Hey - when I turned up here I mentioned that I had had surgery for a brain tumor, followed immediately by emergency surgery because I crashed.
In that crash, one of my lungs collapsed. Since then, and since taking up harp again, I've found it really hard to develop some good deep breathing for harmonica, and it's frustrating the hell out of me.
Without deep breathing I can't do long draws with vibrato, which means most of what my head would like to do in Blues, my body won't. (My leaning is towards traditional Blues harp, and I envy those who can play slowly, WELL).
I'm holding on to hope that I can train this out of myself, but wondered if anyone has specific tips or can point me to some videos that would help.
If I can't beat this, I feel like I'm going to be stuck as a lower-tier Intermediate player until I die. Not happy.
---------- My YouTube Channel - Any Likes or Comments appreciated. :)
http://tinyurl.com/muchtcc http://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help4danny
Last Edited by Danny Starwars on Jun 22, 2015 4:15 AM
This is your chance to explore other options to create your own unique harmonica sound. Miles Davis played with no vibrato (for the most part) and it gave him an original voice on trumpet. ---------- The Iceman
I've been following this guy's lessons for a while.
My real-life singing teacher recommends thinking of how a whale shark's mouth expands when it is feeding. Adopt that attitude and hold it when breathing. Throat relaxation is also very important. Chur.
Chris M talks about his vibrato which is created as a series of small bends rather than generating with the throat or diaphragm. Not sure if this will make things easier for you or not but might help.
@harmonicanick - Wow, respect. I had to ask Aunty Google about your condition. Gives your opinion a lot of weight.
@didjcripey - What the hell did you just call me?
@The Iceman - Aue, I know what you mean, though it's a hard thing to let go of. One of my favourite sounds/techniques.
@BronzeWailer - Thanks, sole - I'll have a gander!
@Baker - Many thanks, though I remember Jason Ricci saying 'I can't do this shit!' which doesn't fill me with a lot of hope! But it's an amazing technique!
It's been a heartening read, dudes ...
---------- My YouTube Channel - Any Likes or Comments appreciated. :)
Danny, you might try this exercise to ensure that you are breathing deeply from the diaphragm.
Lie down on your back and put a book on your stomach. Watch how much you move that book up and down with your normal breath. Then see how much you can ~make~ that book move up and down. When you are really moving it, get a heavier book. Increase the weight on your belly and do this exercise and you are basically doing calisthenics for your diaphragm, which is your main breathing muscle.
Then when you are going about your normal daily activities try to become more conscious of maintaining that diaphragmatic breathing. Over time your muscle memory will take over and make this more automatic. You will end up with a weight-lifter's diaphragm and more efficient breathing. And the quality of your harmonica tone will soon follow.
Good luck and please let us know how you are doing.
Michelle
---------- SilverWingLeather.com email: mlefree@silverwingleather.com
Last Edited by mlefree on Jun 22, 2015 9:01 AM
I hve not purchased Sam Pilafian & Patrick Sheridan's "The Breathing Gym" yet but I saw some excerpts from it and it caught my interest. These guys are tuba players so they have a need for great airflow but I still think the lessons apply to all wind instrument players. Like any exercise program, it is wise to check with a doctor if you have exceptional circumstances before proceeding full bore.
Does anyone else here have any experience with this material?
Last Edited by STME58 on Jun 22, 2015 10:07 AM
I'm asthmatic and I've found anything that helps cardio seems to help asthma too, as long as it's done in moderation. Simple things like long walks or light jogging can expand what you've got left, but with any serious illness/complication, make sure you get the doctor's okay too.
Danny I am going to make a suggestion then explain so bear with me :)
take up another instrument for a bit - SPECIFICALLY either the irish whistle or native american flute(Looks like these http://sun.sunreed.com/images/NAmFltGrpRH3SM2.jpg)
Both of these take back pressure to play. This helps you develop your breath stamina so to speak. Both instruments are such that you can make rather pretty music while not being able to screw it up to much.
I have a rib injury that causes similar problems to what you are experiencing. Playing the irish and native amercan whistle/flute really helped me learn to control my air stream and helped a whole lot with re-learning how to get deeper breaths. And to keep those smaller breaths going longer.
Plus you get the benefit of having another instrument or two in your arsenal.
