The Basics of Breathing For Wind Players ...
By Elmo
Originally Posted 01/13/06
Students always seem to neglect the importance of the air ?stream and therefore suffer from consequential problems; poor sound production, lousy intonation, limited range and the inability to phrase efficiently. Any woodwind player or brass player can eliminate these problems by developing the ability to control breathing while playing . Usually the proper application of correct breathing can correct problems such as these.
Believe it or not, we don't use very much of our breathing capacity ! Usually when you breathe, you only use about 28 per cent of your full breathing capacity. The real problem is when you need to increase the capacity sufficiently to fill your instrument. When you inhale you use two forms a vacuum. One created by the diaphragm, the other by the muscles around the rib cage.
Diaphramatic Breathing
Here is a good demonstration of Diaphragmatic Breathing : Exhale all the air from your system, open your throat as if yawning and pant rapidly using the diaphragm ensuring the upper part of your body and chest area stays perfectly still. This rapid panting action creates a vacuum that sucks air into the lungs. If this is done correctly you will feel not only the stomach area expand, the top of your hips and back of your trunk will expand also.
Costal Breathing ?
The costal muscles are situated around the rib cage and they can create a vacuum when inhaling. An easy way to demonstrate this method is to follow the these simple instructions: Exhale all the air in your body and form a slightly stooped position, drooping the shoulders and leaning forward slightly. Pinch your nose with your fingers and keep your mouth closed. Then, straighten your body, as if a standing to attention. Once you are in a fully upright position, quickly open your mouth. You will feel an immediate suction of air into the chest cavity demonstrating that the costal muscles create a substantial vacuum.
1. Continuous Breathing
First of all set your metronome to 60 beats per minute, release all the air from your system like a deflated balloon. Slowly breathe in through your nose to the count of 10 (if you can hear yourself breathing in you are inhaling too quickly), then exhale through your mouth for a count of 10 then immediately repeat the exercise ensuring an even and smooth inhalation and exhalation of air.
2. Yoga Breathing
Again, set a metronome to 60 beats per minute, inhale to the count of 10, hold the breath for a further count of 10, then exhale for another account of 10. If you do this slowly and evenly, over a period of time you will increase your breathing capacity substantially.
You will also find that if you suffer with nerves these exercises will help relax your body and reduce those unwanted tense and stressful performances.
By studying the styles and teachings of some of the world's finest performers I have learned that the ability to control your breathing is the most important fundamental of playing a wind instrument. Spend at least 10 minutes a day doing simple breathing exercises with and without the instrument and you'll find that your control of the basic elements of your playing will improve dramatically. Alternatively, if you lose sight of your fundamentals they will some day come back to haunt you!
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