[Harp-L] Re: Circular Breathing

[Brian P <brian@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I play the didgeridoo and can circular breath.  You are right in saying that there needs to be a certain amount of back pressure to circular breath well.  It is best done on low harps.  I haven't found a good use for it on harp.  It requires puffing your cheeks out to hold air and then closing the back of the throat off while then squeezing your cheeks together to force the air out and then getting a quick sniff of air while squeezing the cheeks.  The straw method is easiest if you twist the end of the straw and then put it into 2/3rds of a cup of water and keep your cheeks puffed up while exhaling then start to squeeze the cheeks together and sniff and then start the airflow from the lungs again.  Untwist the straw as you get better and need less back pressure.  On the harp this technique causes the embouchure to get loose then tight and back to loose so the tone gets thin at certain points of the process and it isn't a continuous full round sound.  I hope this helps. 
 Feel free to email me off list for more details if you would like.   
   
  Thanks,
   
  BrianP
  http://www.harpgear.com


Brian Purdy

Harp Gear Amplification

http://www.harpgear.com