Maxing your train

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@davidkachalon Fantastic video bro! I was wondering what you meant by “phasing” between your nose and your mouth and this video really made it plain as day. WOW!! Gamechanger. Thank you so much!!

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I believe it’s the key to getting real control.

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David

Any plans for a session this year like you did last SPAH on the train. It sure improves rhythm, especially with faster play.

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I always do a train seminar…Have for the last few years. It’s very important I make it a priority. :pray:t4::blue_heart:

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David

Do you do one a day or once on a specific day?

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Every day. Few minutes at least.

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Thank you for the great lesson.
The phasing from mouth to nose is very interesting, But one thing I have been struggling with harmonica playing, is not leaking hair through the nose. Following @Luke advise in his course, I have been practicing daily for a several month now trying to pinch my nose but that hasn’t help so far.

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Buy nose plugs. That will help you feel the sensation of not breathing through the nose and will translate when removed after some time.

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@davidkachalon thank you for the tip. But basically it is the same idea that @Luke was teaching in his course to practice pinching the nose to close it, and practice until the body adapts and stops breathing through the nose. There seems to be no other technique. So I guess I’ll have to just be patient until the day comes.

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Having the plugs on is much different than holding it closed. Also think of the sensation of having a stuffed up nose. Your voice will change to a nasal sound, and over time you will be able to turn it on and off.

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@davidkachalon thank you. Going back to the train exercise you shared here, you are not doing any articulation (e.g. ta-ka-ta-ka), right?

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Absolutely no articulation. Think gentle cough.

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@davidkachalon Thank you so much for the lesson and all the extra tips here.

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My pleasure!

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@davidkachalon would you recommend working on the phasing out through the nose and back in even at low speed (e.g. 80 bpm) or wait to be able to achieve higher speed first?

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80 is absolutely fine to practice the phasing!

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@davidkachalon I can’t manage to phase out gradually from mouth to nose. This is really hard. What I can do is the following:

  • 100% Air is flowing through mouth
  • Air flowing through both mouth and nose
  • decrease the total amount of air drawn/blown (making it quieter)
  • 100% Air is flowing through nose

I can’t do something like

  • 100% Air is flowing through mouth
  • 75% air is flowing through mouth 25% through nose
  • 50% air is flowing through mouth 50% through nose
  • 25% air is flowing through mouth 75% through nose
  • 100% Air is flowing through mouth

Would you say I should not try to practice the first pattern since I would be practicing a wrong technique which will be hard to unlearn and keep trying the second one?
Do you or someone else know some good exercise to practice such air flow control?
Thank you in advance.

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@Mugen - I’ll be interested to hear what DK has to say, but I don’t see any problem with the way you’re doing. Seems that you’re doing the best you can with the technique for the time being.

I’m struggling with the technique as well by the way.

I think one thing that will help both of us is practicing this away from the harmonica. BTW - I had a train lesson with DK on Friday. It was AWESOME. He’s a GREAT teacher. Definitely recommended.

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You are doing the correct thing as all the patterns are valuable. Learning how to move air with total control is the goal. Keep it up. It will get easier.

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