Help with breathing on the clarinet?

Question:K, so i just got 1st chair clarinet, and i have to tune the band. I am so awful at sustaining a note. i have to hold a C (middle) for like 30 seconds. what are some exercises to help me. I have like less than a month until the concert where i tune in front of everybody! PLEASE HELP!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: K, so i just got 1st chair clarinet, and i have to tune the band. I am so awful at sustaining a note. i have to hold a C (middle) for like 30 seconds. what are some exercises to help me. I have like less than a month until the concert where i tune in front of everybody! PLEASE HELP!

Congrats on getting 1st chair!

Unfortunately the only way to work on your breathing is through practice. Start timing yourself with a stop watch. Play a c for 5 seconds, break five seconds, play again for five seconds.. and so on..

Once you are able to hold it for 5 seconds without straining, you can move up to 8 seconds, then 10, then 13, and so on...

It's all in training your lungs that you aren't going to run out of air.

Other things to consider: check your embochure that it's tight and not too far down on the mouthpiece.

GL and congrats again!!

Edit: also, don't be embarrassed to take a breath if you have to-everyone has to breathe and noone will judge you for it! ;o)

In this case practice really does make perfect.

Don't try for 30 seconds right away, whenever you practice just try holding it a little longer than the day before. Not only will you be able to hold the note for the 30 seconds you need, but it will help build up muscle that you need.

Well as above
1) Breathe properly - Remeber breathing on the clarinet is not just about pushing your air out! Its about supporting your air as it goes through the clarinet! If you use your breath support you should use less air making a sound and hence conserve air! If you dont know what breath support is google it or ask your clarinet teacher!

2) Fill every bit! Start with filling your stoamch with air and then, your lower back, your lungs and then anywhere else it fits!! James Galway does this trick and it seems to work for him!

3. Excercises
a) have a long note competition with yourself every practice session
b Go for a run/ swim or other cardio excercises this will increase your lung capacity
c) Learn circular breathing

You could also try aking your band teacher if you could tune by sections. E.g, Woodwind then brass strings etc! This would allow you to take a breath and you wouldnt have to hold it for so long!
Good luck

Well it is simple. You need to practice long tones, along with everything else involved in music. But for this concert, we will stick with long tones. Do exactly what you have to do for the concert. Just do it till it sounds good to you. Hold the note out as long as you can with a pure nowavey sound. Play it loud then soft or soft to softer. Be creative. This is longtones, and These exercises (which can be located in your imagination, or the internet), will help you with intonation(pitch) and tone. Oh yeah do your long tone exercises on all notes. Boring exercises, but they work. The more time spent on anything, the better it will be.
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