Breath control is the cornerstone of brass playing. It enables players to sustain long phrases, maintain tone consistency, and execute powerful passages with precision. While brass players often focus on traditional breath exercises, looking outside the realm of music—particularly at free divers and singers—can provide valuable insights into unlocking new levels of control and endurance.
This article explores the techniques that free divers, singers, and brass players share and how brass musicians can apply these methods to improve their own performance.
The Importance of Breath Control in Brass Playing
Breath control in brass playing is about more than just inhaling deeply and exhaling at the right moments. It involves using the diaphragm and other muscles to regulate airflow, which directly impacts tone, volume, range, and endurance. As a brass player, you need to develop breath support to maintain resonance and clarity, especially during long or challenging passages.
Most brass players are familiar with the basic breathing techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing (belly breathing) and controlled exhalation, but there is much to learn from disciplines that rely on breath control for survival or vocal performance.
Lessons from Free Divers
Free divers—athletes who dive without oxygen tanks—have developed extraordinary lung capacity and control over their breathing. They use techniques to prolong the amount of time they can spend underwater on a single breath, some of which can be highly beneficial for brass players looking to extend their breath capacity and control.
Here are a few techniques used by free divers that can benefit brass musicians:
1. Diaphragmatic Breathing
Diaphragmatic breathing, also known as belly breathing, is a technique both brass players and free divers utilise. It involves engaging the diaphragm to draw air deeply into the lungs, filling them completely. Free divers rely on this method to maximise the amount of oxygen they can store before a dive.
Application for Brass Players: Practising diaphragmatic breathing helps brass players maintain a steady, controlled airflow, reducing the tendency to push too hard from the chest and resulting in a more relaxed and sustainable breath. This is essential for achieving even tone and volume over long phrases.
Exercise:
- Lie down or sit with your back straight.
- Place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen.
- Inhale deeply through your nose, expanding your diaphragm (your belly should rise while your chest remains still).
- Exhale slowly through your mouth while maintaining control of the breath.
2. Exhalation Control
Free divers practice techniques that slow down the exhalation process, allowing them to conserve oxygen for longer dives. One method they use is exhaling through pursed lips, which creates resistance and forces the diaphragm to work harder in regulating airflow.
Application for Brass Players: Brass players can benefit from practicing controlled exhalation by regulating their airflow during long, sustained notes. The ability to exhale slowly and evenly is crucial when playing legato passages or maintaining a constant tone throughout extended phrases.
Exercise:
- Inhale deeply using diaphragmatic breathing.
- Exhale slowly and evenly, using pursed lips as if you were blowing out a candle gently.
- Try to maintain the same level of airflow throughout the exhalation process, keeping your abdominal muscles engaged.
3. Lung Expansion Techniques
Free divers practice lung expansion exercises to increase their lung capacity. They stretch their intercostal muscles (the muscles between the ribs) and work on expanding their thoracic cavity to maximise the volume of air they can take in.
Application for Brass Players: Increasing lung capacity allows brass players to take deeper breaths, enabling them to play longer passages without the need to breathe as frequently. This can significantly improve phrasing and musical expression.
Exercise:
- Stand or sit upright with your arms at your sides.
- Inhale deeply, expanding your chest as much as possible.
- Raise your arms above your head while holding your breath, creating more space in your chest cavity.
- Hold for a few seconds, then exhale slowly while lowering your arms.
Insights from Singers
Professional singers are masters of breath control. Like brass players, they rely on the efficient use of air to produce sound, sustain phrases, and maintain a rich tone. By observing the breath techniques of singers, brass players can adopt methods to improve tone quality and sustain during performances.
1. Controlled Breathing for Sustained Phrases
Singers often train to sustain long vocal phrases without losing tone quality or running out of air. This is particularly relevant for brass players, especially when playing long, lyrical passages.
Application for Brass Players: Brass players can practice playing long tones or slow passages with a focus on smooth, controlled breathing. The key is to focus on even airflow without letting the tone waver as breath is gradually depleted.
Exercise:
- Choose a simple melody or scale.
- Play through it in a legato style, focusing on smooth, even breaths between phrases.
- Gradually extend the length of the phrases as your breath control improves.
2. Breath Phrasing and Coordination
Singers know how to “breathe in the right places” during a performance to maintain phrasing and musicality. They understand the importance of timing their breaths so that they do not interrupt the natural flow of a piece.
Application for Brass Players: Brass players should practice breathing in a way that complements the phrasing of the music, just as singers do. This means planning where to breathe in a piece and ensuring that breaths are quick and efficient, without disrupting the flow of the music.
Exercise:
- Mark your music with appropriate breathing spots.
- Practice taking quick, deep breaths at these points, ensuring that your tone and musicality remain intact.
Combining Techniques for Maximum Impact
By incorporating techniques from both free divers and singers, brass players can take their breath control to the next level. Here are some practical steps to begin integrating these approaches into your playing:
- Daily Breathing Exercises: Dedicate time each day to breathing exercises that focus on diaphragmatic breathing, lung expansion, and exhalation control.
- Long Tone Practice: Use long tones to build endurance and improve breath regulation. Focus on maintaining even airflow and tone.
- Mental Training: Visualise yourself breathing efficiently and with control during challenging passages. Mental practice can help you internalise proper breathing habits.
- Application in Music: Apply your newfound breath control techniques in musical settings, paying close attention to phrasing, tone, and endurance.
Putting All Into Practice
For a superb example of total breath control, watch this clip of Dave Steinmeyer playing the theme from the movie Ice Castles. Count the number of times he breathes during his solo!
Conclusion
For brass players, developing exceptional breath control is a lifelong pursuit. By borrowing techniques from free divers and singers—two groups that rely heavily on precise breath management—brass musicians can build endurance, improve tone, and gain greater command over their instrument. Incorporating these strategies into your daily practice can result in noticeable improvements in your playing.
Other Reading
Five tips to increase lung capacity for freediving – (tdisdi.com)
Books: McKinney, James. The Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults: A Manual for Teachers of Singing and for Choir Directors. Nashville: Genevox, 1994.