CIrcular Breathing
- This topic has 12 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 11 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
I think the Irish melodica circular breathing video is about the best melodica playing I have ever heard, aside from the fact that it’s a demonstration of circular breathing. I’m linking two circular breathing videos that seem particularly instructive about the technique. My friend Ken drew my attention to the first one; the didgeridoo player has a series of videos that look promising. The second video I found going through YouTube videos on circular breathing.
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#inbox/143ae438194c75a7?projector=1
Hi Alan,
thanks for the circular breathing videos; they seem to be very instructive (although I don’t understand why the flute player wants the tongue to be moved back…).
One thought about circular breathing with the Vibrandoneon: I think it was Melodica-Me who had problems with this, and I had, too. I ran out of air much too fast. But then I simply tried to cover half of the pipe hole with my upper lip to lose less air, and it works much better now.Hello Quetscher, I tried closing part of the pipe with my upper lip and it did seam to help a little more. The big problem with the Vibrandoneon is that once a note is played the opening that allows the air out is so big that you loose a lot of air quickly so the circle of breathing is much faster. I only use (1) register and that helps as I practice to gain more strength, only time will tell but thank you for that tip. I first learned how to do circular breathing in the mid 70’s on a recorder, my friend in college now my brother-inlaw who is a sax player showed me how he learned. The method they use is to fill your mouth with enough air and then tighten the mussels in you cheeks and breath in through your nose filling more air in your mouth. The tuff part is to have a consistent air flow so your note does not waver in volume. Much harder on a recorder than a melodica because the melodica has an air chamber and the recorder is open. This is the same for any wind instrument. Also the better the air chamber (less leaks) the easier it is, example Clavietta (small and leaky chamber)much harder than The Hammond 44/Hyper with a good large and good sealed chamber.
Melodica-meHi Melodica-Me,
that’s right, it’s definitely harder to produce circular breathing on the Vib. than on other melodicas, and I’m still practicing a lot without getting a really satisfying result.
The two videos of Alan seem to show two different ways to produce a circular breathing. The Didge guy breathes in and out giving both parts the same length, whereas the flute girl breathes out long and then breathes in short and sharply (you can really hear her breathing). Perhaps it would be good to breathe flute-style for all instruments that lose air quickly , which certainly includes the Vib. I’ll try out and report.Hi Quetscher, I play jazz and the way the Didge guy plays does not work for me. I need to be able to play long melodies where my notes are more legato and melodic and volume is consistent. To play staccato like Troys Irish reel, the Didge guys method would work perfect. I need to ask Troy what method he used during his recording.
Melodica-MeThis is how I learned how to do circular breathing in the 70’s, nothing has actually changed since then.
Melodica-MeThis is a great video Melodica-Me. It’s exactly how I circular breath. Very simple – create a pocket of air in your mouth by puffing out your cheeks. Expel that short burst of air into the melodica to create a note of about one second. At the same time, take a sharp in breath through the nose. By the end of the short note, your lungs will be full of air for you to continue blowing – this time from the lungs.
I learnt circular breathing on a clavietta. It was completely airtight, so not too difficult. The Vibrandoneon also worked fine as long as it was on the single reed setting. The P37D is a great instrument for circular breathing, as it takes so little air to make a note sound.
Troy, I am taking my Vibrandoneon to an accordion repair shop here in Los Angles to get it tuned up. I have a couple of notes out of tune on the soprano register when played with the Alto register. This just started about a week ago. Not sure how it happened but I will have them also look at the air chamber to see if I have any leaks. Maybe this will help with circular breathing on it. As for my Clavietta, even though I changed the gasket and new rubber washers it still runs out of air, not as much but as before I changed the gasket but still some. My Hammond is super tight and can circular breath for a long time. By the way I have a Hammond Hyper on the way and will do a comparison on both the 44 and HP for the site when I have a little time with it.
Melodica-MeYou might try a thin coating of food grade pure silicone grease on the gasket(s), Melodica-Me. I have used it on my Food-Saver vacuum food sealer in the past, and on a couple of melodicas more recently. Trident is the brand I have, ordered from Amazon. It should soften the gasket and help preserve it as well as helping a bit with the seal. But your tuner might have some thoughts about this.
Alan, I will order and try it. The new gasket I install is pretty soft and flexible, I think the issues I have is within the washers I have changed. I will be taking it apart again in the next couple of weeks when I find some time. I have a new rubber gasket that I am going to try. The Clavietta is notorious for this problem, but I don’t give up that easy. Thanks for the tip Alan.
Melodica-MeCircular breathing on melodica Hohner Student 32 is much easier to just short mouthpiece with a thin slit.But here’s a number of things that are worth knowing: sounds of lips on didgeridoo for melodica not suitable,more suitable examples on harmonica or recorder.Preference is given to those who by nature are large elastic cheeks – like Dizzy Gillkspi or Roland Kirk.Advantage for those who on the nature has a large elastic cheeks – like Dizzy Gillespie or Roland Kirk.
I tried to reformulate the blowing technique using the cheeks and oral cavity:I tried to reformulate the blowing technique using the cheeks and oral cavity: push out air – during quiet breathing through the nose.You do not even need a glass of water with a straw; you can just walk and push with cheeks air in rhythm of steps.
Question of mouthpiece suitable for this, still remains open. Hold steady long note still does not work, it is necessary to practice a lot!
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.