Breathing Warm-up

"Oh God... I can't breath this morning!"
How many of us have said this frase to themselves at least once in life?
You are having a very stressful week and the programme your are playing with your orchestra is so demanding.
You wake up the concert's morning, you start to warm up and all you can breath is just a ridiculous gasp.
Before you'll start to think "Oh s**t, I'm in trouble now" try out this little breathing exercise.
It will open up your lungs and will ease off all your respiratory muscles.  It will take just five minutes.
What do you need?

- Just your mouthpiece -

Take your mouthpiece and put the end of the backbore into your mouth, as pictured. 

If you can't remember the last time you cleaned up your mouthpiece, this could be the right moment to do it!! :)
Take the metronome and set it to 60 beats p/m

• Inhale in 4 beats and exhale in 4 beats. Repeat for 10 times. Rest 30 sec.
• Inhale in 3 beats and exhale in 4 beats. Repeat for 10 times. Rest 30 sec.
• Inhale in 2 beats and exhale in 4 beats. Repeat for 10 times. Rest 30 sec.
• Inhale in 1 beat and exhale in  4 beats. Repeat for 10 times. Rest 30 sec.
• Inhale in 1 beat and exhale in 1 beat. Repeat for 10 times.   

I'm sure you're starting to feel much better!
Now take the trumpet, start you regular warm-up and feel the difference.


Some tips:
Try to keep your embuochure firm and avoid to inflate your cheeks.
If you start to get dizzy, just rest and take your time. You'll get used to it.
Whilst doing the exercises try to feel your respiratory muscles' work and enjoy it.
Doing the exercise, try to breath in/blow out as much air as possible, especially in the last part of it.
When you pick up the trumpet, keep the same feeling of "Dynamic Air".

I hope it will work for you as much as it does for me.