Breathing is an essential function of the human body. So essential that after about a minute without air, our brain cells start to die. Without an ample supply of air, we cease to exist; much faster than without food or water. Luckily, the action of breathing is hardwired in our brains and we breathe automatically for our normal every day functions.
Playing a wind instrument, however, is anything but normal. I cannot think of another action, aside from singing, speaking or whistling, where it is required to exhale steadily and continuously, take a quick breath, and repeat. Furthermore, I find it fascinating that to make our sound we use our very life’s breath. The sound that people hear is truly an extension of our being. Since this is the case , it can easily be understood that the way we inhale and exhale have a direct relation to the sound we produce.
Most people breathe poorly; short, shallow breaths with bad posture. This is partly because of the fact that breathing is automatic and we have a tendency to take it for granted, but also because we live in a sedimentary culture; we sit a good deal of the day leaning over a desk or a computer keyboard. This doesn’t demand that we have good posture or breath deeply in order to perform our tasks. However, people who partake in physical activities (running, hiking, sports, yoga, etc.) naturally improve their respiratory system. Physical activity demands more oxygen and the body naturally does what it must to get the extra air it needs.
So how do our lungs work? Contrary to popular belief, our lungs do not expand and contract of their own accord like the beating of the heart. The lungs are not a muscle, merely elastic tissue like that of a balloon. This tissue is attached to the walls of the rib cage and the diaphragm (a muscle “wall” that separates the lungs and the heart from the intestines, located at the bottom of the chest cavity). In conjunction with the diaphragm, a second group of muscles is employed when we breath, the intercostal muscles. These muscles are located between each of our ribs (front, back and sides). When we inhale, the external intercostals contract, expanding our rib cage (front, back and sides) and the diaphragm contracts and lowers. This creates a vacuum within our lungs (lowering the air pressure in our lungs verses the air pressure outside our bodies) to draw in the air for our breath. When we exhale these two muscle groups relax, returning rib cage and diaphragm to their resting positions. For a forced or supported exhalation (as required for playing a wind instrument, singing or public speaking) the abdominal muscles and the internal intercostals contract.
To maximize our lung capacity, we need to spend a little time getting physically acquainted with our lungs and the three stages of breath (otherwise known as a complete breath).
- Sit up straight, feet flat on the floor, relaxing your shoulders and keeping your head level (similar to the correct posture while playing your instrument).
- Put your hand on your belly and draw in a breath toward your hand, expanding your belly. This is the first stage, the low breath, filling the lower lobes of the lungs.
- Move your hand up to the middle of your torso, the bottom of your sternum. Again draw a breath toward your hand. This is the second stage, the middle breath.
- Move your hand to the top of your chest and draw a breath toward you hand (*be careful not to raise your shoulders*). This is the third stage, the high breath.
These three stages make a complete breath and this is how you should you should breathe all the time.
The intercostal muscles, as I mentioned above, are located between each of our ribs, in the Front, Sides and the Back. This means that our chest cavity has the potential to expand in all directions, not just in the front. Play with this idea the same as you did with the three stages of breath.
- Put your hands on the sides of your rib cage, draw a breath towards your hands and feel your sides expand.
- Put a hand on your back, draw a breath toward your hand and feel your back expand.
- A visualization to try is imagining a circle around your torso expanding in all directions equally while you inhale.
Playing with your breath in this way will help you to maximize your lungs’ capacity and elasticity.
John Gross, a true innovator of the saxophone (check out his book: Multiphonics for the Saxophone: A Practical Guide; 178 Different Note Combinations Diagrammed and Explained, Advance Music. OCLC 475411398), has one of my favorite saxophone sounds. He told me that the book The Science Of Breath by Yogi Ramacharaka was a big influence on him for developing his air and consequently his sound. Chapter VII elaborates more on the subject of the complete breath, while chapters XI & XII give some exercises on developing the lungs. I found the entire book to be a fascinating read.
The best way to begin to apply these concepts of breathing to your instrument is to practice the complete breath with your tone exercises. Be aware of your breath in the same way that you are aware of your sound. After a while this way of breathing will feel normal and will be the default of how you play.
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