Professional musicians who control breathing for their job have highly sensitive, developed and athletic breath capacity. Loading is increased in performance. Loading is also increased with any respiratory illness, asthma or long covid. This athleticism can have an impact on 'normal' breath pacing.
The Yoga practice of Pranayama (paced breathing) can develop, regulate and improve breathing. Breath practise can help regulate breathing, improve breath pacing issues, reduce anxiety, regulate breath patterns and promote wellbeing.
Here's what happens on a regular basis as a professional piccolo player to manage, regulate and control the breath in preparation for performance.
This is practised so there is spare capacity to allow for breathing and mindset changes under performance pressure.
bpm (beats per minute) 100
1) Breathe out slowly for 12 counts. hold for 4.
2) Breathe in slowly for 8. Hold for 4.
3) Breathe out very slowly for 24.
4) Breathe in very quickly
5) Continue Breathing out for 16 counts and extend.
Stage 2 - is to play around with (1) and (2), missing out the breath in (4). The final breath out will be 40 counts.
What this looks like on the page...
As a counterbalance to high intensity breath training, practising 'down training' breathing, decreasing loading and also relaxation can be effective to connect back to regulation.
As a wind player, breathing is highly trained and we may over breathe at rest. Normal resting breathing is somewhere between 12-20 breaths! If you are used to 'breathing BIG' you may find your resting rate has changed. For example you may take 4-6 full slow breaths per minute.
Why is it important to get back to a 'normal' rate? Over breathing can dry out the lungs and cause irritation, it reduces carbon dioxide levels which reduces blood flow to the brain and muscles, over breathing uses energy and can make you feel tired.
Resting Breath Exercise
Find a comfortable position, this may be seating or lying down
Breathe in for 1 count (through nose)
Breathe out for 2 counts (through nose)
Minimal Effort, soft ribs, soft belly, soften the face
Notice, without judgement or engagement the small pauses between each inhale and exhale.
After a few minutes stop counting and allow you body to take over the rhythm.
If this feels hard or uncomfortable. Begin by breathing in for 4 and out for 4. When you feel comfortable, reduce this to 3 counts, then after a few cycles reduce again to 2 counts. After a few minutes stop counting and allow you body to take over the rhythm.
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