From the very beginning of learning the Armenian duduk, the student is taught the skills of breath control in playing: the inhale is fast and deep, and the exhale is slow and even.
Types of breathing
Three types of breathing are used today:
- chest (costal);
- abdominal (diaphragmatic);
- mixed (thoraco-abdominal).
Students are taught the mixed type — it allows more air to be taken into the lungs and therefore provides a better sound and free playing. On a deep inhale the chest expands in all directions and the diaphragm lowers; on a calm exhale the ribs and diaphragm smoothly return.
The depth of the inhale matches the length of the musical phrase. It's best not to change your breathing too often — the breathing muscles get overworked.
Technique for beginners
Beginners are advised only to touch the edges of the reed with their lips, without putting it fully into the mouth. You should slightly puff out your cheeks so that the inner parts of the lips separate from the gums and teeth, forming a gap. Exhale with effort, but without straining the lips.
The reed is taken with the lips, inserted slightly into the mouth. It must not touch the teeth: the lips act as a fixture, ensuring vibration without loss of air. Correct vibrato is achieved by moving only the lower lip, not the whole jaw.
