Help! I have spit problems while playing shinobue
"When playing longer phrases, how do you deal with the basic human function of swallowing saliva in order to play the next phrase? I don’t know who else to ask other you. Thank you!” (Anonymous)
For the first 1.5 years, I had terrible saliva challenges. I would get spit bubbles on my lips, which make a bubbly sound as I blow air into my shinobue! What did I do to overcome it? Nothing. It simply disappeared without me doing anything particular about this problem.
Looking back, I now know why my saliva was coming out excessively. It was because I was blowing the air too hard with my mouth. Shinobue likes SLOW air, with its flow controlled by the core muscles, not by facial muscles (such as muscles around the mouth and lips). When I play, I strive hard to prevent myself from using facial muscles to push the air. The only thing my facial muscles do is create the embouchure needed to direct the air down to utakuchi (mouth hole). My facial muscles do not get involved in pushing the air out; they just direct the air. Pushing happens at the core muscles, muscles around the pelvis, and even my calves.
Since I don't use my mouth to blow air, my mouth does not salivate excessively. If I need to swallow, I can simply swallow between the phrases. This process happened so gradually that I didn't even realize my spit problem was decreasing. I simply didn't think about it anymore. Keep working on your fundamental technique, and your saliva issues will disappear, too!
Other helpful tips about excessive saliva issue
Don't eat a large meal before practicing. Your body is still digesting your food, and using the diaphragm to breathe deeply will cause more saliva to come up.
Refrain from playing songs that require a lot of tonguing until your saliva issues are controlled.
Don't play when hungry or thirsty, especially in a house filled with wonderful cooking aroma.
Rule out any medical issues. Check your medications that may increase saliva production.
Your saliva production volume can change under stress (such as performance anxiety). Be mindful of it.
Thank you for sending in this question! I hope this was helpful! Please email me your saliva issues, any thoughts/hints about this problem, or any shinobue-related questions!!
