Re: [Harp-L] Hi there

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Players often have trouble with both the low and high notes at first.

The key to solving both problems is to open up your airways and breathing gently but with a lot of air.

Players are often tempted to force the high reeds to respond, which pretty much guarantees continued struggle.

Here are some things to work on, and then apply:

1. Yawn.

Notice how your throat opens wide, your jaw drops, and your tongue gets out of the way.

2. Inhale with a yawn, but them maintain the open throat, tongue, and jaw, and exhale as well.

3. Listen to the sound of your breathing. If you hear any sound from the air moving, you're causing drag in the airflow, which can cause problems with reed response. 

4. Work on breathing in and out with a yawn and no noise.

5. Tale a deep breath and do it slowly.

Notice how your ribcage expands, and then your abdomen (the area between your ribcage and waist) also expands.

6. Let your breath out, but keep the ribcage expanded. Breathe by expanding and contracting your abdomen.

7. Is your throat sill open as if you're yawning? 

8. Keep your throat open, but relax your jaw and let your lips form a shape as if you/re playing a harmonica. 

9. Work on breathing deeply and slowly in a relaxed, gentle, open, noiseless way.

10. Try this with a harmonica, first in the middle register (Holes 4 thru 7 on diatonic, or 4 thru 8 on chromatic), and then try applying it in the lower and upper registers, first with chords and then with single notes.

Hope this helps.

Winslow 
 
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________________________________
 From: thanh huong <beudexuong@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 9:17 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Hi there
 
Hi there,
I have trouble making the sound in the high notes (hole 9 and 10). I just want to ask if there is certain breathing technique that helps with the problem. Does it help with the low notes as well ( hole 1 and hole 2)? Looking forward to hearing from you guys.
Thanks,