Ever wonder how a saxophone or didgeridoo player can hold a note for so long without taking a breath? The secret is circular breathing, a technique some woodwind instrumentalists and glassblowers employ to sustain air by puffing their cheeks. Then, they use their cheek, tongue and throat muscles to push this preserved air through the instrument as they inhale through the nose and then restart the cycle. The challenge is to make a smooth transition from the lungs to the cheeks and back again.
Step 1
Puff your cheeks and continue inhaling and exhaling through your nostrils as you normally would, to better understand how circular breathing works.
Step 2
Repeat the above step with your lips slightly apart to let the air escape. Continue breathing this way for five seconds. Use your cheek muscles to direct the air to escape gradually rather than all at once.
Step 3
Put a straw into a glass of water and squeeze the top until it's almost shut. With your mouth on the straw, repeat Step 2. If you're doing this correctly, you'll create a steady stream of air bubbles. The reason you squeeze the straw is to discourage water from coming up if you accidentally inhale through your mouth. Stay with this step until it feels more natural.
Step 4
Focus on keeping a constant flow of bubbles. Practice inhaling through your nostrils as you simultaneously release the air from your cheeks. This is challenging and may take awhile.
Step 5
Try this technique on your instrument as soon as you're ready.
Tips and Warnings
- Circular breathing may take several months to master and is not recommended for the flute.
- Practice with caution. If you experience any breathing discomfort, stop immediately. Circular breathing is solely meant for playing a wind instrument or glass-blowing and is not a technique for enhancing meditation or any kind of physical exercise.
Things You'll Need
- Straw
- Glass of water
