[The following article appeared in the British Journal The Double Reed News (No. 8, August, 1989, pp. 11-13) and is reprinted here with the kind permission of the author. Ed.]
The games period at school was the only convenient time for my bassoon lessons. Not being particularly athletic or interested in physical activity, I was quite happy to give up a gruelling hour either in the gym or on the football pitch, in order to advance my musical training. At that age I had no idea of the importance of exercise nor did I realise that it could improve my bassoon playing.
People often take their bodies for granted, not paying very much attention to their general physical condition. One's body, like a car, requires maintenance and tuning in order to run well; similarly both are designed for movement. Unfortunately in most cases our bodies are not tuned for maximum performance. If left inactive for too long their functioning will deteriorate.
Exercise improves physical fitness as well as one's health. Muscles' capacity for doing their job deteriorates with lack of use. Fortunately this is not irreversible as the body adjusts to the work load placed on it. When the load is diminished muscles begin to waste away, strength is lost and the body becomes less capable of meeting physical demands. After training physical work feels easier and one's perception of effort is less. The increased muscular strength means that any given task is now less of an effort since it taxes a smaller fraction of the muscle's maximum ability. It has also been found that exercise can heighten mental activity, improve concentration and strengthen will power. The ancient Greeks knew that when the body was healthy and strong, intelligence and skill could function at the peak of their capacity.
The playing of a musical instrument is influenced by the physical structure of the player (ie. the various parts, how they fit together and function in relation to each other). The younger the person the less muscular tension and structural contortion they will have developed. The lay-out of a house governs one's actions, determining how easy or difficult it is to get around. In the same way your physical architecture will directly affect how well you function in any activity. Stretching (as in the discipline of yoga) will reshape the body, rectifying the asymmetries and imbalances we develop. Playing a musical instrument on the other hand can compound whatever asymmetries we have.
If the bones of the skeleton were stripped of their musculature they would fit together perfectly. It is only the muscles which distort their alignment. When balanced and free, the structure responds to the downward pull of gravity efficiently by lengthening upwards. Even under great stress the elastic quality of our structure allows the tissues to lose shape and then return to normal when the stress is removed. If the body is already mechanically out of balance then the added stress imposed by playing an instrument can lead to structural stiffness, strain and sometimes injury.
Although games are encouraged in schools, teachers seldom know much about body mechanics. Most exercise does not change structure or correct it in any mechanical sense (ie. change the relationship between the parts). Once the structure is improved, whatever exercise one does will give one more benefit.
The habits developed while playing an instrument will with practice become natural. Even when not playing, our bodies will still retain the muscular patterns involved. The violinist with his head to one side and one shoulder higher than the other shows that even at rest his body is still in a state of activity. Playing a wind instrument has the added complication of altering the player's natural breathing pattern. It is therefore important to have some way of breaking down the habitual muscular patterns and bring the body back to a more normal state of balance.*
Most people's understanding of breathing is limited. It is basically a natural body function necessary to sustain life. Playing a wind instrument requires a reversal of the normal breathing pattern. In a normal breathing cycle the inhalation on average takes up 3/5 of the cycle, exhalation 1/5. The final 1/5 is made up of rest periods taking place at the end of each inhalation and exhalation. A performer will inhale instantaneously, exhale over a long period of time, while the rest portion of the cycle may not even exist.
Normal breathing involves not only movements of the rib cage but also movements of the entire spine. The spine lengthens during inhalation and shortens during exhalation. Efficient breathing cannot be learnt from deep breathing exercises but by physical exercise. Only when muscles create a demand for oxygen causing the breath to become deeper and faster does the efficiency of the lungs become improved. Proper stretching teaches one how to breathe in a natural, relaxed and co-ordinated manner. Stretching not only strengthens muscles but also increases their elasticity which is vital for efficient breathing. As a result of stretching the breathing patterns developed by the wind player can be broken to prevent them extending into everyday life. *
The way you breathe can have a profound effect on how you feel. Breathing properly increases your energy and relaxes you. Oxygen is sucked into the lungs on the in-breath and gases containing carbon dioxide from the tissues are sent out on the out-breath. The rhythmic inflation and deflation of the lungs is maintained by the movements of the ribcage and diaphragm. The diaphragm is situated around the circumference of the lower rib cage; it is attached at the back to the lumbar vertebrae, at the sides to the lower six ribs and in front to the breastbone. (see Fig. 1).
It is a dome-shaped muscle with the right side higher than the left. It contracts downwards on inhalation and lengthens upwards on exhalation. (see Fig. 2). It moves up and down 16 to 18 times per minute and is one of the most powerful muscles in the body. The range of its movement is approximately 8 centimetres, 4 centimetres up and 4 centimetres down. During normal inhalation the average person takes in about 500 cubic centimetres of air. During deep inhalation the intake of air is about six times as great. Better breathing means a better and healthier life.
Stress and nerves can affect a performer's breathing by lessening its capacity and efficiency.
Some stress is useful to motivate us, providing energy which enables us to do things. It only becomes a problem when it reaches excessive levels, when the demand exceeds our ability to respond or to cope effectively. As a result of stress, certain reactions occur in the body. The heart accelerates, breathing becomes shallower and faster, and muscles tense. Certain chemicals designed to mobilize one for "fight or flight" are produced in the blood. These chemicals which indude adrenalin are designed to be dispersed but because of our sedentary lives we never get a chance to bum them off. Physical exercise causes these stored products to be metabolized and any build up of adrenalin will be cleared away.
Muscular strength, flexibility and stamina all tend to diminish with age due not only to the decay of muscles but also to the diminished capacity of the lungs to take in the oxygen needed to power the muscles. Although muscles tend to deteriorate with age at a faster rate than they are made, physical training nevertheless stimulates their build-up. During exercise the heart is encouraged to work harder and beat faster, which results in a lower heart rate when the body is at rest. A conditioned heart holds a greater volume of blood and when it contracts it empties more thoroughly. In order to function properly, our bodies need a good steady and consistent supply of blood. This provides our muscles with necessary supplies of food and oxygen.
Children usually learn a musical instrument for enjoyment and interest, not as a way of life. However if care is not taken in the initial stages of development then muscular problems could manifest themselves later on. The extent to which we realise our individual potential depends both on the way we use our muscles and how much we exercise them. With regular use they can do more work for longer periods of time without protest. The music profession is a tough and demanding business where we are constantly having to perform at our best. By keeping in good physical shape we can keep this condition going much longer.
Glyn, as well as being a free-lance bassoonist , teaches
T'ai Chi Ch'uan and is also a qualified teacher of the Alexander
Technique.