Pedal C

Rowuk laid out a really sensible way to establish good breathing habits! I'll just add one little thing that has helped me...

Sometimes I find my breathing getting worse the farther I go into a piece (or etude or whatever). What helps me is to listen to a recording of whatever I'm playing and practice breathing in time with the recording. It's an easy way to get a full relaxed breath while still thinking about the music you're working on but not having the complication of actually having to play the horn! This was especially helpful for me when I was working on the Hindemith Sonata. After doing this for awhile (a little each day, not four hours at a time!), the good breath became much more automatic even when the playing was strenuous.

Jason.

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"The oboe's A is to make sure we still play it 1 and 2" - Bud Herseth

"One way or another, every patient stops bleeding." - Scrubs