Posts Tagged ‘ breathing technique ’

Breathing Well by Phillip Pawley, Alexander Teacher

I subscribe to the free version of Mr. Pawley’s regular email pamphlet. I highly recommend you consider doing the same. He has a way of rendering esoteric or tricky aspects of healthy body awareness into crystal clear instructions and descriptions. The following is a brilliant description of the simplest AND most important aspects of good breathing, and by extension, good use. Why do people breathe too fast? By Philip Pawley- The Back Magician Breathing may not be the thing that worries you the most. But breathing badly affects everything else you do. Learning to breathe…

Podcast interview with David Thomas clarinetist, on flow breathing, music education, changes in classical music culture

I was interviewed by Thomas J West a few days ago. Tom is quickly becoming a well known online music educator and music technology user. His bio is below. Our hour long discussion was fruitful. Among other subjects we covered: Twitter and networking; Flow Breathing technique; my research on musical breathing using motion capture suits; a great trick for helping students raise the soft palate; the plight of classical music in today’s society – how the high costs of maintaining a symphony has fallen to philanthropists for so long and how the internet has drawn…

How to learn Suspended or Floating Breath Support

Image Credit- Emily Hodges I’d like to elaborate briefly on a subject vital to playing a wind instrument (or singing): Breath Support. First, a two sentence refresher of the basic ideas of Flow Breathing, from which Suspension Breath Support evolves: When the breath is allowed to go “by itself” without any interference, the natural motions of breathing can be observed. From that point of detached awareness it becomes possible to engage the motions of breathing without losing the coordination of natural breathing. The next step: Suspended Breath Control As confidence builds in the breath’s awareness,…

Body/Breath Awareness – 7th in Series: 7 Musical Intelligences

Image Credit Body/Breath – Part 7 of the Series on 7 Musical Intelligences We have arrived at the last in the 7 Intelligences Series – that of the Body and Breath – perhaps the most important skills of all. I have already written a fair amount about breathing on this blog. Some of you may remember that I first introduced Flow Breathing – a new approach to body awareness through the breath – this last Summer on the blog of my friend Marion Harrington. I confidently propose that the majority of performers probably do not…

Being Grounded, in a good way! Depth + Breath = Breadth

Image Credit Taking a one week break from the 7 Intelligences series, I present this week’s post: How to Be Grounded…In a Positive Way! Musicians are not only called upon to control a vast array of colors and dynamics but also say something to create a meaningful musical experience for listeners. In order to do this, a performer must be completely in tune with his body at all times or “grounded”. The easiest way to improve awareness in this area is through the breath. Grounded depth is found in the breath. Depth + Breath =…

Videos of Flow Breathing and Suspension Support Techniques

Hello again! In all fairness, some of you may have no idea what I mean by the phrases Flow Breathing and Suspension Support. Despite their descriptive names, they could mean different things. In preparation for Saturday’s 3pm Twitter discussion on those two subjects (and phrases), I am posting two videos I made today; one for Flow Breathing basics (with a hint of applications for it); and one for Suspension Support, which is a bit more of a radical departure from current accepted breathing techniques. With out belaboring the descriptions, I’ll let the videos speak for…

Introducing Suspension Breath Support- Using Flow Breathing to achieve supported breath control

Image Credit: Pedro Moura Pinheiro As some readers may already know, I introduced the Flow Breathing technique a few weeks ago on Marion Harrington’s blog (which I highly recommend). Flow Breathing is a new way to learn and control breath support. Note: If you use Twitter, you can follow Flow Breathing discussions using #Legato The refined basic Flow Breathing technique is published with a short introductory video here on Buzzing Reed at: Flow Breathing Technique. Using the natural motions in Flow Breathing you can achieve high level breath support leading to subtle control of tone,…

Seven Types of Awareness Intelligence for Learning Music

Image Credit A player must employ all available skills to learn music deeply. The following list isolates 7 types of intelligence (ways of learning) which enable comprehensive understanding of music. 1 – Body/Breath Intelligence - How do you use and control your air? All musicians benefit from awareness of the breath. Wind players must know and control the flow of breath and the types of breath support. By extension breath includes body use and awareness. (However, finger and hand awareness are isolated below.) Practice: Flow Breathing technique carried into your musical practice. 2 – Rhythmic…

Flow Breathing and a Path to Peak Mastery: Finding Patience in the Details of Playing

Image Credit- In Search of Lost Time Using Flow Breathing to find patience in the details of playing a phrase- This article picks up where my series of 3 guest posts on a friend’s blog site ends. If you have not read the article on Flow Breathing and Constructive Rest, please go and check it out now. When you are comfortable with constructive rest and Flow Breathing you are ready to go to the next step. The feeling of balanced wholeness attained lying on the floor can be translated to a standing position. Slowing down…

Flow Breathing – Breath Control Technique – has been officially released! #Legato

Image Credit The story behind the Flow Breathing Technique. During several points in my solo playing career I grappled with some uncomfortable issues regarding breath support. In solo performances I occasionally suffered from over-breathing and hyper-ventilation. Concomitantly I often experienced a desperate need to breathe while playing a long phrase even though I had just breathed. Needless to say, either issue is not pleasant and certainly not constructive for playing a wind instrument! Although I had theoretically gained all the necessary tools to breathe well from the Alexander Technique, I still had problems while playing.…

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Posts Tagged ‘ breathing technique ’

Breathing Well by Phillip Pawley, Alexander Teacher

Podcast interview with David Thomas clarinetist, on flow breathing, music education, changes in classical music culture

How to learn Suspended or Floating Breath Support

Body/Breath Awareness – 7th in Series: 7 Musical Intelligences

Being Grounded, in a good way! Depth + Breath = Breadth

Videos of Flow Breathing and Suspension Support Techniques

Introducing Suspension Breath Support- Using Flow Breathing to achieve supported breath control

Seven Types of Awareness Intelligence for Learning Music

Flow Breathing and a Path to Peak Mastery: Finding Patience in the Details of Playing

Flow Breathing – Breath Control Technique – has been officially released! #Legato

I highly recommend…

Podcast interview with me

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