10.29.11 Adam News and Info
Oct 30, 2011 13:06:33 GMT -5
Post by HoppersSkippersMiners on Oct 30, 2011 13:06:33 GMT -5
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[F]igured out that if I drop my jaw really low I can get truly nice sound out of those low C and D notes. Don't know if that's standard proceedure (or good technique for the long haul), but its working for now!
HI, HSM. The music teacher bounds in (well, the next morning). One of the best things about plastic recorders is that when they get dirty, you can throw them in the dishwasher. Fun, huh? Also, regarding the low notes, you have to blow way more gently. Here is what I do with kids at school. Hold your hand in front of your mouth and blow on it. If you blow strong enough, the air will feel cool on your hand. That is how to blow for higher notes. Blow again, very gently, so that the air feels warm on your hand. That "warm air blowing" is for low notes. You barely have to exhale. Try it!
I do get a similar effect when I blow on my hand and drop my jaw--just as you are doing.
Thanks for the explanation, holst!.
I figured that I was doing something "atypical" as I don't remember seeing wind players with their jaws working up and down, and I had no idea how that technique would work for faster pieces than what I'm working on currently.
Gotta try that "warm wind/cool wind" method sometime today (hmm...can I bribe the DH to take the kid grocery shopping so I can practice? ;D ).
Thanks for the cleaning tip as well. I'm sure it will come in handy the day the kid decides to experiment with how well she can...say, play with the bottom of the recorder resting in a milk glass. She's been trying out some other techniques as well. To heck with the "Ta Ta Ta" or "Da Da Da" mouth shapes generally used for note articulation. If you say MOOOOOOOO while laughing you get some truly odd special effects that I didn't think of which that instrument was capable......
