Air

jakepainter · Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2003 6:44 am Post subject:

Hi there

I am a bit of an advocate of the Claude Gordon approach to playing, but having had a lesson with Scott Holbert last summer i am finding myself increasingly diving into this forum as Scott's suggestions have really helped me out !

One thing i'd like to ask about is air. Since starting the CG stuff i have found the breathing exercises/posture etc have really helped my playing out. When Scott saw me play, ( i do the whole chest up full tank thing) he said that this was unnecessary as he can play in any register without keeping his chest up. He demonstrated this too, pretty impressive ! So i guess what i'm trying to ask is what is Reinhardt's take on breathing, and its importance in range/endurance ? Do other DOC advocates not concentrate on posture either ?

I'm not trying to start a CG vs Reinhardt debate here. just wondering what the official line is re: breathing.

cheers

jake

BeboppinFool · Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2003 2:55 pm Post subject:

jakepainter · Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2003 3:57 am Post subject:

"So I will interpret that statement as flame bait"

Rich, it certainly wasn't meant as flame bait, I genuinely got the impression from Scott that posture wasn't high in the priority list, but i guess i must have got the wrong end of the stick. In my mind Air and posture go together, i.e by teaching good posture you are really teaching about air; a good posture helps produce a decent airflow ?

I'll get the encyclopaedia anyhow. where can i buy it from? how much etc ?

jake

scream · Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2003 8:03 am Post subject:

Hi Jake,

Go to http://www.pivotalk.com and go to the "Pivot Products" link to purchase your copy of the encyclopedia. Dave Sheetz is handling that aspect of the web-site. there are also some articles written by Dave Sheetz that you might find interesting.

As an aside to breathing and posture, and to add what Rich said...Doc mentioned that either at Curtis or Peabody, I can't remember which, the chairs in the rooms had no backs on them. He said this was obviously to promote good posture and breathing habits (which he did promote). When you were in his office waiting for youre lesson you would listen to tapes he recorded on various aspects of brass playing. There is a tape on breathing and is quite extensive. But like Rich said, it was addressed later on in your developement.

You mentioned Scott's demonstration on how much air you actually use to produce sound (and obviously you HAVE taken a lesson with a Pivot System teacher). It really addresses those teachers who promote lots of air all the time for all occasions. I've seen guys take a full tank of air for one short note. It doesn't make sense and is a very inefficient use of your own energy.

At any rate, I invite you to peruse this forum some more...I think we addressed the use of air in more detail somewhere in here.

Thanks for your interest........
_________________
Paul Garrett
Sandy Springs, GA

The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously.
Hubert H. Humphrey
US politician (1911 - 1978)

jakepainter · Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2003 8:33 am Post subject:

cheers paul, i will be spending more time in here from now on. From my very basic understanding so far, what attracts me to this methodology is the "learning to use what you have got" aspect, and the realisation that different players have different types. This seems to make sense to me, after all we are all different !

jake

bgibson · Veteran Member Joined: 04 Sep 2002 Posts: 211

Doc told me about TD when asked how much air do you take in Mr. Dorsey?
Tommy's response was: "I only take in what I need."
WEG