Breath Support
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Breath Support
I need help with my breath support because for some reason it is terrible. I am now finding 4 measure phrases hard and that has NEVER been an issue for me! So, does anyone have any suggestions on how to build up better and stronger breath support? And please, tell me anything but long tones. (I hear that too much)
...MUSIC HAS REPLACED HER HEARTBEAT...
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lianeandflute
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2010 1:19 am
Re: Breath Support
You're going to have to get over it and do long tones! 
That's the best way. 
Not only do they help with breathing but also with tone. If you find it boring, find a way to make it interesting, for example doing a long crescendo or diminuendo, or both on one note. Also putting the metronome on 60 and playing selected notes for as long as possible pianissimo and fortissimo and try to get a little bit longer everyday. That works wonders. You don't always have to do every single note (although the more, the better), you could pick an arpeggio and do all the notes from that.
You need to use a lot of abdominal support so developing those muscles is crucial, if you use lots of ab support, you don't need to use as much air.
However, there some other things you can do as well as long notes to help. Like breathing exercises. You can probably find lots of these on google but here's a few I know of:
1) Breath in for 8 beats - breathe out for 8 beats, then breathe in for 7 beats - breathe out for 8 beats, then breathe in for 6 beats - breathe out for 8 beats etc until you breathe in for 1 beat - breathe out for 8 beats and then breathe in for half a beat - breathe out for 8 beats. This helps you learn how to take in a large amount of breath in a small space of time.
2) Take in a big breath (in your chest and stomach, NOT your shoulders) and hiss (making a "ssssssss" sound) until all the air goes out. Do it a few times, try to get longer each time. This helps you to learn how to control the air you are letting out (which is important in sustaining your phrases).
3) Lie on your back and place a book (or a couple of books, depending on how big they are) over your stomach (the part which rises when you breath while lying down), empty your lungs of air, then fill them up again, watch (or feel) how your stomach rises and rib cage expands when breathing in - but your shoulders don't move. This is what needs to happen when you breathe in to play the flute, try to fill up the chest and stomach with air right from the bottom of your stomach. Then, while breathing out, try to keep the book/s up in the air for as long as you can. This helps you to use your lungs properly and figure out how to fill up with air and also helps with abdominal support.
Another way to improve breathing is to exercise. Swimming and running are the best (cycling is also good). Gets you panting and increases breath capacity and because you are more fit it benefits flute playing and breathing over all.
I'm glad you posted about this because it reminded me that I need to practice breathing exercises and also do more long notes playing them as long as possible (I do lots of other types of long notes already)!
That's the best way. Not only do they help with breathing but also with tone. If you find it boring, find a way to make it interesting, for example doing a long crescendo or diminuendo, or both on one note. Also putting the metronome on 60 and playing selected notes for as long as possible pianissimo and fortissimo and try to get a little bit longer everyday. That works wonders. You don't always have to do every single note (although the more, the better), you could pick an arpeggio and do all the notes from that.You need to use a lot of abdominal support so developing those muscles is crucial, if you use lots of ab support, you don't need to use as much air.
However, there some other things you can do as well as long notes to help. Like breathing exercises. You can probably find lots of these on google but here's a few I know of:
1) Breath in for 8 beats - breathe out for 8 beats, then breathe in for 7 beats - breathe out for 8 beats, then breathe in for 6 beats - breathe out for 8 beats etc until you breathe in for 1 beat - breathe out for 8 beats and then breathe in for half a beat - breathe out for 8 beats. This helps you learn how to take in a large amount of breath in a small space of time.
2) Take in a big breath (in your chest and stomach, NOT your shoulders) and hiss (making a "ssssssss" sound) until all the air goes out. Do it a few times, try to get longer each time. This helps you to learn how to control the air you are letting out (which is important in sustaining your phrases).
3) Lie on your back and place a book (or a couple of books, depending on how big they are) over your stomach (the part which rises when you breath while lying down), empty your lungs of air, then fill them up again, watch (or feel) how your stomach rises and rib cage expands when breathing in - but your shoulders don't move. This is what needs to happen when you breathe in to play the flute, try to fill up the chest and stomach with air right from the bottom of your stomach. Then, while breathing out, try to keep the book/s up in the air for as long as you can. This helps you to use your lungs properly and figure out how to fill up with air and also helps with abdominal support.
Another way to improve breathing is to exercise. Swimming and running are the best (cycling is also good). Gets you panting and increases breath capacity and because you are more fit it benefits flute playing and breathing over all.
I'm glad you posted about this because it reminded me that I need to practice breathing exercises and also do more long notes playing them as long as possible (I do lots of other types of long notes already)!
"It's happening inside you; not in the flute!" - Emmanuel Pahud (At a masterclass in Sydney, Nov. 2010)
Re: Breath Support
Really great tips! I need to remember to do these things everyday. Love your quote, too, by the way
"Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music." -Sergei Rachmaninoff