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Post by billdsmall on Dec 6, 2013 13:55:33 GMT
Hi all,
On Youtube there are a few videos of Wang Li playing hulusi (as well as other instruments). He plays more of a meditative/spiritual style, and he uses circular breathing. Here's a 3 minute piece of him playing nonstop!
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xoriginaltee
Novice
New Hulusi is coming in this week hopefully.
Posts: 4 
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Post by xoriginaltee on Dec 23, 2013 1:26:42 GMT
I love him, he's amazing and very talented <3
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Post by thebamboogrove on Dec 23, 2013 2:54:26 GMT
circular breathing on hulusi is common though, and you can do it in 1 week, if you try for 1 hour a day...
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Post by edcat7 on Dec 23, 2013 10:57:57 GMT
tbg,
can you tell us how to start on circular breathing please?
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Post by thebamboogrove on Dec 23, 2013 16:37:38 GMT
Circular in Chinese wind instruments has become a regular technique, and its success depends on proper breathing techniques. Firstly, note that there are 3 sets of muscles that can control breathing: the facial muscles above the throat (lock these in place), the intercostal muscles at the ribcage (quick sharp breathing, not stable, not used for dizi, suona and xiao) and diaphragm muscles, where we breathe deep into and feel the expansion when you breathe in shallowly and deeply, into the point below the belly button. When playing instruments, its recommended that you breathe from the mouth (locked in place) to the diaphragm, thereby creating 2 chambers. This should be a basis for any breathing, esp circular breathing.
The concept of circular breathing is that when you send air out of the diaphragm, into the mouth, not moving the ribs, you take quick breathes through the nose. If you use your ribcage muscles, the breathe output will be altered. Remember the above concepts before anything else.
exercise 1: put water into your mouth, as you squirt it outwards in a stream, try breathing in with your nose. This will give you the concept of air exchange when you breathe. This method is seldom published, but I think it really works.
exercise 2: with the concept from exercise 1, blow bubbles from a straw into the cup of water, and if you use diaphragm and mouth only, you can attempt air exchange with your nose as you blow out. Note that for dizi and xiao, your cheeks are not supposed to expand unless you have very strong cheek muscles. expanded cheeks will not have the correct compression, resulting in intonation changes.
when you have succeeded exercise 2, you can try on the instrument.
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Post by edcat7 on Dec 23, 2013 16:49:53 GMT
Circular in Chinese wind instruments has become a regular technique, and its success depends on proper breathing techniques. Firstly, note that there are 3 sets of muscles that can control breathing: the facial muscles above the throat (lock these in place), the intercostal muscles at the ribcage (quick sharp breathing, not stable, not used for dizi, suona and xiao) and diaphragm muscles, where we breathe deep into and feel the expansion when you breathe in shallowly and deeply, into the point below the belly button. When playing instruments, its recommended that you breathe from the mouth (locked in place) to the diaphragm, thereby creating 2 chambers. This should be a basis for any breathing, esp circular breathing. The concept of circular breathing is that when you send air out of the diaphragm, into the mouth, not moving the ribs, you take quick breathes through the nose. If you use your ribcage muscles, the breathe output will be altered. Remember the above concepts before anything else. exercise 1: put water into your mouth, as you squirt it outwards in a stream, try breathing in with your nose. This will give you the concept of air exchange when you breathe. This method is seldom published, but I think it really works. exercise 2: with the concept from exercise 1, blow bubbles from a straw into the cup of water, and if you use diaphragm and mouth only, you can attempt air exchange with your nose as you blow out. Note that for dizi and xiao, your cheeks are not supposed to expand unless you have very strong cheek muscles. expanded cheeks will not have the correct compression, resulting in intonation changes. when you have succeeded exercise 2, you can try on the instrument. Thanks tbg. This is the first time it's been explained in a practical and understandable way. Will definitely try it. |
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Post by billdsmall on Dec 24, 2013 22:42:59 GMT
Thanks tbg for the exercises. An hour a day for a week to be able to circular breathe is probably just a bit optimistic in my case. I have enough trouble breathing and chewing gum at the same time. Nevertheless, I intend to learn how!
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Post by thebamboogrove on Dec 25, 2013 3:54:28 GMT
Hi! What is your main instrument?
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Post by billdsmall on Dec 25, 2013 11:24:41 GMT
The vertical bawu, which has a mouthpiece seemingly like the hulusi, although I've never seen a hulusi in person. I would guess that it's one of the easier instruments on which to circular breathe, relatively speaking.
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Post by thebamboogrove on Dec 26, 2013 16:52:54 GMT
Thats a wonderful instrument to play!.
My friend in upstate had a huge problem which I cannot solve, and thats the problem of cracking gourds, and the portability of the hulusi in a set. We had to travel, and my recommendations was to get a set of vertical Bawu, which plays exactly like the hulusi. Solved all our problems for the road.
I use the vertical bawu in orchestras now. The sound similar enough to the regular bawu, with the ease of control you want in a hectic orchestra conditions. Looking forward to hearing from you.
FYI, I have sinus problems too, and it is weird the problem is solved in a drier climate. If yours is similar, a warm towel on your face for 10mins before playing will help. My main instrument is dizi, and with an open embouchure most of the time, it really is a problem.
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