breathing excercises (: i'm in marching band and everyone is good at breathing cause we do it before every rehearsal. doing regular breathing exercises will definitely strengthen and expand your lung capacity. one of them, called the "blade hand" : form a circle with your mouth and open your throat. make your hand into a blade and place it in front of your mouth so it's dividing the air and breathe in for 4 counts. then breathe out for 4 counts and turn your hand so the palm of your hand is parallel to your face so you can feel the air coming out. the air should be warm. keep doing this exercise and then breathe in for 3 counts and out for 4. then in for 2 and out for 4 and in for 1 and out for 4. you can use whatever counts, but that's the usual. this exercise helps you with control. there is another effective breathing exercise that i don't know the name of. but start with your hands by your side and your legs shoulder length apart. take in 8 counts of breath while you raise your arms to the sky. (at 4 counts, your arms should be parallel to the ground) then breathe out for 8 counts while lowering your arms back down to your side. then breathe in for 10 counts and out for 10 counts (count 5 is where your arms will be parallel to the ground) and so on. then do 12 counts, then 16. and there you go! doing these exercises each day before practice will be effective. remember to take a break if you feel lightheaded! good luck with playing! :D

btw. these breathing exercises can be used with any instrument. i play flute and i find these effective (:

thanks

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