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Re: Air pressure

Author: Craig Matovich
Date: 2007-08-05 03:25

That is a very good and difficult question.

I realize you asked at least three questions, but lets start it off and see how it goes...

Air support, or pressure as you called it is an essential foundation piece of good tone, reliable response and evenly sustained pitch control.

It does require some muscular, abdominal, even throat action to produce and there is a big trap in all this. That is excessive muscular involvement.

Try this; light a candle and place it 5 feet away, take a relaxed deep breath and blow at the candle. Try this several times and notice the more relaxed you are the more movement the candle flame will show.

Huff and puff and blow at the candle. Really, its three little pigs stuff.

Huff (slow and deep air intake 'ah' and then say 'hoo' as you huff at the candle.

Puff (prepare some back pressure after intake 'ha' and sau 'poo' as you blow toward the candle.

Do this several times... get familiar with how much effect you have on the candle flame.

Then try this, prepare for the 'poo' pressurized blow, but first tense as many muscles as you can. Flex your arms, legs, hands an fingers tightly in a fist...hold that tension and then try to 'poo' the candle flame. You will hardly move it.

Excessive tension is the enemy.

Minimally required pressure is the right amount. Keep blowing candles from even further away, blow on potted plants from 4 - 8 feet and get so you can move the leaves. You will be on track to the correct back pressure we need to play oboe.

And note, if reeds require super efforts, they are way too stiff and rob you of efficiency just like the cramped up drill above.

So with a good sense of reasonable air support in place, it will also inform you about the proper reed resistence. A good balance is essential and they are seriously intertwined.

Pressure and even air flow need happen before the tone is produced. And then it is not attacked, it is simply released... pressure, pitch expectation in place, tone also, volume, quality of sound desired... all ready,... air pressure there, and the tongue simply removes itself from the reed.

This is some serious karate kid lesson topic. Great question!

Different ranges of pitch require some accomodation ala the Mack X, so start in the middle and work you way outward to upper and lower ranges to calibrate yourself for the right mix of X components for each oboe note we play.

Post Edited (2007-08-05 03:29)

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