Breathing Solutions for Woodwind Practitioners

Instruction methods for playing woodwind instruments often inadequately address breathing. There is no standardized approach. It is often described imprecisely, thus resulting in a poor understanding and application of breathing concepts. This project first offers a clear definition of how the human body breathes to remove common misconceptions and correct language used in pedagogy. The most applicable concepts to playing a woodwind are highlighted. Instrument histories, limited to the flute, clarinet and saxophone, are then given to inform our understanding of how they have evolved to our present day instruments. Subsequently, the connection between our body’s physiology and wellbeing is explored through current research into the power of the breath. Finally, this leads to an amalgamation of these concepts and a practical methodology is presented. This aims to enhance learning and practice through the integration of established breathing and wellness concepts.