Breathing Exercises for Music Students

Introduction

In this lesson, we will go through a sequence of breathing exercises designed to enhance breath control and awareness.

Exercise 1: Lying Down

1. Get Comfortable

   • Lie on your back on the floor.

2. Prepare Your Equipment

   • Take a book, preferably a hardback book. This could be a dictionary or something similar.
   • Make sure it is heavy enough for you to feel its weight.

3. Begin the Exercise

   • Shut your eyes, relax, and observe your breathing.
   • Important: Don't try to breathe in a special way.

4. Observe the Movement

   • Notice that as you breathe in, the book rises; as you breathe out, it descends.
   • Remember:
     • Expansion on the inhalation
     • Contraction on the exhalation

5. Key Point

   • While observing the book's movement, ensure there is no movement of your shoulders.
   • Your shoulders should not rise towards your ears.

Controlled Breathing

1. Next Steps

   • Breathe in and hold the book in the up position for a few moments, then relax.

2. Breathing Technique

   • Notice that I am breathing in through my mouth.
   • Always breathe in through your mouth.

3. Adding Sound

   • After holding the book, breathe out while making a loud whispered "R" sound.
   • This "R" sound acts as your note.

4. Focus on Stability

   • Aim to hold that sound steady at about the same volume, without too much shaking.
   • This indicates good breath control.

Conclusion

Once you feel comfortable with this exercise while lying down, it's time to stand up and try doing something similar on your feet.