Re: [Harp-L] overblows,smoking,cancer.

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

I don't get the connection between overblowing and smoking.

If you're stressing your eyes or nasal passages to overblow, you're working too hard. The only thing that needs to do any work is your tongue (and maybe your fingers to set up the reeds to facilitate the technique). And even then your tongue isn't lifting weights or tossing a pole up in the air; it's just gently shaping the air flow. It's all about finesse, not force.

I remember one harmonica player telling me that he'd had three hernia operations from the way he breathed while playing harmonica. He also said that he found overblowing was hard on his lips. Clearly he was stressing way too much in ways he really didn't need to.

But maybe you meant something else.

Winslow 
zzzz


----- Original Message -----
From: Sean Stephens <seanyw.stephens1968@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: 
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2014 6:48 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] overblows,smoking,cancer.

Hi guys,just wondering if any of you have ever heard of incidences of persons suffering nasal/ocular problems,perhaps related to overblowing,smoking.My eyes,orbits,are not good now,smoking my folly maybe.Sean