Playing the saxophone Nose Breathing - anybody use it?

[Pete Effamy]

A mate of mine, ever the student of music - found a 'tutor' recently on singing method by Frank Sinatra. Yes, THE Frank Sinatra. Apparently he's paraphrasing from a guy I think he took some lessons from in the NY Opera - I should delve into this again to check the facts exactly but the premise is the same.

Sinatra advocates a breathing method by which you inhale through the nose, and out through the mouth. Sinatra claims that it improved his tone, and also that - for recording purposes - this method was quieter.

I had never had this suggested to me. For one, you're nobbled when you have a cold and I can't believe that you'd ever get enough air into your lungs quickly enough during those 8th-note rests when you have to take enough air on board to go another 40 seconds.

I've had the occasional student do it, and I've corrected them.

Out of curiosity - anybody use it?

 

[Ivan]

It is a way of breathing encouraged in the past for general health

You clean away airborne particles more effectively through the nose rather than mouth, which may have been the logic

 

[Hipparion]

I have always been told not to.
The few times I did it, I wasn't instantly struck by lightning. Nor was it a 'light-bulb' moment either.

Then there is the story of circular breathing... when I'll be able to do it, I'll tell you more (don't hold your breath though...) 😉

 

[Halfers]

Probably a way to filter out all the fag smoke from those Clubs he used to play. And perhaps a reasonable method of not drying out the throat.

I once started a gig with a bit of chewing gum still in my gob (Elvis Costello does it all the time, thought it might have a positive effect). Halfway through singing a ditty I took a big inbreath of air through the mouth. Gum got sucked to the back of my throat...I had a little trouble enunciating me lyrics for the next couple of lines, with all the coughin' an' chokin' an' all!!

 

[Pete Effamy]

Yes I know people breathe like this outside of wind instrument playing, but who uses it when they play?

 

[Pete Effamy]

It came from this:

 

[Dibbs]

Unless you shut your mouth your tongue and/or throat have to be reconfigured a bit to breath through the nose. That surely can't be good for a wind instrument player.

I have always been told not to.
The few times I did it, I wasn't instantly struck by lightning. Nor was it a 'light-bulb' moment either.

Then there is the story of circular breathing... when I'll be able to do it, I'll tell you more (don't hold your breath though...) 😉

You need the aerophor

MusicalAmerica - 100 Years Ago...in Musical America (44)