Posted by huffin and puffin... on October 08, 2003 at 22:14:13:
In Reply to: Breathing: Resistance/Strength Exercises posted by D. Graves on October 08, 2003 at 21:53:29:
Good question,
Resistance exercises: makes breathing more efficient when there is less resistance. hence easier to breath
Strength exercises: makes your "breathing mechanisms" (i'm strongly avoiding technical language) stronger and more efficient, this makes bigger breaths and longer phrases easier to obtain
Do we need to breathe efficiently? Absolutely. It's much easier to run a 100m dash with two feet. Inefficient breathing is like shooting yourself in the foot. To have a great a musician you need at least three things: a GREAT ear, strong embouchure and great breathing. In more simple terms: you need to hear what you want to do, have a mechanism to produce and fuel to back it all up with.
If you've already covered Arnold Jacobs material consider looking into the "Breathing Gym" by Sam Pilafian and Pat Sheridan.