Re: [Harp-L] The joy of absolute fallacies

["jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx" <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> On Feb 7, 2015, at 9:08 PM, Rick Dempster <rickdempster33@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> I believe you JR, but find it difficult to credit. I don't believe I could bend with my nose expelling air.

To be clear, I am not talking about alternate breath directions--ie, a draw bend while expelling air--but rather same direction of airflow.  


> No, I simply cannot do it (I'm trying it now)
> I don't know how one could visibly demonstrate that it's possible. Maybe with a feather in front of your
> nostrils. If you care to knock up a video, I'd be most interested.

I have no interest in such, sorry.

 I did just do a simple test and can both blow bend and draw bend while letting a fair amount of air through my nose (more than I normally might have leaking), no feather needed: I played two harps together, one by mouth and one by nose.  It was interesting--draw bending and nose playing was easier than blow bending and nose breathing.  But both were possible, though.  It may be that my nose closes off more in one direction (inhale) than the other.

Interestingly, I've spent more time trying to bend with my nose solo than thinking about oral bending while playing two harps--but that may be because it is just something I could do when I first played around with twin-harp playing.  However, neither the nasal embouchure nor playing simultaneously are things I am nearly proficient at.  I should practice this more (he hardest part is blocking one nostril while playing it's hard holding toe harps and while keeping one nostril shut, one of many times a third hand would really help).

BTW, my tendency to play by nose is a reason no one ever asks to borrow my harps.


JR Ross