Mystery to Mastery - Performance

What is the Trumpet Breath?

The Trumpet Breath is based on the Yoga Complete Breath and involves filling the lower, middle then upper part of the lungs allowing the power of wind to fuel the instrument.

How can I experience the Trumpet Breath?

Place your left palm flat against your belly button and then the palm of your right hand below your left hand so both palms are pressing against your abdomen wall.

You are about to discover the feeling of your abdomen as it moves during the breathing cycle.

i) you must empty all of the air from your lungs. As you exhale, press your hands in firmly against your abdominal wall. Allow 8 to 10 seconds for the lungs to empty completely. Once the air is ALL gone you will feel your abdominal muscles squeezing the lungs. Hold this for a further 4 seconds while you begin to recognize the feeling of the abdominal muscles working.

ii) to inhale, release all pressure from your hands and allow your abdominal wall to swell outward. Don’t force it out, just relax the abdominal muscles and let your belly fall out as the lungs fill. This often feels strange as we are used to wearing belts and holding the abdomen in. As the abdominal wall swells outwards, the diaphragm drops and the lung sac expands downwards. This is Step 1 of the Trumpet Breath.

Do not breathe up into the chest yet, you are only working the lower part of the breath for now!

Although at this stage the breath is very mechanical, regular practice makes it very easy and natural. Your aim is to make the release a subconscious act before you play a phrase on the instrument.

Repeat steps i) and ii) 10 times. Be sure to hold for 4 seconds at the end of each exhalation to allow your carbon dioxide levels to rise so as to avoid hyper-ventilation.

The release of the abdominal muscles is the first step in the 3 step Trumpet Breath. When you are completely comfortable with the press and release feeling, and you can recognise the abdominal movement, you are ready to move on.

Release the abdominal wall and inhale a comfortable amount of air THEN while still inhaling, pull the abdominal wall back towards the spine; Step 2. This will fill the middle part of the lungs.

Although it may seem a little mechanical at first, daily practise will turn this into a breathing practise that once learnt, will change your playing forever!

As you will see when you watch any of the great players, there is a subtle lift then drop of the shoulders. The shoulder lift, Step 3, is important as it allows you to expand the lung sac upward allowing more air in under the collar bones. It also helps to increase the lung compression required to play in the upper register when the shoulders are lowered. Be sure that the shoulder movement in straight up and straight down. If you push the upper ribs out as described in the complete breath, the lower spine actually arches which is not healthy.

When you lower your shoulders, be sure that your throat stays completely open and relaxed. There is often a tendency to strain the throat and thorax at the end of this breath. You would never sing like this so do not try and play like it. The whole breathing process should be relaxed and free.

Some VITAL points to note:

- Bobby Shew teaches the WEDGE breath that was developed from the Yoga Complete Breath. It has been used successfully by world famous players like Roger Ingram whom also teaches it. The Wedge and the traditional Yoga Complete Breath are different. The Complete Breath says to push out the upper ribs which arches the spine. To avoid the arching of the spine, Bobby says pull the abdominal wall back in toward the spine then lift the shoulder directly up.

- The breathing exercises explained above are to be done away from the instrument. With enough repetition, it will become natural. When you are playing your instrument, breath normally, DO NOT think about the breathing steps. You should only be focusing on the sound you intend to make.

The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath

You are not really serious about getting good if you do not download, read and practice these techniques!

One day YOU WILL come back to it and wish you had learnt these techniques when you first discovered them.

Listen to Maynard at a workshop talk about the use of wind, not the lips and arm pressure to play in the upper register. Maynard Clinic

If you cannot understand what he is saying, print this PDF. Maynard Clinic PDF

The Trumpet Breath
What is the Trumpet Breath? The Trumpet Breath is based on the Yoga Complete Breath and involves filling the lower, middle then upper part of the lungs allowing the power of wind to fuel the instrument. How can I experience the Trumpet Breath? Place your left palm flat against your belly button and then the palm of your right hand below your left hand so both palms are pressing against your abdomen wall. You are about to discover the feeling of your abdomen as it moves during the breathing cycle. i) you must empty all of the air from your lungs. As you exhale, press your hands in firmly against your abdominal wall. Allow 8 to 10 seconds for the lungs to empty completely. Once the air is ALL gone you will feel your abdominal muscles squeezing the lungs. Hold this for a further 4 seconds while you begin to recognize the feeling of the abdominal muscles working. ii) to inhale, release all pressure from your hands and allow your abdominal wall to swell outward. Don’t force it out, just relax the abdominal muscles and let your belly fall out as the lungs fill. This often feels strange as we are used to wearing belts and holding the abdomen in. As the abdominal wall swells outwards, the diaphragm drops and the lung sac expands downwards. This is Step 1 of the Trumpet Breath. Do not breathe up into the chest yet, you are only working the lower part of the breath for now! Although at this stage the breath is very mechanical, regular practice makes it very easy and natural. Your aim is to make the release a subconscious act before you play a phrase on the instrument. Repeat steps i) and ii) 10 times. Be sure to hold for 4 seconds at the end of each exhalation to allow your carbon dioxide levels to rise so as to avoid hyper-ventilation. The release of the abdominal muscles is the first step in the 3 step Trumpet Breath. When you are completely comfortable with the press and release feeling, and you can recognise the abdominal movement, you are ready to move on. Release the abdominal wall and inhale a comfortable amount of air THEN while still inhaling, pull the abdominal wall back towards the spine; Step 2. This will fill the middle part of the lungs. Although it may seem a little mechanical at first, daily practise will turn this into a breathing practise that once learnt, will change your playing forever! As you will see when you watch any of the great players, there is a subtle lift then drop of the shoulders. The shoulder lift, Step 3, is important as it allows you to expand the lung sac upward allowing more air in under the collar bones. It also helps to increase the lung compression required to play in the upper register when the shoulders are lowered. Be sure that the shoulder movement in straight up and straight down. If you push the upper ribs out as described in the complete breath, the lower spine actually arches which is not healthy. When you lower your shoulders, be sure that your throat stays completely open and relaxed. There is often a tendency to strain the throat and thorax at the end of this breath. You would never sing like this so do not try and play like it. The whole breathing process should be relaxed and free. Some VITAL points to note: - Bobby Shew teaches the WEDGE breath that was developed from the Yoga Complete Breath. It has been used successfully by world famous players like Roger Ingram whom also teaches it. The Wedge and the traditional Yoga Complete Breath are different. The Complete Breath says to push out the upper ribs which arches the spine. To avoid the arching of the spine, Bobby says pull the abdominal wall back in toward the spine then lift the shoulder directly up. - The breathing exercises explained above are to be done away from the instrument. With enough repetition, it will become natural. When you are playing your instrument, breath normally, DO NOT think about the breathing steps. You should only be focusing on the sound you intend to make. The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath *You are not really serious about getting good if you do not download, read and practice these techniques!* One day YOU WILL come back to it and wish you had learnt these techniques when you first discovered them. Listen to Maynard at a workshop talk about the use of wind, not the lips and arm pressure to play in the upper register. Maynard Clinic If you cannot understand what he is saying, print this PDF. Maynard Clinic PDF