Re: [Harp-L] Lip pressure

["Alexander Savelyev" <Alexander.Savelyev@xxxxxxxx>]

I totally agree with Iceman's comment and would like to add that when drawing or blowing it is essential to have the airstream as warm as possible. That is achieved by opening your throat and making deep inhale or exhale using lower part of your abdomen or in other words - your diaphragm. Think of a window in a winter time - to draw some figures you'd have to warm up the glass. This will let you get rid of the puckering/whislting technique. 

As for the lip pressure, it's better to bite the harmonica - litteraly making a bite motion but lips should be relaxed and resting on the cover plates - almost half of the harp in depth should be in your mouth. To avoid air leakage, strain the corners of the mouth a bit narrowing down the airstream to only one hole when playing a single note. In this case the harp will start moving out of the mouth - here use your hands to move the harp in opposite direction. This will result in pressure between the harp and corners of your mouth, but that's totally normal. The only side effect is that your lips will get irritated due to the pressure in question - but you can use lip stick or your your own saliva. So all problems seem to be solved. The only thing left - practice, practice and practice:)

Best, 

Alex

>>> <IcemanLE@xxxxxxx> 09.08.2007 21:42:35 >>>
 
In a message dated 8/9/2007 10:00:03 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
tombaehr@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:

So,  whatcha gonna call it? "Single note playing" is also tongue block, 
u-block and  corner switching. I've never heard "pucker" called anything else, and 
there  have been very lively discussions of all these techniques on "another"  
discussion group I participate in. It's a term accepted by the vast majority  
of players, and your opinion isn't about to change it. Get over  it.


With my students, I call it "Single Note Embouchure". 
 
Using words like suck, blow, pucker do affect the way people approach their  
harmonica. Change the vocabulary, change the results. I have 15 years of  
successful teaching experience that proves what I say is valid, and that is good  
enough for me to continue on this path.
 
 
The Iceman



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