Quote:
Originally Posted by bigtiny  This is a bit simplistic. When we say to pay attention to your breathing, we don't just mean the intake of air. We mean to breathe fully, expand the lungs, use the diaphragm for support, use the column of muscles from your sphincter up through the back and abdomen through the chest and right through to the embochure for support, relax the throat, use the tongue properly.
So, one needs to practice long tones, lip slurs (slowly!!!) and the like, while making sure to do all of the things I mentioned above until the air support feels correct and the player doesn't have to 'think' about it....
bigtiny |
I appreciate that you think it sounds too simplistic, but that's how I approach it and it works for me... maybe it wouldn't for everyone, I don't know. I feel like my breathing naturally adjusts to whatever it is I'm playing. If I have two short notes, I don't bother breathing in a LOT of air, but I concentrate always on taking in air in a relaxed manner. I HAVE to!!! If I don't, and I try to think about everything I get TOO focused on breathing and I forget about playing. The times that I take the most air in are during my long tone sessions (and of course long passages in music), and I still focus more on taking in a relaxed breath.... not necessarily MORE breath. The only time during the day that I actually think about breathing is during my breathing exercises. Hey, if I'm wrong I'm sorry, but this is my approach for now and it really seems to be working for me.