BonesIVXX
9 posts
Mar 21, 2013
5:21 PM
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Last week I had a cold, and noticed I had a way better tone. I also did not run out of air as fast. Today I pinched my nose while playing a note and noticed the tone and volume increased. I was wondering if anyone has any exercises or suggestions for working on my leaky nose while playing?
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nacoran
6594 posts
Mar 21, 2013
9:15 PM
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I don't have any exercises in particular, but I think just being aware of it helps. I learned to control my air through my nose by first learning that it was an issue, then focusing on not breathing through my nose while playing, then learning when to breath through my nose playing. I didn't hear much of a tone difference myself, but managing air in and out certainly makes a difference in how long you can sustain notes. Right now, breath wise, I'm working on circular breathing. I can't do it on demand yet consistently, but sometimes I find I'm doing it by accident.
I wonder, is your tone changing because you aren't breathing through your nose, or are you changing your embouchure subtly to block your nose, and that embouchure change is effecting your tone? Generally speaking, the farther into your mouth you get the harmonica and the larger the resonating chamber you can create the better your tone will be.
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Nate
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Baker
284 posts
Mar 22, 2013
6:28 AM
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Learning to close of the nasal passage I feel is a really important technique. I have found it gives me better tone, helps to manage air and also helps control bends.
I'm sure others will have better exercises/explanations for me it happened naturally as part of the course.
There is a soft palate at the back and on the roof of the mouth. If you make a snoring sound by pulling air in through the nose this is the thing that is vibrating.
Try making a snoring sound with your mouth open, ease off of the pressure until find the point that it "bites" at, where you can not breathe in through your nose anymore. Thats's the kind of action you are looking for.
Hope this helps.
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The Iceman
804 posts
Mar 22, 2013
7:11 AM
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One can learn to control the voluntary muscle that closes off the air passage to the nose once one becomes aware of it.
When you blow out a candle, you naturally close the flap leading up to your nasal cavity (without thinking).
Simply focus on what is happening while doing this and you will find the muscle control necessary to voluntarily open and close this particular "flap".
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The Iceman
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