Re: [Harp-L] Pulmonary Function and playing the harp

["ChipComcast" <jandkday@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sam,

What you say is true. And there is  clinical research to back it up.
 If memory serves, the study was done in Australia. Also a clinical
condition
due to bleeding lips from playing the harmonica  was noted in the abstract.

 So, if poverty,alcoholism and 2nd hand smoke don't get you,
you will at least have great exhalation volumes! :-)

jday


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "samblancato" <samblancato@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 7:19 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Pulmonary Function and playing the harp


> Hi Guys,
>
>
>
> I thought I'd relate something I learned about my lungs lately that I'd
bet
> is probably true of most of you guys (and girls) as well.
>
>
>
> Recently underwent a sleep study to see if I have sleep apnea, which I do,
> and I had to have a pulmonary function test as well.  What I found out
from
> the pulmonary function test is that I function at 130%, which means that I
> test 30% above the average for my age.  I don't' know if this is a lot for
> or a little- I'm sure athletes do way better- but I'd have to say it's my
> playing the harp that is one of the things responsible for it.  The test
> measures things like exhale pressure, inhale pressure, how many liters you
> displace and how much oxygen you use from the breath you take in.  I'm
sure
> playing improves all of this stuff so this type of thing is probably true
> for most of us harp players.
>
>
>
> >From the other end of things, I've been spending a lot of time at the gym
in
> the past 3 months and have found I have better breath control in my
playing
> while at the same time I'm more relaxed when I play.
>
>
>
> So what I'm seeing here is this:  If you do aerobic exercises your playing
> will improve but playing also improves your breathing- I think this is
> called a positive feedback loop, a good thing.
>
>
>
> Sam Blancato, Pittsburgh
>
>
>
>
>
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