I've been working underwater for almost 40 years, am a regular big-game spearfisher and freediver for hobby, and up until about ten years ago was not shy about surfing big waves. When I was in my late 20's, I managed to have an "incident" when I was working in about 250 ft of water and collapsed a lung. I also have two brothers, one of whom has COPD and the other has been burdened with asthma his whole life. Our family has had some very comprehensive breathing and air management discussions over the years, both amongst ourselves as well as with pulmonary professionals. The harp is a highly regarded breathing exercise that has much credibility. Try to recalibrate your thinking. You don't need to work on exercising your breathing to play better harp. I recommend working the hell out of the harp and it will build up your lungpower. Trust me, it works.
---------- ~Buzadero Underwater Janitor, Patriot MBH poster since 11Nov2008
Work on a hand vibrato. Lots of players do this, with and without a mic. Some have several different levels of it, too. Work on just moving the harp, too. It is my poor man's vibrato but it is passable. Remember- we do this because it is fun. If it aint, find something that brings you pleasure.
Thank you all so much for the tips. I'm looking into all of them. Hey - I want to show this little clip of where I'm at with the vibrato. Seeing as some people are suggesting perhaps develop around the issue and not rely on it, and others are suggesting keeping on with trying to develop it, I thought it would be easier if people could hear when I am at and then offer their opinion.
Disclaimer: I'm really crap physically at present and it shows. Also, I'm nervous. Making clips for students who know way way less than me is different to posting stuff here, where I know there are some supremely talent people skulking about.
The clip plays fine for me. Your vibrato is exactly as you describe. In the video you ask if you should keep trying to develop it - yes, definitely!
I used to be an RT (Registered Respiratory Therapist). You have a touch of restrictive lung disease? Unlike an obstructive disease, you have the potential to increase your performance (specifically vibrato) by developing your muscles of breathing.
It took me about a year to develop a decent vibrato.
The thing that solidified it for me was taking singing lessons. About 99 per cent of my singing lessons were spent on breathing exercises and singing scales. I really got in touch with my breathing muscles that way.
A good singing instructor should know all the tricks and methods to help you. And I think the potential is there for you to explore. You won't pop a lung. Although a good singing coach may make you feel like you are coming close by working you to your limit!
FWIW, I've been working on my vibrato for over a decade and I'm still not happy with it.
I think your vibrato could be strengthened through improved technique. You seem to have enough wind to do it well enough if you can improve the way you do it. I know of no one better qualified to teach that than David Barrett. It would be well worth $16.95 a month to join his teaching site. He has a number of lessons that concentrate on vibrato.
hello danny!!! i always had super powerful lungs.i used to stay underwater longer than people think is possible.i used to blow candles out from across the room as a trick to amaze people.
then,i had my lung "stilt" on where my spleen was when it was removed to treat,what was it? oh yeah,cancer.
then (after several heart attacks) i had congestive heart failure.
but i was afraid to go to the doctor,because i thought it was lung cancer, or emphysema or something else really bad for a harp player.
so,i did three shows in full heart failure.
i think the only reason i am alive(i"died" and they zapped me) is because of yoga breathing exercises!
go to a good yoga instructor,just for breathing.you'll thank me!! ---------- www.shakeylee.com
Sounding good Danny. You seem to be recovering well. Keep up the good work.
I echo the comments made by others about the harp improving breathing and helping keep the lungs working well. I was diagnosed with Emphysema in 2012 and if it wasn't for playing harmonica, my lungs would be a lot worse than they are and I'd be on oxygen for sure by now. Just keep playing Danny and work on as many breathing exercises as you can as well. It'll all help in the long run. Both with your recovery and your playing.
Danny, you're doing well enough that you may or may not benefit greatly from this, but other readers might be interested.
While at SPAH last month I obtained a Harmonica MD Medical Harmonica, a so-called diatonic chord harp. It features 8 different chords: F, C, G & D Major and the Diminished 7th for each of these chords. It's essentially the first 4 holes of two normal Richter harps, Low F and G, with an extra hole on the end of each to provide the Diminished 7th chord. You get a Major chord by blowing or drawing the first 4 holes. You get the Diminished chords by adding that 5th hole on either blow or draw.
The hMD or "Schaman" Harmonica was designed by Dr. John Schamann of the Ontario Aerobics Center specifically for rehabilitating his pulmonary patients. He's designed a program for his patients where they play chord rhythms along to songs, many of which they likely already know. He's achieving significant improvements in his patient's pulmonary function.
My own lungs are pretty much OK but I've wanted an hMD for sometime because it's musical potential as a great little compact chord harmonica. You can play a I-IV-V song in the keys of C or G. Take a look at Maestro Paul Davies' videos on the hMD. Here's his first, explaining its application, but do take a look at some of his more recent videos to get a better idea of the musicality Paul is able to extract from this "medical" harmonica. This is one fun little harmonica!
