Re: [Harp-L] Bending

[Michael Rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks Michelle,  I have been answering Tony's questions privately. For the
record, I preach learning all 3 embouchures and mostly U block on the
chromatic for single notes and on holes 7 thru 10 on the diatonic,
especially when I want to bend on hole 10 blow or overdraw on 9 or 10. As I
bend, the tip of my tongue stays planted under the hole on the bottom cover
plate but the top front of the tongue pushes up against the harp, blocking
the bottom half of the hole.  I close my jaw a bit.  A bit of pressure on
my upper lip on the harp.  The air seems to head towards the back upper
palate from the bottom of the hole.  My adam's apple lifts, but I believe
that to be a result of closing the jaw, not something I send a message from
my mind to my adam's apple.  I feel vibration in the middle of the roof of
my mouth, but again, I believe that to be an effect and not a cause.
Michael Rubin
Michaelrubinharmonica.com


On Wed, Aug 7, 2013 at 1:18 PM, Michelle LeFree <
mlefree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Tony Stephens asked:
>
>
>  Any advice on getting bend with u- blocking. I know Norton Buffalo did it.
>> Thanks
>>
>
> Since nobody's jumped in yet (Michael Rubin, where are you?), I'll take a
> stab to get you started.
>
> First, the short story. For me, when I U-Block, my tongue doesn't actually
> roll into perfect round tube, it sort of folds in half and closes at the
> top. Understanding that, my U-B bending occurs in two ways. One, I can
> reduce the dimension of that air channel by bringing the two halves closer
> together. For me, that is sort of the "fine" adjustment, particularly
> effective on the high note blow bends. The more coarse adjustment occurs in
> the degree to which I arch my tongue towards the roof of my mouth in
> combination with lowering the position of my jaw.
>
> But the bending story doesn't stop at the mouth by any means. With U-B,
> just as with Tongue-Blocking (and proper Lip-Pursing for that matter), the
> tip of your tongue is anchored at the front of your mouth. That means that
> the rest of your tongue and mouth as well as your airways (soft palate,
> yawning muscles and diaphragm) are the anatomic parts where any bending
> action must take place. Seasoned players learn to use their jaw, the middle
> and back of their tongue, their back-of-the-throat yawn muscles and size of
> their airways via control of their diaphragm (which, taken together
> comprise the human equivalent of the guitar's "resonant box") to effect
> their bends.
>
> Of course, most of this is accomplished only with lots of practice.
> Learning to gain conscious control over muscle groups that are typically
> "automatic" by nature is not an easy proposition. These muscle groups need
> to be repetitively exercised just like any others to gain the strength,
> control and muscle memory to do what they need to do to help you play the
> harmonica well. What does that mean? You guessed it -- practice, practice,
> practice.
>
> Tony, with U-B you have chosen a learning path that is far less
> well-traveled than the other embouchures. I suggest that you contact
> Michael Rubin for some Skype lessons. He's the only accomplished teacher
> that I know of who teaches how to U-Block.
>
> Good Luck and keep us posted with your progress!
>
> Michelle
>
>