Objective To assess the effects of didgeridoo playing on daytime sleepiness and other outcomes related to sleep by reducing collapsibility of the upper airways in patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and snoring. Design ...
The didgeridoo is customarily played using a technique called circular breathing. Because this involves forcing air out of the mouth using the cheeks, it is exceptionally difficult to do on instruments and in mystical styles where maintaining a specific embouchure is required. Which means it’s not practical on brass or reeded wind instruments playing most conventional repertoire.
Circular breathing is used by many brass players to hold particularly long notes or unbroken chains of notes.
Same for oboes, bassoons, clarinets.
Its also very useful to harmonica players, which are technically reeded wind instruments.
Circular breathing might not be strictly necessary for some styles, but its definitely used by a lot of people, its basically only an upside if you know how to do it properly, raises your skill ceiling.
I play the clarinet and I taught myself circular breathing for one particular piece. I can guarantee you it is not a standard technique. It’s not even something that you can expect a professional player to be able to perform. I think I’ve only ever seen one performer use it.
It can be handy as an option for long fast passages, to avoid needing to sneak in a breath. Much less useful for holding a single long note, because it’ll impact your embouchure and put a hitch in the note that can be disguised between notes in a faster passage.
I mean, makes enough sense in concept.
Could also work with any larger wind instrument that requires moving a considerable volume of air.
Builds up muscles related to breathing, could thus potentially moderately reshape the throat and nasal cavity.
Maybe you’d prefer a tuba?
… at least its not a vuvuzela…
The didgeridoo is customarily played using a technique called circular breathing. Because this involves forcing air out of the mouth using the cheeks, it is exceptionally difficult to do on instruments and in mystical styles where maintaining a specific embouchure is required. Which means it’s not practical on brass or reeded wind instruments playing most conventional repertoire.
Circular breathing is used by many brass players to hold particularly long notes or unbroken chains of notes.
Same for oboes, bassoons, clarinets.
Its also very useful to harmonica players, which are technically reeded wind instruments.
Circular breathing might not be strictly necessary for some styles, but its definitely used by a lot of people, its basically only an upside if you know how to do it properly, raises your skill ceiling.
I remember trying to breathe and play at the same time I didn’t know it was an actual technique lmao
I play the clarinet and I taught myself circular breathing for one particular piece. I can guarantee you it is not a standard technique. It’s not even something that you can expect a professional player to be able to perform. I think I’ve only ever seen one performer use it.
It can be handy as an option for long fast passages, to avoid needing to sneak in a breath. Much less useful for holding a single long note, because it’ll impact your embouchure and put a hitch in the note that can be disguised between notes in a faster passage.
Bzzzzzz