Breathing In

Let's keep this simple:

1. The diaphragm drops
2. A vacuum is created
3. The air rushes in.

This is already more than you need to know about the mechanics of breathing to do it well.

Most students DO NOT take deep-enough, relaxed-enough breaths when playing.

Try this: "Doctor's Office" Breath

This is a new tip which I learned from Joe Alessi at the Alessi Seminar V in 2007. He would describe the ideal breath as being just like the deep breath you take at the doctor's office when he/she is listening with a stethoscope.

Try this: Finger whistle

As you breathe in, hold one finger vertically in front of your mouth (as if you are saying, "shhh"). As you breathe deeply, you should hear a slight whistling sound as the air rushes around your finger. This has become my favorite breathing exercises because it is simple and it focuses the attention away from internal mechanics onto an external goal.

Try This: "kee" vs. "hoe"

Say "keee." Your tongue is arched in the roof of your mouth. Now try to breathe deeply while holding the "keee" syllable. Terrible isn't it? Now say "hoe" (or "how"). Your tongue is low in your mouth allowing the air to flow smoothly. Breathe deeply with the "hoe" syllable. Did you get a better breath this time?

 Try This: Easy breathing tubes

Simply cut the bottom off of a water or soda bottle (the opening is sized for the mouth). Wash it if necessary.
Take a few deep breaths first without then with the tube in mouth. Did you take in more air?
Now.... learn to take equally deep breaths without the tube and without opening your mouth too wide.

Try This: Breathing bags

 You may want to make a breathing bag out of a lightweight paper bag. Insert the tube in the bag and completely fill and collapse it with each breath. Make the bag big enough so you can just barely fill it with your deepest breath. You may wish to purchase a medical breathing bag (somewhere between four and six liters). Plastic shopping bags are often too flimsy and tend to collapse around the end of the tube.

Try This: Breath pauses

When playing your music, try pausing at each breath mark. Take as long as you need to complete a relaxed, dark "oh" breath before proceeding. After learning to consistently take this wonderful breath while pausing the music, gradually shrink the pause needed for the breath until you are playing the music in time while maintaining optimal breathing.

TIMING THE BREATH

Once you have developed the habit of taking a full relaxed breath, you must learn to do so in time with a metronome. All too often, young trombonists seem to abandon good breathing habits as soon as they are required to coordinate their breath with a steady pulse. Two common mistakes arise:

1. The student starts the breath too late and fails to take in enough air or properly set the embouchure for the attack.
2. The student breathes too early and is forced to hold their breath before beginning.

Keep the metronome turned on during your breathing exercises and warmup routine to help alleviate this problem.