I should have remembered this…but it wasn’t until my son was attacking me during tonights practice session that I remembered that standing to play makes a real difference in lung capacity! I’ve been gasping on some slow airs, and wondering what it was I’m doing wrong…I’m going to stand for those from now on!
I just mention this because I’ve heard a few complaints now and then about how much air some whistles take, and there might be a few novices here who don’t realize the advantages of standing.
On 2003-02-15 20:04, spittin_in_the_wind wrote:
I should have remembered this…but it wasn’t until my son was attacking me during tonights practice session that I remembered that standing to play makes a real difference in lung capacity! I’ve been gasping on some slow airs, and wondering what it was I’m doing wrong…I’m going to stand for those from now on!
I just mention this because I’ve heard a few complaints now and then about how much air some whistles take, and there might be a few novices here who don’t realize the advantages of standing.
Robin
Very true! Another thing most people don’t think of is, stick that belly out! We’re so used to trying to hold it in, we find it hard to think about pushing it out, but it makes a huge difference in how far you can drop your diaphragm (and, thus, how well you can control your air flow).
Proper Posture is the essence of good sound/tonal production. (can you tell I’ve been a band nerd for too long?? ) One other tip to remember for good air support is to not ‘breathe with your shoulders.’ (ie. when taking breath, raising your shoulders and ducking your head… very common, actually) You need to think “barrel-chest”… expand your stomach and torso area when you breathe, and you will be able to go for so much longer on one breath, it’s amazing.
Although, first time you try breathing like that, you have a hard time remembering what to do with all that air…
) One other tip to remember for good air support is to not ‘breathe with your shoulders.’ (ie. when taking breath, raising your shoulders and ducking your head… very common, actually) You need to think “barrel-chest”… expand your stomach and torso area when you breathe, and you will be able to go for so much longer on one breath, it’s amazing.