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I've been trying to develop my pedal tones and the main hurdle is that after 5 minutes of playing pedals I feel as if I'm going to pass out. Is there a good fix for that or should I just wait until my lung capacity is a little bit greater?

As long as you don't go to the light at the end of the tunnel, you'll be fine. Ever heard of "chasing the dragon"

TinyTubist97 wrote:I've been trying to develop my pedal tones and the main hurdle is that after 5 minutes of playing pedals I feel as if I'm going to pass out. Is there a good fix for that or should I just wait until my lung capacity is a little bit greater?

Why do you feel that you must practice pedals continuously for whatever period of time you are attempting? Why not break the practice up, so as to practice something else for a few minutes, while your system restores some order?

Check out Mike Milnarik's Daily Routine.

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There are two schools of thought on the cause of hyperventilation:
1) Too much oxygen to the brain
2) Not enough carbon dioxide to the brain

These are quite similar but what it is, is the oxygen/carbon dioxide balance is out of whack. The simplest way to correct this is to breathe back in through the horn (and I would hope the horn has been well cleaned). The air in the horn is rich in carbon dioxide and this will help re-balance the oxygen/carbon dioxide in the brain.

Keep practicing the low range and your body will suddenly figure out a way to make the embouchure/air more efficient and you will be able to hold notes lonjger and play longer phrases and get more comfortable with centering pitches in the low register. Take frequent breaks so that your body/brain has time to recover. Practice at softer dynamics so that the tendency toward hyperventilation will be less. Gradually increase the dynamic level as your get more comfortable playing down there.

Remember, no one pays us to play high notes. The low register is "the cash register".

Just my $0.02.

Roger

Roger Lewis wrote:Remember, no one pays us to play high notes.

Well, almost no one.

UncleBeer wrote:

Roger Lewis wrote:Remember, no one pays us to play high notes.

Well, almost no one.

They''ll pay us to stop