VALSALVA MANEUVER
The Valsalva Maneuver is a breathing technique that has some positive applications: medicine, childbirth, defecation, weightlifting, scuba diving, combat . . . brass playing is not on the list. It can lead to delayed attacks, fainting on high notes (not so much a low brass problem), hernias, etc. and can become habitual. Arnold Jacobs warned about Valsalva. Brad Howland wrote Breathing and the Valsalva Maneuver in 1999 and followed up with The Valsalva Maneuver in Brass Playing in 2008 – worth reading. (Note: the lips do close. Also see Tone Production and Embouchure Shifts.)
Frank Campos presented a clinic Conquering Valsalva, printed in the October 2015 International Trumpet Guild Journal (if you join, it is in the archives). In it he said, “It is easy to learn the wrong way to blow if we are taught as beginners to tighten the abdominals rather than to blow freely. In so many cases, this is when the Valsalva Maneuver is activated for the first time, and that is when the trouble begins. Playing the trumpet while the Valsalva maneuver is activated is one of the most destructive performance habits of all.”
Mr. Campo advocated a remedy, “Timed Panting” – like a dog, or better, through the nose – for as long as possible – to strengthen breathing muscles and keep the airway open. He warns against dizziness and suggests being seated initially. This may sound familiar to my students. I suggest an open, dark, “lowland gorilla pant” (as opposed to a puppy-dog pant) and use it for a slightly different purpose: “quick, open, relaxed, inhalation.” Keeping the sensation of moving air at the lips keeps the airway open ("WHuu" – not "hah"). But Campos’ exercise is excellent – panting through the nose also keeps the airway open.
Ash Carter addressed this in an excellent facebook post in the Trombone Pedagogy and Repertoire Group Page (you may need join the group to read it). My only quarrel is with the the word "compression" which I believe is a dangerous word (see Support). His solution reminds me of the Set-Up routine I use.
This video illustrate some of the issues with Valsalva.
Frank Campos presented a clinic Conquering Valsalva, printed in the October 2015 International Trumpet Guild Journal (if you join, it is in the archives). In it he said, “It is easy to learn the wrong way to blow if we are taught as beginners to tighten the abdominals rather than to blow freely. In so many cases, this is when the Valsalva Maneuver is activated for the first time, and that is when the trouble begins. Playing the trumpet while the Valsalva maneuver is activated is one of the most destructive performance habits of all.”
Mr. Campo advocated a remedy, “Timed Panting” – like a dog, or better, through the nose – for as long as possible – to strengthen breathing muscles and keep the airway open. He warns against dizziness and suggests being seated initially. This may sound familiar to my students. I suggest an open, dark, “lowland gorilla pant” (as opposed to a puppy-dog pant) and use it for a slightly different purpose: “quick, open, relaxed, inhalation.” Keeping the sensation of moving air at the lips keeps the airway open ("WHuu" – not "hah"). But Campos’ exercise is excellent – panting through the nose also keeps the airway open.
Ash Carter addressed this in an excellent facebook post in the Trombone Pedagogy and Repertoire Group Page (you may need join the group to read it). My only quarrel is with the the word "compression" which I believe is a dangerous word (see Support). His solution reminds me of the Set-Up routine I use.
This video illustrate some of the issues with Valsalva.