Breath problems playing winds

Hey,

I recently had to play my soprano sax less than an hour after meal or breakfast, and I had problems controlling the breath, problems I usually don’t have. Years ago I played piano in a restaurant, from 9:30-11:30PM , I had my dinner at 8:30 and there was no problem (playing piano), but I possibly start playing the Tenor sax at about the same hour, I wonder, how those guys who play sax in jazzy night clubs, how do they do it ? they have their dinner at 7:00PM ? or after playing at 11:45 PM ? Or they simply don’t dinner ?

The other day I drank a glass of water a bit fast and then I played the sax, and I couldn’t maintain the breath any longer that 1 or 2 bars….

I want to know if there are some tips to solve this matter or is just something one mustn’t do, play after meals

If someone knows about this I’d appreciate the advice because I can be called at any time to play and sometimes they call me before less than an hour.

There are many here who can probably address this question from an instrumentalist's point of view, but I can answer it as a singer who uses the same kind of breath support to make sound.

I try to avoid eating anything at all for at least 2 hours before I have to sing, and whatever I do eat is light, like a salad with lean protien such as tuna, or some fruit.

The stomach is close enough in proximity to the diaphragm that if it's full or working hard (the stomach is a muscular organ), I have found that it can definitely affect my breath support. I've also had issues with burping/belching while singing because my diaphragm put pressure on my stomach while it was full, so the effect works both ways.

There are always the lucky few who can consume a Big Mac, a large order of fries and a 32 oz. soda right before singing/playing and never have any issues, but most of the singers and wind players I know do the same as I do. Naturally, the degree to which it affects you depends upon your personal constitution - just as some people can eat anything they like in any quantity or frequency and never gain weight.

Additionally, it's always better to stay well-hydrated by consuming small amounts of water or other fluids throughout the day, rather than gulping a large amount of water at once, but it's particularly true before playing or singing.

I see, thanks for your comment, I naturally would like to avoid this situation, but when I must play, I'd like to know if there is some kind of breathing exercises to warm up, or if I must say NO if is to close to the meals... I'll wait for the wind players.

I see, thanks for your comment, I naturally would like to avoid this situation, but when I must play, I'd like to know if there is some kind of breathing exercises to warm up, or if I must say NO if is to close to the meals... I'll wait for the wind players.

I play sax, and when I play a gig or even practice I try not to eat right beforehand. When you're playing your abdomen gets a bit of a workout from its role in breath support. Eating immediately before playing is like eating before going to the gym. It can make you feel nauseous and the muscle movement in the abdomen can make it seem like your food is starting to come up. This feeling can be even worse if you're nervous at a gig and if you're not feeling well it can show in your playing. So, I recommend staying away from a large meal maybe an hour or two before playing. Plus this lessens the chance of you blowing some food caught in your teeth into your instrument!

But everyone's different, so you have to find what works for you.

yeah, I think is something definitely one must not do, Thank you all

Interesting, I have no problem playing after a meal whatsoever. Maybe you can just do some simple breathing exercises: filling yourself with air over say 4 counts at appx 60 bpm, holding the air while relaxed for 4 and breathing ALL of it out evenly over the next 4. Then, alter the numbers as you go making the out number longer and longer and the in and held numbers longer and then shorter, breathing in for say 2 counts and immediately blowing out for say 24 or more counts with enough force to actually make sound with your instrument. I don't know if this will help your case, but it might be worth a shot.

Yes the moderate breath exercise helps a little, but I'd like to know what instrument do you play ?

YOu see, Clarinet gives me more problems than Tenor Sax, (Clarinet uses too few breath for the ones used to blow more)