Re: breathing control

[Steve Price <sprice@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I think we can add a few items to Mike's list of helpful suggestions to a 
new member of the harmonica playing family.  No reason why we shouldn't 
impart our best advice so that our up-and-coming talent has the best 
thoughts to consider.  I'll put my addenda up here and let Mike's ride 
below since his letter already went out.  

	addendum a.  Brush and floss your teeth regularly.  Think of how 
much control you need to have over a harp versus how much control people 
have over their dentures.  Also, if you want to have sweet smelling harps 
awaiting you, this is the only way to go.  Otherwise, think of open mouth 
kissing with your dog.  

	addendum b.  Consider what you eat immediately before a 
performance.  If you want play like you just stuffed at a Texas steak 
house, then by all means eat at one.  

	addendum c.  Treat your harmonicas like a fine instrument.  Keep 
them in the original case, clean them when you are done.  Learn to give 
them fine adjustments (practice on use up and broken harps) don't loan 
them to people you wouldn't trust with your sister or daughter.  And 
don't soak them in anything but your own warm affection.  

All right, those are mine.  Mike's are down below.  Add your own or flame 
those of us who dare to care!  


On Thu, 9 Feb 1995, Mike Curtis wrote:

> > Got to ask you for a few tips.I'm a beginner, playing pucker, and after
> > analysing the way i play, among a whole set of problems, i find that my
> > breathing control to be one of the major ones, especially when i try to
> > play a whole scale, for instence.I suddenly feel "airless", and i got to 
> > make a quick stop to fill my lungs.i did some reading, and most frequent 
> 
> Several hints:
> 
> 1. Take vitamin E.  This gives you more oxygen in your system, and allows 
> you to be less dependent on breathing.
> 
> 2. Do aerobic exercises to build up your lungs and chest.
> 
> 3. Do DEEP breathing exercises, forcing ALL air out of your lungs.  
> Exhale as much as you can - then FORCE more air out!  Takea DEEP breath - 
> hold it - then FORCE more air into your lungs.
> 
> 4. Learn to use your diaphragm (bottom of your lung cavity, just above 
> your stomach) to breathe.  If you've ever had the wind knocked out of you 
> by a blow to the solar plexus, you know EXACTLY where your diaphragm is.
> 
> 5. Plan your riffing.  If you know that a particular passage uses more 
> "draw" than "blow", start with lungs full.
> 
> 6. Learn how to use "rests" in your playing.  There's nothing that says 
> you have to fill every instant with notes.  Jimmy Vaughn is a very good 
> example of this on guitar.  Unfortunately, I can't think of any well 
> known harp players that make extensive use of rests (but I'm sure a list 
> will be quickly forthcoming, and I'd like to see comments on this!)
>