, and dressed with pepper and vinegar, and then thrown out, as good for nothing."
Don't know though, I like a bit of cucumber now and then. Circular breathing is fun to do now and then. But multi phonics are nuts!
Clarinet Redux
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-06-25 05:30
I use multiphonics often too, though not as often as not using them. I think the quote of what Mr. ? said is funny but silly.... I don't practice things I don't play. I think maybe a clear comparison could be that all the "unusual things" that I (and others) use (like circular breathing, multiphonics, etc.) are to my (and their) music the same as what the C major scale is to the Mozart concerto (or choose any other example that would say basically the same thing). Not saying these "things" are never used in a silly way (i.e. for no reason) but you could say the same thing about the C major scale in a very bad piece in C major.
Post Edited (2008-06-25 08:24)
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