Tag Archives: breath

What is Breath in Music?

If you’ve played music for a while you’ve probably run across this term before and you might wonder what it means. Some people might dismiss it as being a term only applying to music which actually utilizes your breath but that is not the case.

The voice is the first musical instrument and to some extent all music derives from singing. Naturally with wind instruments this directly relates to using your breath but all instruments mimic the same concept. String instruments like violinists, cellists, and others utilize a technique that simulates the up and down of breathing with the bow. This technique should also apply to the piano – where phrases should rise and fall just like a breath does. When starting a new phrase it’s like starting a new breath.

Everything in life revolves around cycles and breathing is one of them. Unless you’re consciously aware of it you’d never notice your breaths but this same type of structure seeps into all aspects of our lives. Every day the sun rises and sets, ever since we were born we’ve been used to the simple nature of breathing in and out, and things like sitting at the beach and listening to the waves crash in and out are soothing things that remind of the cyclical nature of our existence. Music is no different.

But how does this translate to an instrument like the piano? You should really play every line you have like you are singing it. I encourage you to try this, you might be surprised at how much inherent expression it brings out in your music; it will give it character and life.

Thanks again for joining me Robert Estrin Robert@LivingPianos.com

What is Breath in Music? Part 2 – Piano Demonstration

A number of years ago we had a video that discussed Breath In Music and if you want to get a general overview of the subject you may enjoy watching that video. Recently, someone requested that I produce a video that gives a demonstration of this concept. There are benefits from the visual aspect. So, I suggest you watch the accompanying video.

When it comes to singing, the breath in music is obvious; after all, you have to breathe in order to sing! Wind instruments are a natural extension of singing and utilize the breath in much the same way. The bow of the violin or cello also mimics the continuity of breath in music. When it comes to the piano, while breathing isn’t a part of the technique for tone production, it is intrinsic to the music as much as it is with singing.

In the video you can see how adding a sense of breath can enhance the music and bring it life. Without the sense of the breath, you lose the human element that makes listening to and playing the piano enriching, not just a mechanical endeavor.

All instruments are basically a representation of the human voice and adding this to your music is something that is essential in making it lively and exciting. I hope this was helpful and if you have any questions about this topic or any other, please email me Robert@LivingPianos.com for more information.