Posted by: Brasstx ®
02/23/2010, 01:28:55
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To anyone:
I'm a twenty-seven y/o brass player. A few years ago I started having trouble breathing. I don't remember how it started, or when, just that it did. The kind of breathing for playing, not respiratory. Here's the problem:
I do daily musician's breathing exercises. I can inhale and exhale just fine doing the exercises (air in for X counts, out for X counts, etc.). "Air goes in, air goes out" in time, in rhythm. I add the horn or even just mouthpiece buzzing, breathe in just fine, but can't breath out without problems. It's as if the air won't come out right way. I can do "air starts," without the tongue, but when I add the tongue for a regular attack I hesitate and come in (play) late.
I've made slight progress working with a metronome, but even with it I find it hard to come in on my intended downbeat. I hesitate and come in after the beat with a poor attack. I practice entering on time with a metronome, and sometimes I can get to work it out so I come in (play) when I intend to. Some days, not so much. Without the metronome I count subdivisions in my head loudly when I breath in to attempt to come in when I intend to. Again, sometimes hit, many times miss. It's very frustating b/c I want to the best I can and this is my biggest obstacle by far. If I can't enter on time with a good "ping" start, I'm finished. I know I can overcome it, but I need help. I would be glad for it.
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