BREATHING EXERCICES JOONATAN RAUTIOLA 2018

A The automatic inhale

1. Empty all of your air ; finish with f-f-f-f-f to feel that the lungs are really empty

è « Grow up », don’t shrink

è Feel your belly button « touching » your spine

2. Hold a couple of seconds, then start to let the air enter through your nostrils by relaxing the
body little by little. Let this happen silently to avoid all effort.

è Don’t « pull » the air

Do the exercice in three different positions :

i. Sitting with your upper body to your knees, your head hanging down between your
thighs and your arms hanging as well

ii. Sitting in an upright position with your fists on your hips

iii. Standing, with knees bent or straight

è Kneecaps must be relaxed in standing position

B Longer exhalation / mobility

Swing the upper body from a side to another with relaxed arms, exhaling/inhaling as follows :

3 – 1 – 3 – 1 – 4 – 1 – 4 – 1 – 5 – 1 – 5 – 1 – 6 – 1 – 6 – 1 – 7 – 1 – 7 – 1 (inhale : always 1 swing)

è Stay tall and heavy (don’t outstretch the chest backwards or shrink)
C An even air stream
1. Inhale while raising your arms to the ceiling

2. Empty all of your air, arms staying raised

3. Let the air in through a « straw » ; after ca. 5 seconds, relax the mouth so that the air enters
quickly

4. Long exhalation with [s], lowering very gradually the arms as if pushing two bellows

è gently maintain the rib cage expanded, a « noble » posture

5. Repeat immediately, at least 3 times

D Expanding the rib cage

1. After a normal expiration, breathe in while counting slowly to 6

è Direct the air in your rib cage, which should expand more and more as you count further

è Maintain a noble posture with relaxed shoulders and without outstretching the chest
backwards

2. Let the air out, breathe normally during a few seconds, then restart. Gradually count further
and further, even up to 15-20.

Remember that your primary musical instrument is your body and it needs exercice … ! As you learn
to breathe well, you will improve many essential qualities :

- ability to play longer phrases

- more relaxedness while playing

- better control of intonation

- better projection

- more colours

- better concentration & more pleasure !

Don’t hesitate to contact me for questions.

email : joonatan.rautiola@uniarts.fi

phone : + 358 50 324 7806