Breathing and air flow
- Breathe in freely and produce a controlled column of air over an increasing range of notes and phrase lengths:
- developing abdominal breathing to enhance all aspects of playing
- producing a variable speed air column which produces an equal tone across the register
Ask learners to play a well-known tune or study and go as far as they can in one breath.
This exercise focuses on lung capacity. Other factors, such as tone quality, should not be compromised.
Join with learners in shouting ‘haa’ as loud as possible. Ask them to check that they can feel the movement in the abdomen. Try playing scales by ‘huffing’, using abdominal attacks rather than tongue.
Ask learners to practise ‘huffing’ scales at home.
Encourage learners to check the evenness of their tone quality across the range by listening carefully or making recordings.
It is vital to check the policy of the school or other organisation you are working in with regards to any form of recording. Children must never be videoed without parental consent and all policies regarding use and storage of recordings must be adhered to.
Explore the progression of this Learning Objective
Continue exploring the current Programme of Study
