CG Brass Camp 1992 - Breathing Exercises for Trumpeters by Dr. Larry Miller, M.D.

Transcript Summary

Overview

Dr. Larry Miller, M.D. teaches breathing exercises for trumpet players at the 1992 CG Brass Camp. He explains a step-based walking and jogging breathing routine designed to develop the breathing muscles, maintain the chest-up playing position, improve endurance and range, and build physical fitness for trumpet performance.

Key Teaching Points

• Breathing exercises should be practiced daily to keep the breathing muscles in shape.
• Trumpet playing alone may not correctly develop the breathing muscles; the breathing exercise helps set up the body for efficient playing.
• The exercise begins with walking while breathing in, holding, blowing out, and holding out for a set number of steps.
• Students should begin at a manageable number of steps, such as five, and gradually build toward higher numbers.
• Keep the chest up without overexpanding or lifting the shoulders unnecessarily.
• Stay relaxed in muscles not being used, such as the arms, while developing the intercostal muscles and related muscles that lift the sternum and expand the chest.
• As the step count increases, more air must be moved in and out.
• When jogging, more air volume is needed because of increased aerobic demand.
• Pursed-lip breathing can help keep the airway open.
• If the exercise becomes too difficult, move down a step or two and build gradually.
• It may take about six weeks to build up to ten steps if the player is in good physical condition.
• Physical fitness makes a major difference in trumpet playing, especially as players get older and wind power decreases.
• The goal is to make physical aspects of playing reflexive by “grooving neuron pathways.”
• Keeping the chest up maintains the “gas tank” and allows the player to apply pressure to move air against the resistance of the trumpet.
• Development involves coordinating these physical habits until they function naturally in performance.

Topics Covered

• Breathing exercises for trumpet players
• Walking step-count breathing routine
• Jogging with the chest up
• Inhaling, holding, exhaling, and holding out by step counts
• Breathing through the nose
• Breathing through the mouth while jogging
• Pursed-lip breathing
• Chest-up position
• Sternum lift
• Intercostal muscles
• Neck muscles involved in lifting the sternum
• Relaxation of unused muscles
• Moving air against resistance
• Aerobic demand and oxygen debt
• Physical fitness and trumpet endurance
• Range and endurance maintenance
• Gradual development to ten steps
• Reflexive trumpet playing
• Grooving neuron pathways
• Clarke concept of development
• BCT

People and Sources Mentioned

• Dr. Larry Miller, M.D.
• David Evans
• Clarke
• CG Brass Camp 1992

Student Practice Applications

• Practice the breathing routine daily away from the trumpet, such as while walking.
• Begin with a comfortable step count: breathe in for the chosen number of steps, hold in for the same number, blow out for the same number, hold out for the same number, and repeat.
• Maintain a comfortable chest-up posture without shoulder tension.
• Focus on relaxing the arms and other muscles not needed for the exercise.
• Build gradually rather than forcing ten steps immediately.
• If you feel unable to complete the pattern, drop down one or more steps and continue from a manageable level.
• Use the exercise to develop the muscles that support breath control, endurance, range, and efficient air movement.
• When jogging, expect to move more air because the body requires more oxygen.
• Think of the chest as the “gas tank” that must stay lifted so air pressure can be applied efficiently against trumpet resistance.
• Use time away from the horn to reinforce physical habits, such as breathing or tonguing, so they become automatic during performance.