Energy approximation is a phrase I have coined to describe the servicing of apertures of wind instruments. The skills required when servicing a wind instrument are very much connected to the delivery of the wind to the aperture (opening, mouthpiece etc.) of each instrument. A clean and clear penetration of the aperture is the goal: free of pre-noise, breathiness, and intonation.

This essay will offer a methodology for the acquisition of wind skills designed for clear and clean penetration of the different wind instrument apertures. The benchmark for the methodology will refer to the widely accepted tuning note, A440, where participants tune their instruments to the benchmark 440 vibrations per second.

The wind used for the production of the sounds of music will be located adjacent to the abdominal muscles. Locating the wind in this particular area of the body will be achieved by inhaling through the nose or mouth. This diaphragmatic breathing contains two necessary features for the servicing of wind instruments: 1) the location of the wind and 2) the vital source of energy for energy approximations to take place. The skillful contraction of the muscles will provide a range of energy levels for approximating the energy for every note in the instrument’s range. The appropriate strength of each energy approximation is a learned skill that can be practised away from the instrument.

Energy approximation practice methodology

1. Inhale the wind (air) through the mouth or nose
2. Locate the inhaled wind adjacent to the abdominal muscles. The stomach area will expand with the wind location.
3. Contract the muscles to supply the energy to the located wind.
4. Place the tip of the tongue in the up position.
5. Direct the energised wind to the tip of the tongue.
6. The tongue falls and releases the energised stream of wind.
7. The energised stream of wind penetrates the aperture of the instrument.
8. The conclusion is a sound of music, clean and clear.

Approximating energy levels in this way will lead to skilful contractions that approximate the required vibration frequencies of each note throughout the range. Each note has a specific vibration frequency to be in tune with itself and all other notes. Having an approximate muscle tension that establishes the strength for each successive note is achievable.  Practising single notes, and intervals, low to high in succession, is challenging, and the rewards are certainly worth the effort. Trial and error are the factors in the learning of this wind skill and a worthwhile addition to one’s performance knowledge.

The ideal outcome of the exercise is the mental state of ‘a priori’, that is, you can confidently judge the strength of your contractions before you produce the sound. This judgement is a mental one, experienced before the release of the energised wind into the aperture (a priori). In other words, you are mentally in control of the outcome.

This energy approximation methodology has been tried and tested with professional students and is experienced as being very facilitative for sound production. Embedding the brain with this methodology will render permanent wind skills in reliable sound production mentally, aurally and physically.  

4 February 2024