BREATHING EXERCISES

AIR IS THE KEY

Good posture and proper breathing should, and can, become automatic. Nothing on a wind instrument will work as well as it can until the musician is putting the proper air support behind it. Can the instrument be played with bad posture? Yes, but not as well! Can you play without proper air support? Yes, but not as well! A musician has a lot to think about and consider while learning a skill or a piece of music. Rather than add "posture" and "air support" to the list of things to consider, why not work to make them automatic. Every note you play should be with good posture and proper air support, anytime and anywhere. Every note is beautiful, and nothing is every "half played". Sooner than you think, it will be your habit. It will be automatic.

BREATHE THROUGH THE MOUTH

It is indeed a healthy practice to breath through your nose. In Yoga, it is a common practice in deep breaths to inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth. Inhaling through your nose lets the structure of your sinuses filter things out of the air before getting to your lungs.

However, playing a wind instrument is different. In order for the right amount of air to be in the right place when needed, you need to inhale through the mouth. I find myself solving so many issues in lessons simply by reminding my students to take a big breath with the mouth, and use it. It helps sound, it helps range, and it even helps technique. It helps the instrument respond to what you are asking of it! It's probably better not to use a clothespin or a swimmer's nose clip to get into that habit, but I'm not beyond asking for that when needs dictate!

BREATHING EXERCISES

Standing, keep you shoulders down and back. Let your lower abdomen expand, not your chest. An "expanding chest" is really nothing but raised shoulders and arched back. The lungs do not press out and expand your ribs. Using that lower abdominal "coughing" muscle (called the "diaphragm"), push up against the bottom of your lungs to expel the air as fast as you can. The exercises below will provide three different levels of resistance.

Keep your back straght, your shoulders back, inhale through you mouth:

Huff: 3 counts in, out as fast as you can through as open a throat and mouth as you can. 3 times

Candle: 3 counts in, out as fast as you can through lips blowing out a birthday candles. 3 times

Sizzle: 3 counts in, out as fast as you can through making a "SSSSSSS" sound with your tongue

One more of each: Huff, Candle Sizzle.