SAX 4.2 - Breathing Action
A good breathing action is very similar to the breathing in Yoga exercises. The only difference is that a wind instrument player has little time to breath in and usually must do it very quickly.
Practise breathing away from the instrument, first slowly to get the proper action firmly established.
Breathing in :
- keep shoulders down, chest up, but both relaxed
- drop the jaw and keep the throat open as in a beginning yawn
- push out the stomach- and back-muscles
- then expand the lower chest.
Do not lift your shoulders. They will raise (slightly) naturally as the air flows in.
Expand the stomach quickly. The lower chest will expand naturally near the end of the stomach action.
Blowing out :
- maintain an open throat (yawning)
- voice the syllable "Hoooooo" (without using the vocal cords) while you blow, and keep the cheeks firm. (bulging cheeks distort the embouchure)
- keep pushing the stomach and lower back muscles out while blowing (or breathing out).
Blowing out with a "Hooooooo" action keeps the throat open and ensures that the air comes right from the bottom of the lungs.Keep pushing out the stomach and lower back muscles while blowing out. This causes the diaphragm to gradually raise first as the air diminishes and keeps the lungs and chest expanded as long as possible.
A characteristic of all good players is that their stomach muscles are always firm and are pressing outwards throughout their playing.
Breathing this way ensures that the body resonator is inflated as much as possible all the time. This is called good air support.
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SAX 4.3 - Breathing Exercise
Practise the breathing action without the instrument, e.g. when walking.
Count with the steps of your left foot.
- Step 1 : breath in quickly by expanding stomach muscles.
- Steps 2 and 3 : hold your breath by pushing the tongue against the roof of the mouth ("du" or "tu") with the air locked behind it. You should feel the air pressing against the back of your tongue. Keep your throat open.
- Steps 4 to 10 : breathe out slowly by releasing the tongue "Hoooooo". Keep pushing out the stomach muscles so that the air escapes in a controlled manner. Keep the throat open at all times. Keep the cheeks firm.
- Step 11 : as Step 1 again, repeat the process.
Keep the throat open during the entire breathing cycle This is most important.
To recognise what a closed throat feels like say "a" , "o" , "ku" , "gu". These all close the throat at various points in the throat and mouth ('oral tract').Pronouncing "Hooooo" (without using the vocal cords) keeps the throat wide open. The beginning of a "du" or "tu" action is required to close the mouth with the tongue during Steps 2 and 3.
For more good discussion on breathing technique see The art of Saxophone playing (p.33 - 36) by Larry Teal.
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SAX 4.4 - When to take a Breath
When taking a breath keep these points in mind.
- Always take a $10 breath, even for a 5 cent note.
The air in your body is not only used for 'blowing' a note, but also for keeping the body resonator expanded. This produces a better quality and more resonant note.
- Breathe with the musical phrases, usually every 2 or 4 bars.
Breathing causes little breaks in the flow and rhythm of the music. By breathing at musical 'commas' and 'full stops' the flow of the music is not disturbed. In fact commas and full stops are accentuated this way.
- When playing in a group always listen to the lead player, and breathe when he/she does. This is essential for good group performance.
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SAX 4.5 - Correct Note Length
Sustain each note with a full even tone over its full time value.
(unless the dynamics of the music dictates otherwise).
