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June 16, 2005
Proper Breathing
One of the biggest challenges for beginning trumpet players is learning to breathe properly. It seems so basic, yet few student players really understand how critical proper breath control is.
Try this: Before beginning to play, sit quietly and practice inhaling as deeply as possible then exhaling. Continue this several times before picking up the horn so that you become used to the feeling of taking a big, deep breath before you play. Then, concentrate on keeping that same feeling as you play.
Another important aspect of breath control is timing. Try to time your breath so that you inhale deeply, then play right away so that the inhale/exhale cycle is one fluid motion. What you don't want to do is inhale, wait a few beats, then begin playing. That causes you to lose all of the momentum behind the inhale/exhale motion.
Posted by Damian at June 16, 2005 09:34 AM
