Re: any exercise can help air support??


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Posted by Brian Frederiksen on October 29, 2001 at 13:07:34:

In Reply to: any exercise can help air support?? posted by Gozillatuba on October 28, 2001 at 22:53:04:

Here are some exces Mr Jacobs told in Masterclasses:

Breathing Exercises
During master classes, Jacobs has students do a variety of breathing exercises. These are physical skills that should be learned away from the instrument. As challenge precedes development, be patient with the development of these skills.

Remember when doing these exercises, take breaks when feeling dizzy to avoid hyperventilation. While pausing, reflect and evaluate how much air is in the lungs and how much of the unused air capacity is left in the lungs [such as a glass that is half filled with water]. For visual reinforcement, do these exercises in front of a mirror. As skills develop, sustained notes on the instrument can be played.
It is important to learn how to take the fast breath by analyzing the slow breath.

To open oral cavity:
In a regular pulse, say “ah, oh, ooh, ah, oh, ooh” then inhale.
[Inhale in time.]
Discover the sensation of inhalation through a large oral cavity.

To eliminate pressurization:
Take a full breath with the gesture of surprise, keep the throat open
With a resonant voice say “one,” pause with the throat open,
Say “two,” pause with the throat open,
Say “three,”. . . continue.

Exercise of slow full breath:
Slowly move an arm toward the body in a count of six while inhaling
until a full breath is taken.
Next, in a count of six, move the arm away from body while exhaling.
Use the arm as a measuring device, when half the breath is exhaled,
the arm should be half way.

Study of slow breath in thirds:
Use arm motion, moving an arm at the elbow toward the mouth in thirds
to give visual aid of inhaling and exhaling air while imagining
the quantity of air moving in thirds. When ordering a breath, do
not focus on air velocity as the primary factor, focus on quantity
of air.
Move air in one third of total capacity.
Pause [two or three seconds] and reflect on how much air has been taken
in and how much room is left for additional air.
Take a period of silence to judge the quantity of air.
Move air in a second third, Pause and reflect.
Move air in the final third, Pause and reflect.
Move air out one third, Pause and reflect.
Move air out two thirds
Move air in three thirds
Move air out two thirds
Move air in one thirds
Repeat using various combinations, one third, two thirds, three thirds.

Study of fast breath:
Establish a steady, rather slow beat, about 60 beats per minute.
In 5/4 time: blow out for counts 1 through 4, breathe in on count 5
(5) | 1 2 3 4 (5) | 1 2 3 4 (5) | 1 2 3 4 (5) | 1 etc.
[Inhale on beat (5)]
In 4/4 time: blow out for 3˝ counts, breathe in for ˝ count
4+ | 1 2 3 4 + | 1 2 3 4 + | 1 2 3 4 + | 1 etc.
[Inhale on the (+) of beat 4]
In the various meters above, use different tempi.

Study of slow breath:
Stand with arms at your sides, palms down.
While inhaling raise arms to encourage the rib cage to elevate and
snap fingers while counting to five.
On beat 5 - your hands should be above your head and your lungs should
be absolutely full. When you hold your breath, do not close
your throat. Keep the airways open.
Drop hands to sides while continuing to hold your breath.
Notice just how full of air you are and how expanded you are
from the bottom of your lungs to the base of your neck.
Exhale over five counts.
Repeat several times.

Although all these studies may be mastered in a week, a year of significant practice may be necessary for full integration into everyday playing.



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