[Trombone-l] Altitude vs Lung Capacity?

[Sandra Lewis]

Galen,
What altitude do you normally play at?
You were doing fine to play at 6,000 feet, especially on a bass trombone. 
Yes, you don't get as much oxygen at high altitude.
Several years ago,we drove to Denver, and then Aspen.  The car had to get 
used to the altitude at 6,000 feet and nearly died.  We pulled over and met 
several people (from our state) who told us the car would adjust gradually. 
It did.
We couldn't tell any difference in our breathing yet.  You see, I live at 3 
feet above sea level in 100% humidity.  It was the only hot humid weather of 
the summer right then and no one used air conditioners in Colorado.
We ended up at 12,000 feet, and I couldn't have carried a horn, much less 
played it.  There is an altitude sickness that some people get.
I asked a professor if Beth would get better breaths after the summer but he 
said that you lose it immediately.
In our community band we had a guest army jazz player who used circular 
breathing.
Our band sounded great that night.
Sandy Lewis----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Galen Zinn" <grzinn at astound.net>
To: <trombone-l at samford.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 8:56 PM
Subject: [Trombone-l] Altitude vs Lung Capacity?


I¹ve often heard that athletes, especially distance runners like to do their
training at high altitude because it seems to give them more endurance
(better use of air) when they compete at a lower altitudes.