The first time I viewed circular breathing was at a Duke Ellington concert and I was blown away with the ability of one of his tenor sax players using this technique. After that concert I began trying to duplicate the technique and apply it to trumpet playing. From what I have learned as well as observed from others, I will explain how it is done and give you exercises which will get you on your way to circular breathing.
What is circular breathing?
Circular breathing is a technique which allows you to take air in and at the same time expel air out.
How can it be used in trumpet playing?
A wonderful example of how this practice can be applied to trumpet playing is demonstrated in this video by James Morrison.
How is that possible?
The physical components used in circular breathing are well documented in this video by Terry B. Ewell
How do I get started?
If you have viewed the preceding videos and now understand the physical process, then you are ready to begin a series of exercises which will help you put it all together.
Exercises to learn how to circular breath-
1. Fill your cheeks with air and breathe through your nose for thirty seconds.
2. As you breathe, think about the graphics in the second video.
3. Visualize what is taking place in your mouth and nasal areas as you breathe.
4. As you inhale through your nose, slowly let the air escape through your lips.
5. Repeat the previous exercise but this time tighten you embouchure to create a buzzing sound as you continue to breathe in through your nose.
6. This time, do not fill your cheek but fill your oral cavity by dropping your jaw, lowering your tongue, closing your lips and begin to buzz by slowly forcing the air out of your mouth by gradually moving your tongue upward and forward.
7. If you were able to do exercise # 6, then repeat this action but this time inhale through your nose at the same time.
If you were able to complete these seven exercises and accomplish the desired effect, proceed to the next series of exercises. If you are not confident that you are doing it correctly, follow the following exercises.
Additional exercises to practice.
- Take a sip of water and swish it around in your mouth for thirty seconds.
- As you breathe in and out through your nose visualize what is happening in your mouth. What is happening to the air in one area of your mouth and what is happening to the water in another area? How are they separated?
- Keep breathing as you begin to squirt the water slowly out of your mouth. The water is doing the same thing as the air will be doing when you play your instrument.
If you were able to complete these three exercises and accomplish the desired effect, proceed to the next series of exercises.
What have you learned?
You have been able to buzz your lips at the same time you inhaled through your nose. That is how circular breathing is done. Did you notice that when you filled your cheeks with air, you were able to take deeper breaths of air than when you kept them flat? The reason is there is a very limited area in the mouth to store air when compared to the larger area of the mouth and cheeks combined. I will explain this in more detail later in the next post.
My next post will be the continuation of this topic and by the end; you should be able to play a continuous note which will impress both you and your friends.
i really need to understand the circular breathing
Let me know if you have any questions.
When one breathes out and in at the same time the throat closes automatically. What do I do about that?
I’m not sure I understand your question. It is impossible to breath in and out at the same time. Do you mean when you breath in and “blow” out?