Even since last week’s inquiry post, I am yet to get much better with my playing or my routine. I thought I would consult trusty Auntie Google for exercises I could more realistically incorporate into my daily (or daily-ish) schedule to tackle my actual flute practice time – with more of a backbone. Of course, I’d already found a top hit with The Flute Channel’s video from last week or so, but after a few clicks I came around to a touted breathing masterclass that I had to check out: half an hour long, no nonsense, and often anatomically correct (I apologized to my squeamish tummy for taking up such an instrument).

Somehow, I don’t think I’ve made a list for my blog, which is probably my favourite thing to do on the computer. Below, fruit of my research: how to breathe, even though I have been breathing approximately 20,000 times a day for about 28 years.

breathing in: the diaphragm is automatic – everything else is up to you

  • place hands on jaw. breathe in deeply and notice how it drops.
  • place hands on throat. breathe in like a yawn and keep it open.
  • place hands on chest. breathe in and minimize movement.
  • place hands on belly. breathe in and let it expand and stretch.
  • place hands at bottom of ribs. breathe in and let them float away and back.
  • place hands on low back. breathe in and search for movement. try to bend at the waist and lean forward, sit on a chair with elbows on knees, or on a chair with elbows reaching towards the ground, or lay on the ground with knees bent and hands on belly. keep going until your body responds.

breathing out: make your abdomen the resisting force to releasing air

  • take a whole, open breath in – quality over quantity.
  • exhale on a “sssss” or “ffff” sound until breath is complete.
  • never, never squeeze or force the air out.
  • only when the breath is complete, release the system.

Actually, I’d wanted to pick up meditation earlier this year, so this is sounding pretty good. Also important is breathing with and into a flute:

  • choose any note. take a whole, open breath in, and begin the note. start with less air, then increase ab resistance more and more until breath is complete.
  • choose any note and set a metronome to 60bpm. take a whole, open breath in, and begin the note. play the note for 2 seconds, then breathe in for 2 seconds. then play for 4 seconds, and breathe in for 2 seconds. then play for 6 seconds, and breathe in for 2 seconds. continue pattern until breath can’t support any longer. graduate to longer intervals (by 3, 4, 5 seconds at a time) when ready.
  • choose any rote and set a stopwatch. start the stopwatch and begin playing a wolftone – the softest note. hold for as long as possible, until breath is complete. try again after a rest and you’ll likely have improved already.
  • choose a set of arpeggios that run over 2 bars. aim to play the 2 bars with a single breath, and practice. graduate to introducing dynamics – adding a crescendo and decrescendo – within the bars, between the bars, and in opposite directions until a rest is needed.

As it seems to go with this project, I’m increasingly suspicious that I’m biting off more than I can chew. But, I don’t know yet. The way I see it, there certainly can’t be any harm in breathing a little more (or at least a little more intentionally).

In a week’s time, it’ll be my midterm assessment for this musical growth plan. I’m nervous, to be quick about it. It’s easy to couch successes in not-yets. Will something click that lets me hit the dreaded high and low notes I can’t reach? Is booking a private room the key to confidence? Am I in over my head with projects? I don’t know yet, I don’t know yet. I’m working on the “yet.”