Just Relax...

By Tyler Song

Most of us are (unfortunately) all too familiar with the common problems of clarinet technique: biting, bad legato, inadequate breathing. What we often don’t realize is these common pitfalls are almost always the result of excessive tension in the body. So let’s take a moment and discuss how to approach our craft with a relaxed yet focused effort.

As someone who loves to fixate, I spend a very long time reading and experimenting with different ways to force myself to relax. I tried meditation, stretches, breathing exercises, Alexander technique, and other things. While these all helped to varying degrees and are certainly valuable skills to know, I still found myself struggling with those common clarinet problems.

Did you catch my mistake?

Trying to FORCE relaxation is one of the easiest pitfalls to fall in, one that I didn’t even realize I was in until I read Timothy Gallwey’s The Inner Game of Tennis (highly recommend, you can purchase it here!)

“…the instant I try to make myself relax, true relaxation vanishes, and in its place is a strange phenomenon called “trying to relax.” Relaxation happens only when allowed, not as a result of “trying” or “making.”

This little difference between allowing relaxation and trying to relax may seem like semantics, but it’s the physical equivalent of the “don’t think about elephants” thought experiment. When you try to relax, you’re consciously “trying to not be tense”. As a result, all your body can think about is tension everywhere!

Instead, let’s think of relaxation as a secure but supple embouchure, a ballet-like fluidity in our technique, and the smooth ins and outs of our breathing. We can still utilize the same tools such as meditation and breathing exercises, but being mindful of our approach is the key to their effectiveness!

If you want to explore more ways of how to apply this to your playing, check out our Thrive Body & Breath Challenge here: https://www.music-threesixty.com/body-breath-challenge-1 

Happy Practising!