Last month while performing with a new brass quartet, I found that although I’d never played with the other members, I was able to match my tempo, style and rhythm quite easily. Of course this felt normal to me but I started to ask what made this situation easier than others I’ve experienced? The one thing that stood out the most was that we all breathed in time and together. Now this may seem so obvious that it just sounds silly, but I’ve been working with groups who don’t breathe together and the beginnings of pieces are often shaky.
I’ve been using these ideas to create exercises that help ensemble members begin to better coordinate their breathing with some good results. This is especially important with children so that the habit can be established early. Breathing in time and in the style of the piece is an essential element to internalizing the pulse and feel of the music. When I observe players or singers who don’t breathe rhythmically, they often stumble or loose the tempo for a moment, or worse never get into the rhythm. Their breathing also seems awkward and out of place.
For you teachers out there, I recommend taking a little time at the beginning of a rehearsal to get people breathing together. You can do this by simply establishing a tempo and having the members inhale on 4 (in 4/4 time) and sing on 1 for 3 or 7 beats and repeat the process. I’m sure many of you out there have some really excellent methods of working with this theme. In my next podcast I will address this issue as well. If you have any ideas on this matter, I’d be interested in hearing your comments.
Players and singers can check this when practicing. How do you start a piece or even an exercise? Do you hear/feel the tempo before starting? Breathing in time will prepare you for music making before you start producing sound, which will ultimately make practicing more efficient.
Be sure to check out the DMS podcasts, Feldenkrais mini lessons for musicians and speakers.
If you have any specific questions or comments on breathing and posture, send me an e-mail and I’ll try to respond in a future blog. Until then, breathe, sit and stand well!
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