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From: JfGindi~ol.com
Date: Mon, 14 Oct 1996 12:03:14 -0400
Subject: Re: breathing

David, thanks for the query about breathing. I'm posting publicly because
this is a common problem, and also there may be tips others can offer you
about your problem of gasping
for air while playing blues riffs and songs like "Summertime."

First, do you run out of breath when talking? Talking is all on the exhale.
If you you're able to talk without gasping, then harp playing should be
possible without gasping cause it 'lows you to inhale and exhale. Right? The
trick is balancing the blows and draws so you're never too far one way or the
other.

Two, inhaling, you can fill your lungs in .5 seconds, just gasping the air
in, Right? (it might help if you did this right now) Or, using a narrow,
controlled stream of air, you can start drawing, and keep drawing for 10, 15,
20 seconds. These second way of breathing is the way you want to breath when
you play harp. If it's a draw note, don't gasp the air into your lungs.
Instead, do the steady, slow breath. I suggest going to one hole, say 2 draw,
and stand in front of a clock, and draw
for 10 seconds, then blow for ten, then draw, then blow. Try to
get this so it's easy, and also lengthen the amount of time
it takes to fill your lungs.

Three. you are using to much air. Cut the volume in half. Go ahead and play
softer. You're loudness will come back in time.
First, gain control.

Fourth, you're working too hard. Physically relax. Check your shoulders
(hunched up?), your jaw (crunched up?), your lips (scrunched up?) Make your
harp playing effortless by relaxing.

Fifth, get a shoulder/shoulder blade massage and then try it.
Maybe your upper back is really tight and that's impinging on your breath.

Sixth; put pauses in your playing that let you balance your breathing. For
instance, 3rd position "Summertime"
4d 3*d 4d (quick blow over harp gets rid of air in lungs)
Sum mer time

4 b 3*d 4 4d 3*d 2d 1d (quick blow over harp)
and the liv in' is ea sy

Seven, do take notice whether it's too much air in lungs or too
little. I think you'll see it's too much air. Then develop the
teqnique of balancing breath by blowing over harp in pauses.

Good luck and be patient. Jon