- This topic has 7 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated December 3, 2019 at 8:01 pm by
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I’m trying to develop my breathing, and specifically my breath capacity. (I play piano and guitar, but I’m a beginner on recorder.)
I’ve been doing whole note scales (4/4 time, 80 bpm), but I usually run out of breath after about 6 bars. I’m wondering what a reasonable target should be. That is, about how many bars should a competent player be able to sustain when playing whole notes in common time at 80 bpm?
Well, just a day after posting that I found that I was able to play the whole note scale for 8 bars. I think I was using my diaphragm more.
Try to breath from your stomach rather than your chest.
You don't stop playing when you get old. You get old when you stop playing.
Yeah, I’ve watched some youtube videos on breathing and breath support, and that’s what has been lacking, for me. I’m working on it. “Breathe from your stomach” is a nice, concise way of putting it. Thanks!
Its how children breathe naturally. We tend to lose it as we become adults.
You don't stop playing when you get old. You get old when you stop playing.
After a few weeks of practice on this, I’m pleased to report that I’ve at least doubled the number of bars (4/4 80 bpm) that I’m able to sustain, compared to where I was in my initial post (actually, it’s often more than double that). Breathing low in my diaphragm and keeping the breath supported made all the difference in the world.
I’ve been using something like the following in my practice:
- Play a sustained note with consistent tone for as many bars as possible (4/4, 80 bpm)
- Play a sustained note with consistent tone for as many bars as possible (4/4, 60 bpm) – record the number of seconds and aim for a little more each time.
- Play one octave ascending scales with each note getting an entire bar (4/4, 80 bpm). Goal is the entire scale (which I can now do pretty easily). When the top note is reached, descend in the same manner for as long as possible.
That routine has worked well for me.
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