Breath Control

[Phalanx]

So I don't know if this is the right forum to post this on, but either way... I was wondering what other marchers do to get through the show and not run out of breath.

I march DCA, and I feel that I am in pretty good shape. I can run a few miles without any real trouble, which really doesn't relate, but it shows that I'm no couch potato. But whenever I'm marching in a show, I find that I lose my breath very quickly, and begin to lose my tone quality and ability to hold notes out before the end of the show. It leads me to believe that I'm probably breathing wrong, I don't know if it's too much or not enough, so I was just wondering what other people do while they're playing, and while they aren't.

Thanks in advance!

[Bailey]

AirMax Breather

[kaplac]

10char to the airmax breather.

I'm using mine right now! :D

[crazymello]

hmm... generally when I play through a show, and am breathing hard, my tendency will be to overblow. I don't know if that is the case with you, but it seems like when you are breathing hard, the air wants to get out, so you have too much wanting to fly through the horn, and you have to really suck it up and control it. That can make you feel a bit woozy, but it's worth it.

[DrillmanSop06]

Two words...

Breathing block.

[Phalanx]

See I've never had trouble in breathing block either, which is what I don't understand. I think the "wanting to get the air out" thing that crazymello mentioned may be a factor. Just don't know why that happens. But the airmax breather looks like something worth looking into

[2ndSop4Life]

how do you breath when you're not playing? breath in the meter (in 4/out 4) to control your heart rate and relax your body.

[kaplac]

Also, taking full breaths help a lot too. I find that when my heart rate gets high, I tend to take a lot of short fast breaths that hardly fill up my lungs. When I do a show, I try to focus on taking deep breaths that will expand my stomach, not just raise my shoulders.

[Phalanx]

how do you breath when you're not playing? breath in the meter (in 4/out 4) to control your heart rate and relax your body.

That may be it as well. Now that I think back, i spent most of my time when I wasn't playing counting to myself. There were some parts in the show though when I'd do in 4/out 4... Looks like I have some work to do in the offseason.

Thanks for the tips guys.

[Penguin]

During your show, take deep, controlled breaths while you're not playing.

Don't just do it in shows. Do it in practice to get into the habit of always taking full breaths, especially when you get a break (perc. solo, etc.). They don't call it a "breather" for nothing.