Exercise and Practicing

[GrandCanyon]

Hi,

Has anyone had any experience practicing tuba while exercising?

I have such limited time to do everything I want to do (or need to do). I was thinking I could walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike while buzzing my mouthpiece. I was in a an athletic drum corps when I was younger and always felt that the movement and physical activity did wonders for my breath control.

Thoughts?

[PaulMaybery]

If there is time to differentiate the two, the physical exercise by itself, as an aerobic and cardio exercise, has very valuable benefits for simply just stamina. Good circulation gets maximum blood flow to all parts of the body which help fatigued and damage tissue to heal and recover. It also would give your chops a rest.

There are various breathing exercises that can be applied when walking or running. One I recall is from Claude Gordon. I learned this from a disciple of his while working on the"Systematic Approach to Daily Practice" MANY, MANY years ago (1970s)

While walking at a comfortable pace, take 5 steps while slowly inhaling, hold the breath for 5 , take 5 to slowly exhale and lastly, 5 for holding the lungs as empty as possible. Keep walking and repeat over and over. I used to do this 20 step routine while walking around the block. Seems easy at first and then the effort begins after a few cycles as the body keeps demanding more air/oxygen. Eventually you get your second wind as the endorphins begin to kick in. Probably best to start at a moderate walking pace and then after several days keep quickening the pace. As I recall, I was not able to make the whole block on the first attempt, but each day, things improved. The quicker the pace, hence more work, hence a greater need for oxygen. Consistently good nutrition, proper rest and good sleep, and a certain discipline as to allotting sufficient time and you should be able to see and measure improvement over a certain amount of time. I thought it was a hoot to be able to measure success in whatever I chose to do. The body is simply amazing.

Paul (who wishes he was still younger and able to do those wonderful routines to the level he once could) Maybery.