528hemi
36 posts
Sep 06, 2009
6:54 AM
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Hi,
I mainly practice sitting at my computer or sitting in my car or sitting somewhere.
I just read recently that if you sit and practice you are wasting your time. You should be standing.
Is this true?
528hemi
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Buddha
972 posts
Sep 06, 2009
6:57 AM
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I almost always practice in front of the computer. That's where all of my tracks are stored. I play sitting and sanding. If your breathing is together then it shouldn't matter.
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Christelle Berthon
73 posts
Sep 06, 2009
7:55 AM
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Same as Buddha, my work session are always in front of my laptop for the same reason. Having said that, for working on scales or difficult songs, I can do that anywhere, and I've discovered recently the benefit of visualizing internally the path that you have to follow in order to play some stuff, and you can do that anywhere
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tookatooka
464 posts
Sep 06, 2009
8:10 AM
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****Excuse this interruption****
Christelle and Buddha, it would be really good if you have a little time to look at the "The Harpfriends Playalong Contest 2 -VOTING THREAD" and give the contestants the benefit of your experience. I'm sure we'd all like to know what you pro's make of our playing efforts so far. No pressure. Only if you have the time. Thanks.
Sorry, didn't mean to hijack this thread.
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When I'm not blowing, I'm drawing.
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jonsparrow
953 posts
Sep 06, 2009
8:25 AM
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i agree with tookaX2
as for the thread, ya im allways infront of my computer too.
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Mgimino
80 posts
Sep 06, 2009
8:29 AM
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Unless I go into my music room to play amplified, I always have my laptop handy with either a video or jam track, tab, whatever it may be. It's too much of a handy practice tool to dismiss.
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Michael
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528hemi
38 posts
Sep 06, 2009
8:33 AM
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Thanks for the responses. I beleive it said that a beginner will not be able to breath correctly from the diapham as it is the airway is folded somewhat. It said advacned players can still breathe and get that nice tone.
Guess I will experiment somewhat and get back to this post with my own findings but a quick not is I do get a much deeper breathe standing up but I could also lose a few pounds :)
528hemi
Last Edited by on Sep 06, 2009 8:34 AM
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Christelle Berthon
74 posts
Sep 06, 2009
8:41 AM
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"Thanks for the responses. I beleive it said that a beginner will not be able to breath correctly from the diapham as it is the airway is folded somewhat. It said advacned players can still breathe and get that nice tone."
As long as you've the most natural position while you play, there's no valid reason to think that it 'll cut your diaphragmatic breathing...Look at the wind section in symphonic orchestras...
Last Edited by on Sep 06, 2009 8:41 AM
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EddyLizard2
50 posts
Sep 06, 2009
9:26 AM
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In my 'woodshed' (old computer in the room with lots of music, lessons and samples) I play either in sitting position (when I am without energy) or better standing up/'dancing' (anybody knows MBT sandals? I wear those then!!).
But I also try to take out time to exercise on a home trainer (on which I sit) which I use for blowing the harp at the same time for ~30-45'(yeah, my endurance sucks)...till I'm getting too much out of breath.
I then switch to 'watching lessons' on an ipod while I still keep training for as long as that quite uncomfy seat of the machine allows...
Having fun? Having fun!!!
Last Edited by on Sep 06, 2009 9:27 AM
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gene
246 posts
Sep 06, 2009
9:26 PM
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"I beleive it said that a beginner will not be able to breath correctly from the diapham as it is the airway is folded somewhat."
If you're sitting straight up, how could it bend your diaphram? It can't. The problem is, though, that few of us usually sit straight up.
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EddyLizard2
52 posts
Sep 06, 2009
9:55 PM
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I really DO recommend a bycicle trainer (IF you have one already, that is!)
If you use a harp then you will definately sit up straight and also use your diaphragm and any other muscles that help you breathing...AND you have something REALLY useful to do while pushing your perspiration.
Before that idea to do this as a combo I much too often found reasons to shy away from my home trainer exercising for fear of all those 'lost' woodshedding hours!
The spinning rhythm btw will help you like a metronome to keep a good groove...as you endorphines will after you do it for long enough. :)
Last Edited by on Sep 06, 2009 10:00 PM
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Andrew
585 posts
Sep 07, 2009
1:19 AM
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Yes, read Christelle a little more carefully and watch an orchestra on YouTube - wind players sit, but they sit erect (but relaxed). It's all about posture, and if you've only got a sofa, you need to be a little more careful than on a hard chair.
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528hemi
39 posts
Sep 07, 2009
6:46 AM
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Gene,
Funny I never thought about it. Sitting straight to me is no different then standing.
This is the link where I read it by the way.
http://www.jt30.com/jt30page/oldsite/goodtone.html
and here is step 1 of good tone quoted.
Step 1: Stand up!
If you are sitting down your chest mouth-throat-chest passage is folded over. You can't use your diaphragm to breath and you are not going to make any useful noise. ALL harp players play better standing up. When you get good, you can breath from your diaphragm when sitting down, but it isn't easy.
528hemi
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Christelle Berthon
76 posts
Sep 07, 2009
8:16 AM
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528hemi I'm sorry but the statement saying : "if you are sitting down your chest mouth-throat-chest passage is folded over. You can't use your diaphragm to breath and you are not going to make any useful noise" is simply irrelevant and not true at all.
Besides the example of the wind instrument in a orchestra, you can see clearly on some Sonny Terry footage that he was playing most of the time while sitting.
The position of the body is important yes, but as long as the diaphragm is used correctly everything is possible. Another example that can tell you that you're so wrong, is the opera singers, they act while singing and can stand, sit, walk, lie, being folded on their knees and the power of their voice is always constant.
Last Edited by on Sep 07, 2009 8:16 AM
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congaron
109 posts
Sep 07, 2009
10:31 AM
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The reason I prefer standing has nothing to do with air. I play trumpet seated and standing. There is no effective difference for me. I prefer standing only because i like to get my whole body involved in the groove..even walking over to another bandmate on stage at times. I like to practice this way too. It helps me pace myself physically and stay in shape for that level of activity. As for seated practice being a waste of time...hogwash. I spend hours a week seated and practicing..especially at work when my machine is running and I am working a 12 hour day. My preference is standing...but good practice really has nothing to do with seated or standing in my opinion. It has to do with what and how you practice...i have to practice what is relevent to the next gig and practice it perfectly or I am wasting time. To me, scales are always relevent, tone is always relevent and trying something new is always relevent. Add those three things to my set list and practice becomes very busy and productive. I get the "something new" from any variety of sources you can imagine.
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walterharp
45 posts
Sep 07, 2009
12:01 PM
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i practice walking to and from work, cause that is when i have the most time to do it. does cause me to run out of breath quicker, but it means i need to control my breathing on the harp more and builds stamina, so i am not sure that is a bad thing. my tempo is tied to my gait though, half time, double time, whatever, but it does control things differently from a performing situation.
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