More on Breathing

As has probably become clear by now, breathing and air is my main focus to playing.  If you breathe correctly, all other apects tend to become easier.  Transversely, bad breathing hinders good playing.  My opinion on good breathing and good support has been previously posted.  This is a quick summary, for those too busy to read through everything:

• Always fill up by taking a "big breath"
• Get the "chest up", which engages good support
• Put the shoulders back to encourage good posture

To help all of this, here is a different thought process that achieves the same goals:

• Push the belly button towards the spine
• Take a big breath, raising the chest
• Sit as though about to stand up (back straight)

Of course, the key is to experiment for yourself.  But the two approaches above achieve the same outcome - good posture and good support for good breathing.

The following YouTube video is of Canadian Jazz Trumpet Player (and pedagogue) Chase Sanborn discussing his approach to breathing, which is almost identical to what I have said:

http://youtu.be/94UK5pBria4

It is a short, but concise video.  He references Bobby Shew and his "Wedge" breathing, which I have already discussed in a previous post is similar to the Claude Gordon approach I favour.

Hopefully, this might be useful to some of you.

Happy sopping.
John