[Harp-L] Re: Harp-L Digest, Vol 24, Issue 60

["billannette" <mojoworkin@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks all. Your replies were most helpful, and I went back to the Myquill 
site and re-read his stuff also. It is obvious that I was using too much lip 
pressure, and your advice has helped immeasurably.
In a related matter, I had asked what to do to free up a stuck reed in a 
Suzuki. I bought a Lee Oskar tool kit and followed the instructions, and it 
worked perfectly. I am sure I stuck the reed bending it further than it was 
supposed to go and it got stuck. I will get rid of the "trombone" mentality 
when I pick up the harp.

Thanks again to all.

Bill

> Bill wrote:
>
>
>
> I am a beginner harpist, but an experienced trombonist. I have been 
> advised
> that in bending, the only thing that matters is the shape of the tongue 
> and
> the oral cavity.
>
>
>
> > > > > 8<<<<
>
>
>
> Hmmmm.  Tongue shape depends on your embouchure, pucker vs. Tongue 
> blocking.
> In a pucker embouchure, the tongue is relaxed at the bottom of the mouth.
> In a TB embouchure the tongue is forward blocking the requisite holes. 
> The
> size/shape of the oral cavity will certainly help the tone of a draw bend.
> By dropping your jaw you create a larger oral cavity.  This would help.
> However if I were to pick one thing, I would suggest that the "only thing
> that matters" is creating a point of constriction in the air stream as you
> draw through the harp.
>
>
>
> Think of the air stream entering the mouth through the harp.  At some 
> point
> along that air stream you must create a constriction point.  You can hear
> the effect by tilting the harp downward toward the lower lip.  As the lip
> constricts the air flow, you will hear the pitch descend.  This is not the
> best place to do it, but it demonstrates the effect of constricting the 
> air
> flow.  Better tone is achieved by using the K-spot as the point of
> constriction.  The K-spot is where you would pronounce the letter K in the
> back of your mouth.
>
>
>
> Drop the jaw and use the K-spot.  Tell us if that helps.
>
>
>
> > > > > > 8<<<<<
>
>
>
> What about "pucker pressure" around the hole by the lips?  Do you, when
> bending, need more pressure around the hole to keep the air isolated, or 
> do
> you keep the same pressure all the time, and just change the tongue
> placement? I find myself using more lip pressure around the hole to get 
> the
> deep bends, and I don't know if this is a bad habit, or not. I still have
> terrible tone on those 2 and 3 draw deep bends.
>
>
>
> > > > > > 8<<<<<
>
>
>
> Any slight bends you are getting right now through "pucker pressure" is
> because you are constricting the air flow at the lips.  (There may be some
> "pucker pressure" used to create blow bends, but very little.) For the 
> most
> part, and especially on draw bends, the lips should be supple, soft and
> comfortable.  You will create more "pressure" in the air stream by 
> thinking
> about where you place the point of constriction.  If you have "terrible
> tone", you are not doing something right.  Move your thoughts away from 
> the
> lips and toward the back of the throat and the K spot.
>
>
>
> Hope this helps.
>
>
>
> Best Regards to All,
>
>
>
> Larry Boy Pratt
>
> www.parkhousejam.com <http://www.parkhousejam.com/>