[Dixielandjazz] Lung capacity

[briantowers]

Derek,

Very interesting and thanks for the insights.
As a trombonist (pressure player)  I have noticed that the low register uses
up the air from one's lungs at a much faster rate than when blowing in a
high register, when one can hold the note much longer.
In other words, one can hold a high note longer than a low one, all other
things being equal.
So I guess the flow rates for brass instruments vary according to whether
the musician is playing in the high register or the low register.

I have always assumed it is better to blow practice notes in the low
register, to improve lung capacity and stamina.

Cheers,
Brian Towers,
Hot Five Jazzmakers, Toronto, Canada
Band web site:                http://hotfivejazz.tripod.com
Newsletter:                      http://hotfivejazz.tripod.com/TJM
New Year's Eve 2002/3  http://hotfivejazz.tripod.com/nye


>
> >Jacobs mentions that the flow rate for an oboe at a ff
> >dynamic is about 5 liters per minute.
>
> I seem to recall that for a tuba player at a ff dynamic,
> the flow rate is between 140 and 160 liters per minute.
> This is about one breath every 2 seconds.  I don't recall
> the flow rate for trumpet, but it's not uncommon for a
> phrase to be 15-20 seconds long.  So going from about 30
> breaths per minute on tuba to 3-4 breaths per minute on
> trumpet is very significant.  Certainly this enormous
> difference in breathing requirements will take on the
> form of hypoventilation.
>
>
> Derek Reaban
> Tempe, Arizona