There are a couple of breathing exercises that I use with both private students and in a full band setting. One involves taking in air as if sipping through a straw. Start out by sipping as much air in as possible over 8 beats a mm=72 or so with the goal being to take it in steadily rather than all at once, then put the horn up and play for 8 beats. Next is to try to take in the same amount of air in four beats and play for eight beats. Then two beats in and play for eight. Then one beat in and play for eight. Then take in the same amount of breath silently and play for eight. The sipping action will force you to take a deep breath and the students generally notice the Improvement in their sound when we did this. The trick is to do this often enough that it reinforces the concept.
The other exercise I tend to do more with private students, but have used it with a full band as well. The idea is, without the instrument in hand at first and while sitting, to bend over at the waist so that your chest is almost touching your knees. At the same time, put the palms of your hands on the small of your back and take a deep breath. You can feel the expansion because you are again forced to take a deep breath. Next step is to sit up and take a breath, with your hands still on your lower back, and try to create the same amount of expansion as you inhale. Then, with horn in hand, bend over, holding the horn out of the way, and take a breath, trying to feel the lower back expansion. Then sit up and play a sustained tone, say on a "second line" G. There should be a noticeable improvement in the sound. Just a few things that worked for me, your mileage may vary. Dana Twiss Litchfield, Maine _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
