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Forums :: General Discussion

Breathing Through Nose When Playing

3 replies [Last post]
Thu, 03/14/2019 - 06:21
Scorny
Scorny's picture
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Level 6
Joined: 02/18/2019

Hi All,

I am a newbie on level one still. I am on the solo  study 1 and I am using Marine band crossover harps, though I am not yet doing them justice.

My question:

Even though I am trying very hard to not breath in through my nose it is only when I pinch my nose with my fingers that I hear a noticable difference to the sound. How do I naturally stop allowing air in through my beak?

I have thought about buying a pair of swimmer's nose clips but feel that I really need to be able to develop this skill.

Any tips are more than welcomed.

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Thu, 03/14/2019 - 12:26
#1
Expert Winslow Yerxa
Expert Winslow Yerxa's picture
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Expert
Joined: 01/16/2010
Try blowing up a balloon

If you can blow up a balloon, you can close off your nasal passages internally without pinching your nose.

Try it - you may not even need a balloon. Just pretend you have one and close your mouth and try to exhale. If you do it successfully, your cheeks will bludge out because the air has no place to go. And if you suck in, your cheeks will also suck in.

What's happening is that your soft palate – the soft-tissue extension to the back of the roof of your mouth – wags upwards and shuts off access to the nasal passages, forcing all the air through your mouth.

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Fri, 03/15/2019 - 00:29
#2
Icarusflies
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Joined: 08/13/2018
Great immage, it helped me!

Great immage, it helped me! thanks

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Fri, 03/15/2019 - 02:44
#3
Scorny
Scorny's picture
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Level 6
Joined: 02/18/2019
Great, thanks for the advice.

Great, thanks for the advice.

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