Graham,
When I had a
lesson with David Krauss (My Lesson with David Krauss at the Met!!) last year, he suggested that I need to breathe more slowly, through my nose, and really set up a pressurized feel with some resistance in my chest and then simply release the air into the horn.
At a
Jens Lindemann Master class, (Lindemann Masterclass in Arizona (Overview!)) Jens commented that when he stands beside Allen Vizzutti he is very aware of the length of the inhale. Where possible, take longer, slower, relaxed breaths. It’s a very good way to diminish tension and harmful nervousness.
Enrico Caruso also advocates the slow intake breath through the nose (I’ve posted details about this in the David Krauss link above).
The other Caruso (Carmine) talks about the nose breath for different reasons (to reduce the problems related to resetting the embouchure before each attack), but the benefits mentioned by Krauss, Vizzutti, Lindemann, and Enrico C. clearly will piggyback with Carmine’s ideas.
So often, breathing exercises focus on increased capacity, and moving lots of air. The benefits that I have experience in my own playing using the “nose” breath are tangible, and I’m so glad that David identified the improvement that I would experience if I incorporated this simple change into my routine.