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From: Pat Missin
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 1996 18:23:59 +0100
Subject: Re: breathing

Jon Gindick writes:
>However, as I sit at this computer, I pick up a harp and bend
>4 draw, 3 draw, or 2 draw with my nose pinched and then with my nose open, I
>detect no difference in tone.
>

This is also my experience, too. A while ago a harp player came up to me
after having "discovered the seceret" of killer tone - keep you nostrils
closed at all times. I payed attention to my playing for a while and
discovered that I open and close my nostrils without really thinking about
it and without any great alteration of tone. I played a while for said harp
blower, using both open and closed nostrils. He said he could hear a slight
noise when I made the change, but that the tone either side of the change
was pretty much identical. I occasionally practise circular breathing - I've
often held the same note for 10 or 15 minutes - and the same thing happens:
you can hear when I make the breath through my nose, but the harp tone
doesn't alter substantially (the pitch tends to be a little unreliable afer
several minutes of breath in the same direction!).

Also, in the quest for good tone, there are few short cuts. Valving will not
in itself give you a great tone (otherwise ALL chromatic players would sound
wonderful!), but can help you practise to develop good tone. Likewise the
right equipment (mikes, amps, fx, etc.) can enhance your sound, but if you
have a lousy tone in the first place, there is no magic piece of equipment
that can make up for it. The only thing that builds up your tonal muscles is
practice - enough practice and the right kind of practice. Sorry, but that's
the way it is.


Pat Missin - pa~lobalnet.co.uk

"...my music's a lot better than it sounds!" (with apologies to Mark Twain)
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