Breathing Exercises

The Quick and Dirty Breathy Exercise

My favorite one for brass players I like to call "The Quick & Dirty Breathy Exercise." Make the instrument as long as possible (all valves down, 7th position for trombones), put your mouth AROUND the mouthpiece (or, at least, bottom lip out of the mouthpiece...), and take four VIOLENT breaths in and out through the instrument. (Yes, through the instrument - that's where the "dirty" part comes in ... great reinforcer to keep the horn clean...) Violent in the sense that they should fill completely and as quickly as possible, then blow ALL air out as quickly as possible. The whole thing takes like 10 seconds (hence the "quick" part), and always makes a dramatic sound difference in the player. Not sure how it could be adapted for woodwinds...

The best exercises for musical breathing can be found as part of "The Breathing Gym," put together by two of the finest tuba players who ever lived: Sam Pilafian (Empire Brass) and Patrick Sheridan (scary soloist, former Marine Band principal). It even has a DVD that you can put on in front of the Band and everything...

http://www.breathinggym.com/site/index.cfm

Andrew B. Spang, Director of Bands FQMS

Water Balloon

A good one is to have them imagine they are like a water balloon, the balloon fills from the bottom up. Then have them lie down on the floor where the brass empties their spit (Optional), place a book on their stomach, and watch it rise when they breathe in, lower when they breathe out. Then apply a little weight, foot or hand on the book and have them hiss and push back against the book.

Steven Wampler
Elkridge Elementary School

MASTERING BREATH CONTROL
I have used Excercise #5 with great sucess.
From www.coxband.com/breathingexercise.pdf Neil Howell - June 1996

EXERCISE #1 - Preparation for Breathing Exercises
a) Poise yourself - sit on the edge of your chair with feet flat on the floor. Back is
straight - chin is up.
b) Relax the muscles in the neck, chest, and abdomen. While doing exercises, these areas
must be allowed to fully expand and contract without opposing force.
c) Allow your palms to lie flat on your legs. (RELAX)
d) Close your eyes - concentrate on your own breathing. You must be ‘in-tune’ with your
breathing habits before you can change your method of breathing.

EXERCISE #2 - Breathing Warm-up (Slow tempo, Quarter = 50)
a) Begin empty (exhale before exercise begins) - Breathe in for two (2 )counts. You must be
FULL of air in 2 counts! (ALWAYS BREATHE THROUGH THE MOUTH......NOT THE NOSE).
b) Blow out immediately for four (4) counts using an “S” sound (like a snake). Be EMPTY by
count four (4). Push all air out on exhale(Use Diaphragm muscle)!
c) Repeat exercise a minimum of six (6) times.

EXERCISE #3 - Breathing Exercise (Medium-Easy, Quarter = 72)
a) Begin empty (exhale all air before exercise begins).
b) Breathe in for two (2) counts through the mouth. Fill up totally.
c) Exhale for six (6) counts using an “S” sound. Push all air out on exhale!
d) Repeat exercise a minimum of 5 times.

EXERCISE #4 - Breathing Exercise (Medium, Quarter = 72, Suggested)
a) Begin empty (exhale all air before exercise begins).
b) Breathe in for two (2) counts through the mouth. Fill up totally.
c) Exhale for eight (8) counts using an “S” sound. Push all air out on exhale!
d) Repeat exercise a minimum of 5 times.

EXERCISE #5 - Expanding the Air Capacity (Quarter = 72, Suggested)
a) Begin empty (exhale all air before exercise begins).
b) Breathe in for eight (8) counts through the mouth. Fill up totally.
c) Hold breath for two (2) counts. (You should feel VERY full!)
d) Sip a FAST breath for one (1) count. (Now you’re VERY, VERY FULL!)
e) Hold one (1) count.
f) Sip a FAST breath for one (1) count.
g) Hold one (1) count.
h) Sip a FAST breath for one (1) count.
i) Hold one (1) count.
j) Exhale for eight (8) counts.........rest. Repeat exercise a minimum of two (3) times.

EXERCISE #6 - Using the Breathing Bag (Quarter = 112) (use a large bread bag)
Use of the breathing bag helps to regulate the volume of air inhaled and exhaled. When per-
forming exercises using the bag, be aware that the constant inhalation of CO2 gas from the bag will
tend to make you light-headed. If you feel extremely dizzy, stop the exercise and breathe fresh air.
a) Begin empty (exhale all air before exercise begins).
b) Breathe in for four (4) counts through the mouth. Fill up totally. DO NOT USE BAG.
c) Exhale for four (4) counts in the bag. Regulate the air so the bag is full on count 4.
d) Inhale for four using the air in the bag. Completely deflate the bag by count 4.
e) Exhale for four (4) counts in the bag. Regulate the air so the bag is full on count 4.
f) Repeat this exercise a minimum of two (2) times.

EXERCISE #7 - Breath Velocity Exercise (Quarter = 112, Suggested)
A faster airstream is required to perform in the upper register of a wind instrument and to maintain
proper tone quality and pitch. This exercise will help us to manage air velocity. Become familiar your breathing
and air management techniques so you will have to ability to effectively manage all repiratory operations during
performance.
a) Begin empty (exhale all air before exercise begins).
b) Breathe in for two (2) counts through the mouth. Fill up totally.
c) Exhale for twelve (12) counts using an “S” sound. Push all air out on exhale!
d) ON COUNTS 9-12 OF THE EXHALE CYCLE, DOUBLE THE AIR VELOCITY. Be totally
empty by count 12. Use (in 2, out 16, in 1 out 16, in 1 out 20, in 1 out 24, in 1 out 28).
e) Repeat a minium of five (5) times.

EXERCISE #8 - Advanced Breathing Exercises (Quarter = 112, Suggested)
a) Begin empty (exhale all air before exercise begins).
b) Breathe in for one (1) count through the mouth. Fill up totally.
**
c) Exhale for sixteen (16) counts using an “S” sound. DOUBLE VELOCITY ON 13-16.
d) Repeat exercise a minimum of 5 times.
**