Bad shinobue day? Causes and Remedies
Bad Shinobue Day: We all have those days when, no matter how hard we try, our shinobue just doesn’t sound right. You might notice that your tone is off or that you’re struggling with your low or high notes. This is a normal part of our musical journey.
Recently, I discovered a fantastic blog by a shinobue player named Mr. Hiroki, where he discusses this topic. The article is written in Japanese, so I would like to share a summary of it here. If you're interested, here is the link to the original blog.
According to Mr. Hiroki, there are 4 possible causes for your bad day.
Your mouth position on utakuchi (mouth hole).
Your fingers are not sealing the finger holes completely.
Your body is tense.
Your body is cold because of cold weather.
1. Your mouth position on Utakuchi (mouth hole)
Even if the position of the utakuchi is slightly off from your usual spot on your lip, it can affect the tone, making it sound bad and causing your breath to feel restricted. When you're tired or nervous and looking down, your mouth may fit differently on the utakuchi, altering the direction of your breath. If you're frustrated, you might play the same phrase over and over, trying to get it right, without paying attention to your form (reinforcing bad habits).
Remedy: Take your time when placing the utakuchi on your lips before you start playing. Be sure to pay attention to your posture.
2. Your fingers are not sealing the finger holes completely.
For example, if you are feeling tired, you might not be paying enough attention to your fingers. If you are feeling tense and frustrated, your fingers might be tense, causing a slight gap. Your fingers must fit snug, and the holes must be sealed completely.
Remedy: Relax and be alert. Pay attention to the FEELING on your fingers. They have to feel snug.
Center yourself. Then try again.
3. Your body is tense.
Have you ever had an experience where the minute you are trying to play in front of your friends or teacher, your shinobue sounds terrible? Or the minute you try to play with a karaoke, your playing falls apart? When your body is tense, your fingers become stiff, you may hold the shinobue in a different position (your shoulders and arms might be tight), and of course, your breath becomes shallow.
Remedy: Being prepared really helps with nervousness. Practice every day to build muscle memory.
4. Your body is cold due to the weather.
I practice in my basement, and sometimes it's 57 degrees! My shinobue definitely sounds different then, but I think it’s actually my body, too. I feel like my body gets tense to keep the heat from escaping.
Remedy: To stay warm, heat the room before you start playing. Do some stretching to bring the body temperature up. If you are performing, consider bringing a portable warmer or wearing warm clothing until showtime.
I hope understanding the potential causes of your bad day and their remedies will help you reduce its frequency! Happy practicing!