Breathing and Breath Control: Part Two by James Neilson
Every brass player should know how the do's and don'ts of breathing can affect performance
For the brass player, as for everyone else, breathing involves a set of muscular actions and reflexes that operate at the subconscious level, and because of this, many brass players do not understand the basic muscular activity involved. In an earlier installment (read Part One), we explored the nature and importance of breath control. We shall now examine a few simple exercises to develop it–as well as habits to avoid.
Good breathing habits and correct posture go hand in hand. A poor posture restricts the activity of the abdominal muscular structure, thus making it impossible to maintain an adequate control over the respiratory process. Avoid these bad habits:
1. Sitting with the upper part of the body bent forward at the waist, or standing with the knees bent slightly and shoulders hunched forward, or with the chest pushed forward and the spinal column bent backward. These bad habits prevent the abdominal muscular structure from functioning freely. The trunk of the body must be held erect to allow for a normal functioning of the respiratory process.
2. Do not raise the shoulders when inhaling or lower them when expelling breath. The shoulders should not move during any part of the respiratory process.
3. When expelling breath, refrain from pushing the abdominal muscles against the belt. This malfunction is a complete reversal of the normal reflex action, and when it occurs during performance, it becomes impossible to provide adequate breath support for tones in the higher registers.
Practice deep breathing away from the instrument. Devote five minutes each morning and evening to deep breathing exercises. Here is a good routine:
1. Lie flat on the back on a hard surface. In this position the shoulders cannot be moved and will remain in normal adjustment.
2. Inhale slowly through the lips until the lungs are filled with air.
3. Exhale slowly through the lips, blowing the air out in a gentle, even stream.
4. Concentrate on controlling the activity of the abdominal muscular structure.
All this may prove difficult to execute at first, but continued effort will be rewarding, not only because of increased efficiency in performance, but also because of the general feeling of physical well-being that will be engendered.
Dr. James Neilson served a lengthy tenure as Leblanc's educational director during the 1960s and '70s. The above has been condensed from a publication he authored in 1962. Part One appeared as a previous Keynotes online update.
