[Harp-L] scary fast playing

[Daniel Velton <dvelton@xxxxxxxxx>]

I was experimenting with different ways for playing fast and stumbled on this technique accidentally. It worked especially well on the higher keys, and I'm wondering if anyone has tried this technique and/or mastered it...I haven't had much in the way of professional instruction but I was wondering if this is a known technique. Here's what you do:

Instead of moving air with your lungs and diaphragm, use only the small amount of air in your cheeks. Force the air in and out with the cheek and mouth muscles. There won't be as much air as when you're playing normally, but it is sufficient to vibrate the reeds. Doing runs up and down is scarily fast using this "cheek" method (faster than my brain, at least, can process and play accurately). It seems almost like this technique allows you to change wind direction from draw to blow and vice versa about 10 times faster than normally.