Re: (no subject)

["Bob Maglinte" <bbqbob917@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,
I'm more inclined to agree with Pete here because rigid stomach muscles may
be the so called "cooly military macho" thing, but for harp playing as well
as for vocals, it is the WORST possible thing beause you wind up playing too
hard, blow out harps faster, (as well as becoming part of the crowd who
ALWAYS bitch about harps blowing out too fast), and you also thin out your
tone considerably. Just as with vocals, good harp tone nees PROPER breath
support, and I would STRONGLY urge you to hook up with a reputable vocal
coach and learn some vocal breathing excercises,and you'll NEVER regret
doing it. These excercises will hurt like hell, but you"ll really learn what
REAL diaphragmatic breathing is for the first time, which many harp players
have no real clue about, and again, they're also the same ones who
constantly complain about their harps blowing out too quick because I guess
you can say bad habits leads to bad problems.

Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Aeskow@xxxxxxx
  To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
  Sent: Friday, December 12, 2003 10:38 PM
  Subject: (no subject)



  Hi Jimmy,

  <stomach muscles rigid sucked in for inhale puffed out for exhale>

  Have you got this the right way around? Usually breathing from your
  diaphrame, not your lungs,  gives the oposite effect......breath in -
  stomach out, breath out - stomach in. Your chest hardly moves at all.
  If you're not breathing from your diaphram, then try it. It feels unusual
at
  first and takes some regular practice and awareness...... but you'll be
  amazed with the resulting richness in tone.
  I also find that my stomach has to be relaxed (not rigid) for this to
work.
  In fact my posture is relaxed and i mentally focus on breathing  from deep
  within my stomach..

  Pete Knapton


       "Rigid stomach muscles," etc.--it sounds like attempted sarcasm that
wasn't quite funny enough to work.  It certainly wasn't offered as a
breakthrough technique in breath control and tone production!