Duh....stand up for more air!

spittin_in_the_wind · Post by **spittin_in_the_wind** » Sat Feb 15, 2003 7:04 pm

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

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Sat Feb 15, 2003 7:50 pm

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).

Redwolf

blood'n'roses · Post by **blood'n'roses** » Sat Feb 15, 2003 8:54 pm

great reminder! standing, using the diaphram and good posture make big differences

~blood'n'roses

spittin_in_the_wind · Sat Feb 15, 2003 10:42 pm

Hi, blood'n'roses, welcome to the board; I'm fairly new myself, but as you can see, have a few posts under the belt

When you get a chance, introduce yourself, we'd love to meet you!

R.

Isilwen · Post by **Isilwen** » Sun Feb 16, 2003 12:28 am

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...

slowair · Post by **slowair** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 4:50 pm

Something else I found helpful is to play on an empty stomach. I was eating dinner before sessions and found it hard to get a whole lung full of air.

Now I stop for a bite on the way home.

Mike

E = Fb · Post by **E = Fb** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 9:04 pm

Hi Slowair,
I have a hard time playing after a meal. The breathing thing is more difficult.