TubeNet

I received an email ad for these products from WWBW:

http://powerlung.us/en/products/performer/index.htm

The description on the website intrigued me, despite the high price of the products. Although I was put off by the claims that the powerlung machines "increase lung capacity" (this is impossible according to Arnold Jacobs right?), it seemed like a powerlung might be a useful device for tuba players to use. Anyone used a powerlung machine before and have any thoughts? Or just an opinion about whether I should drop 100+ bucks on one? Thanks!

Spencer

A better use for the $100 is a set of dumbbells and a bench. Do bench presses, curls, lunges (leg exercise), etc. That will do more for your "lung capacity" as well as give you muscles for hauling that tuba around.

Powerlung?

Powerlung?

Ummmm,
I'm not so sure about these. I had a resistance trainer (I can't remember the name of it) and I found that it caused pain in my back (lungs area) and undue tension in my throat. I wondered if it was doing more harm then good, so it now collects dust. And I tried this one and felt about the same. I would say stick with the breathing gym or whatever. If you really want gizmos (and trust me I probably have most of them) I would stick to the ones on the windsong website:
http://www.windsongpress.com/breathing% ... evices.htm

Bill

This is the one collecting dust:
http://www.ultrabreathe.com/


Bill

If you are interested in improving your efficiency in breathing go to the "Sponsors" section and click on "Wind Song Press", Brian Fredricksen's sight. He has all the hand held devices that you might need and videos showing them in use by Mr. Jacobs. Plenty to look at as well.

How 'bout just start doing some aerobic training?

From personal experience, I can tell you that swimming, cycling, and running will do more for you than any lung "expander" contraptions that are out there.

SR

Or even just a good long, brisk walk.

I have found that gadgets are good for short term use in order to remind your body how it is supposed to feel when operating efficiently.

The best exercise I know is sans gadget, mit tuba.
Play a passage, air only. No buzz in the mouthpiece, but move your air through the horn. Press down the right valves, hear the actual pitch in your head as you blow.
Keep the air stream open and steady - no hiss, no swells, don't die after every articulation.

On a scale of 1-10 - rate yourself. 1 = the least air you can put through through the horn. 10 = the most.
Most people play a melody this way at about a 5-6.

Play it again, but at a 6-7 level.
Play it again, but at a 8-9 level.
Remeber: This is all air, no buzz.

By this point, the room should be spinning. That means you are doing the exercise correctly.

Play it again, but at a 10 level. Breathe wherever you need to. Keep the air steady, full, no hiss, no change in the vowel sound of the air column.

Play it again, but at a 11 level. Seriously. Breathe every note if you must.

Now back off to a 6-7 and play the passage for real, with sound. Should feel very open and warm.


Disclaimer - do this exercise w/ someone in the room. If you hyperventilate and pass out, the other person will be able to catch your instrument, which is rather expensive. You, on the other hand, will eventually heal.