"Closing Nose" while playing
Hello,
absolute beginner here. While practicing tongue blocking (I am at level of achievement 1 step 1 still after a forced break) i recognized, that i have poblems not to breath a bit through the nose simultaneously to drawing and blowing and so far I was not able to get it under control (only by manually closing my nose). Are there any tricks/advice on how to stop that?
When you blow up a balloon, you close off the nasal passages with the soft palate (the soft bit that wags up and down at the back of the roof of your mouth).
Close your lips and pretend you're trying to blow a balloon (or use an actual balloon). Try to blow out, and your cheeks will puff up becaues the air has nowhere to go. Now, try inhaling and your cheeks will suck in because air can't enter from anywhere.
Thx for the answers and the link. Seems i need to look into lessons that are not in the levels of achievement sections from time to time, too. It is not like i cannot prevent me from not using my nose at all, it just somehow becomes 10 fold harder with a harmonica in my mouth (after reading over and over everywhere that harmonica is easy to learn... i am surprised how demandin and resisting g it is. Normaly i can pick up Instruments and learn at least the most basic stuff really fast). Maybe it is best to just keep an eye on it and move on for now (really want to start playing some music).
Have you taken a look at David's breathing study, https://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/breathing_harmonica ? One of the sections deals with this. Like everything else harmonica, it takes time and practice. Best wishes for success.