Folklore: Eefing & Ifing

Subject: Folklore: Eefing & Ifing
From: GUEST,Claire M
Date: 28 Jul 14 - 06:14 AM

Hiya! I want to learn to do this but I have a tight chest, & get breathless sometimes.

Have you ever eefed & ifed before, & if so, do you have any tips??

Subject: RE: Folklore: Eefing & Ifing
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 28 Jul 14 - 08:12 AM

It is called "panting" and part of any serious training for singers and wind players. It must not be done with the chest, but with the "belly" (or diaphragm). The reason why it is called "panting" is that if your pants are too tight, it won't work ;-).

Breathing using the diaphragm is generally considered healthy - I always do it. Don't exaggerate the panting, though. Also, you wrote that you have medical problems with your respiration; before you do any serious training, you should ask your doctor.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Eefing & Ifing
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 28 Jul 14 - 08:22 AM

See "Lesson 2", for example.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Eefing & Ifing
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jul 14 - 10:09 PM

Also used by wind/brass instrument players.

It may, with practice, help you pass an alcohol sobriety breath test.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Eefing & Ifing
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 29 Jul 14 - 05:20 AM

It used to work with the old 'blow as hard as you can'-type breathalysers, but the newer electronic ones are harder to fool.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Eefing & Ifing
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jul 14 - 11:15 AM

Sounds similar to the kind of deep breathing control aquired from years of weight traing in the gym.

But these days I'm old and fat, and right now, just standing in front of the computer;
it's difficult to conciously switch between chest and diaphragm
and know if I'm distinguishing effectively between one or the other ?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Eefing & Ifing
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jul 14 - 12:11 PM

I wonder if Claire M was referring to this:

Eephing (type of vocal technique or 'mouth music')