Virtual Breathing Fundamentals for Wind Instruments

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Introduction for Band Directors

Band directors and marching arts educators,

Welcome to this video series. We are so happy you have chosen to use this series to help with your breathing fundamentals, and we are sure that your students will benefit greatly from this video series. It is difficult during the Covid-19 pandemic to safely do breathing fundamentals, and we here at McNeese State University have created this web-based series to assist in teaching these important skills to your band. Hopefully, this series will present an instructional supplement, a method of asynchronous learning, a few new ideas or tricks, and some insight into how we teach breathing fundamentals here at McNeese State University. Please watch this video as an introduction to the course. Thank you so much for joining us!

 

Introduction for High School Students

High school marching band members,

Welcome to this video series. We are so happy you are joining us, and we look forward to becoming better musicians and developing our breathing fundamentals together. In this series, you will get a sneak peak behind the scenes into how the Pride of McNeese develops breathing skills and builds a great foundation for a huge ensemble sound. This series is designed to help you develop as a player and set you up for success in marching band, concert band, jazz band, and more. We can’t wait to see you perform in the fall and hopefully one day as a member of the Pride of McNeese. Check out this vide0 for an introduction to the course. Thank you for joining us and Geaux Pokes!

 

Episode 1: Stretching

In this episode, we will cover:

  • Posture

  • Relaxation Exercises

  • Ballistic Stretches for Breathing

  • Static Stretches for Breathing

  • Tension and Release Exercise (The Caveman)

 

Episode 2: The Rules of Breathing

In this episode, we will cover:

  • The Rules of Breathing

  • Rule 1: No Tension

  • Rule 2: The air never stops.

  • Rule 3: All of the air, all of the wounds, evenly.

  • Rule 4: Check mouth shape “Whah!”

 

Episode 3: Breathing Low, Getting Full, and Getting Empty

In this episode, we will cover:

  • Breathing with hand monitors on the chest and abs

  • Basic Flow Exercise

  • Addind Counts (4s and 4s)

 

Episode 4: Mouth shape

In this episode, we will cover:

  • Hand Monitors for the Mouth

  • 4s and 4s

  • Air Speed and Temperature (Slow vs. Fast & Hot vs. Cold)

 

Episode 5: Lung Capacity and Expansion

  In this episode, we will cover:

  • Lung Expansion Exercises

  • Pacing the Inhale and Expanding Past It

 

Episode 6: Air Direction

In this episode, we will cover:

  • Air Direction and Visualization Exercises

  • The Paper Airplane (Direction and Energy)

  • The Dart (Adding Articulation)

  • The Boulder (Increasing the Air Column and Darkening the Sound)

  • The Thumb (Focusing the Air)

 

Episode 7: Air Counts and Dynamics

In this episode, we will cover:

  • Air Counts as they relate to Dynamics

  • f: 8 Count Air

  • ff: 6 Count Air

  • fff: 4 Count Air

  • mf: 10 Count Air

  • mp: 12 Count Air

  • p: 16 Count Air

  • pp: 20 Count Air

  • ppp: 24 Count Air

 

Episode 8: Incorporating Breathing Fundamentals into Playing

In this episode, we will cover:

  • Connecting Breathing Fundamentals with Playing

  • The Concept of Air Speed vs. Getting Empty

  • Putting Air Through the Instrument

  • Concert F and Different Dynamics

  • Long Tones at Different Dynamics

  • A Special Encore

 

Watch the Pride of McNeese Perform

Congratulations on completing the Breathing fundamentals video series. Sit back and enjoy the Pride of McNeese perform their pregame show, stands favorites, and the 2019 Space halftime show. We hope to see you someday soon on the field with us!

For more information about the Pride of McNeese, McNeese State University, band scholarship opportunities, how to set up an audition, how to visit us on campus, and much more please contact us at jsconyers@mcneese.edu.