Re: [Harp-L] Inhaling through nose trouble, please help

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Buck, never say never.

I've had other students with the same challenge. The balloon exercise works.


Lots of things that may seem elementary in one context will seem weird and baffling in another. But when you try something new, that's a normal part of the beginner experience. It's not a reason to dismiss someone from any hope of playing.

Everyone makes sounds like T or D or K or Ee-yoo while exhaling; it's part of speaking and singing. But when you try these things inhaling, as harmonica playing requires, suddenly the lungs are pulling in air instead of expelling it and the soft tissue is being pulled instead of pushed, and familiar sensations becomes alien. That can easily throw a beginner.

I run into these same challenges, along with the nose breathing challenge, all the time. Our job as teachers - part of it, anyway - is to help them get familiar with these things and to find ways to do them.
Winslow
 
Winslow Yerxa
President, SPAH, the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica
Producer, the Harmonica Collective
Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
            Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
            Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
Resident Expert, bluesharmonica.com
Instructor, Jazzschool Community Music School


________________________________
From: Buck Worley <boogalloo@xxxxxxx>
To: Michael Rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>; harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Friday, February 6, 2015 10:17 PM
Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Inhaling through nose trouble, please help


Michael,Shutting off nose breathing is such an elementary thing, I would question whether this student will ever be able to play harmonica. When one jumps in water over ones head the nose must seal off or you DROWN and some people can not learn to swim for this very reason.
I would consider advising this student to figure it out or give up harmonica (and swimming) !
Regards,Buck Worley




> Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2015 17:09:49 -0600
> From: michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [Harp-L] Inhaling through nose trouble, please help
> 
> It has come to my attention that inhaling through the nose while playing a
> draw note will seriously impede one's ability to sustain that note for very
> long.
> 
> I have a student who cannot seem to shut off his nose from inhaling.  When
> he holds his nose with his fingers he can sustain a draw note for a very
> long time.
> 
> How can you intentionally shut off the nose inhalation?
> Thanks,
> Michael Rubin
> michaelrubinharmonica.com