Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

lowonthetotem · 2010-01-27 11:04:41

For whatever reason, I've recently been plagued by an abundance of spit in my mouth. I will be practicing songs that I had no problem playing about a month ago and during the song, usually in the same place each time, the spit just builds up in my mouth and my breath blows it up onto my lower lip. As soon as it gets there, the sound just dies. I've been playing for a couple years now and never noticed this issu before. On honkyoku it is not such an issue because there is often time between phrases to take a swallow. However, in more "musical" type songs where time is less subjective, I find it hard to take a breath and swallow and stay in time. I realize that this sound like a rather neophyte kind fo questions, but hey, I'm a neophyte. Any suggestions?

Todd Frederick · 2010-01-27 14:58:48

I have a problem with moisture building up in the Utaguchi area. This is especially true with using a Kuu. The unpainted bamboo seems to absorb some. I wonder if weather conditions (humidity) and temperature may affect this. I only started last Fall. Summer may be different. I usually practice in a cold area, but I have not noticed excessive saliva.

edosan · 2010-01-27 20:29:09

Todd Frederick wrote:
I have a problem with moisture building up in the Utaguchi area. This is especially true with using a Kuu. The unpainted bamboo seems to absorb some. I wonder if weather conditions (humidity) and temperature may affect this. I only started last Fall. Summer may be different. I usually practice in a cold area, but I have not noticed excessive saliva.

It's not saliva, but condensing water vapor from your outbreaths. Only way to deal with it if it's a nuisance is to wipe the bore periodically or move to a warmer location to play.

Karmajampa · 2010-01-28 23:25:52

If you use your mouth to breathe in, rather than, or as well as, your nostrils, this can assist to dry moisture around the lips.

K.

lowonthetotem · 2010-01-29 08:42:15

Considering how central breath is to anything, I am not aware, at this moment at my desk at work, to admit that I am not sure if I suck in through my mouth or not. I'll have to be more mindful of this in the future. Thanks for the advice. I am pretty sure that this has come about from a recent foray into healthier living and that I am simply not as dehydrated as I used to be.

edosan · 2010-01-29 13:47:03

lowonthetotem wrote:
For whatever reason, I've recently been plagued by an abundance of spit in my mouth. I will be practicing songs that I had no problem playing about a month ago and during the song, usually in the same place each time, the spit just builds up in my mouth and my breath blows it up onto my lower lip. As soon as it gets there, the sound just dies. I've been playing for a couple years now and never noticed this issu before. On honkyoku it is not such an issue because there is often time between phrases to take a swallow. However, in more "musical" type songs where time is less subjective, I find it hard to take a breath and swallow and stay in time. I realize that this sound like a rather neophyte kind fo questions, but hey, I'm a neophyte. Any suggestions?

Stuff a small hankie into your cheek (or one into each cheek, if necessary, why not?), before you play.

You'll be right...

PSmith · 2010-02-12 14:00:04

I cannot play right after eating. I find my saliva glands are still active. I need to wait 20 minutes or so.

I've always wondered if there is a natural remedy like a drink or mouth rinse that would subdue saliva glands. I haven't found anything. I asked a doctor friend whom I play recorder with. She did not know of anythign either.

Karmajampa · 2010-02-12 14:51:15

Keep practicing, eventually it goes away, you adjust for it, you swallow and breathe appropriately.
Play with the way you are blowing, blow harder, blow softer.

K.

Taldaran · 2010-02-17 19:35:45

Jeez just reading this thread makes my mouth water...it's like talking about itching.

Followed by the inevitable scratch.

mayberryjl · 2010-02-18 09:05:40

This is bad advice so don't follow it, but you could always smoke a joint and then play. It is called cottonmouth for a reason....

Karmajampa · 2010-02-18 20:23:48

mayberryjl wrote:
This is bad advice so don't follow it, but you could always smoke a joint and then play. It is called cottonmouth for a reason....

Then suck on a Lemon.

K.

lowonthetotem · 2010-02-19 09:49:12

Thanks guys. It has gotten better but still comes back every now and then. Aside from smoking joints, drinking boiler makers every other evening also dehydrates you sufficiently, but you usually have to wait until your "off day" to play.

Oddly enough, some lemon juice in a cup of water is also good for keeping the salivary glands working well enough to keep the mouth from drying out, which is also problematic, but not working so hard that they flood the mouth.

Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

#1 2010-01-27 11:04:41

Watery Mouth

#2 2010-01-27 14:58:48

Re: Watery Mouth

#3 2010-01-27 20:29:09

Re: Watery Mouth

Todd Frederick wrote:

#4 2010-01-28 23:25:52

Re: Watery Mouth

#5 2010-01-29 08:42:15

Re: Watery Mouth

#6 2010-01-29 13:47:03

Re: Watery Mouth

lowonthetotem wrote:

#7 2010-02-12 14:00:04

Re: Watery Mouth

#8 2010-02-12 14:51:15

Re: Watery Mouth

#9 2010-02-17 19:35:45

Re: Watery Mouth

#10 2010-02-18 09:05:40

Re: Watery Mouth

#11 2010-02-18 20:23:48

Re: Watery Mouth

mayberryjl wrote:

#12 2010-02-19 09:49:12

Re: Watery Mouth

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