How do I use a breath builder?

[headwizer]

Hi,

I just ordered a Breath Builder that is supposed to help strengthen my breathing for playing flute. It did not come with any directions.

The device is a cylindrical tube with small ping-pong-like ball inside. One end is sealed and the other end has holes. There are two diameters of plastic tubing: one small and one larger.

Does anyone know how to use this thing?

[AaronMalcomb]

That's one of the gadgets where you blow in it to make the ball float and your supposed to time how long you can make it float. Depending on how hard you blow will affect how far up in the tube the ball will float.

I guess the goal is to increase how long you can float the ball at however high you want it to go.

Are there any pulmonary specialists here?

Cheers,
Aaron

addendum: This page has a link to a manual.

[Jay-eye]

I just ordered a Breath Builder that is supposed to help strengthen my breathing for playing flute. It did not come with any directions.

Have you thought about playing the flute more?

[kkrell]

Hi,

I just ordered a Breath Builder that is supposed to help strengthen my breathing for playing flute. It did not come with any directions.

The device is a cylindrical tube with small ping-pong-like ball inside. One end is sealed and the other end has holes. There are two diameters of plastic tubing: one small and one larger.

Does anyone know how to use this thing?

As was said, play the flute more - isn't that exercise enough? Otherwise, consider this tool instead, which exercises both inhalation AND exhalation, and comes with a manual (you can see one on-line in .PDF format):

http://www.powerlung.com/


Kevin Krell

[Whistlin'Dixie]

I googled on breath builder, then found a page called Welcome to Windsong Press ~ It has a bunch of info, but if you scroll down it shows your breath builder, tells how to use it, and has a video that you can click on that I guess shows how to use it, too. (I didn't click on the video) So you can find out how to use yours!

M

[headwizer]

Thanks WD! That video was most helpful.

I would play the flute more, but I don't always have the practice space to do it. I can use the Breath Builder anywhere, anytime - such as when I'm waiting on the checkout line at my local supermarket.

[Cynth]

You may need a license for that.

[andrewK]

You will run the risk of being certified.
If you explain that you play the flute that will only serve to confirm their suspicions !

[mcdafydd]

i wonder if simple, old-school pranayama practices would be just as good, if not better. I've not tried a breath builder so I'm not sure how exactly it feels, but I could imagine that if you want to really increase your lung/breath capacity you don't necessarily want to be stressing any muscles around the ribcage/diaphragm as that will just take extra energy, and hence shorten your breath. Are you supposed to blow harder and harder against some kind of resistance?

Ask any hatha yoga teacher to teach you Nadi Shodhana, Bhastrika, Kapalbhati, etc. and move slowly. Your breath will become deeper and longer. There are some great books out there on the subject, such as:

Prana Pranayama Prana Vidya by Swami Niranjanananda

and

Light on Pranayama by BKS Iyengar

[headwizer]

mcdafydd,

Here's how the Breath Builder works:

1. Attach a plastic tube to the spout at the top of the BB. There are two sizes of tubes: a large one for flute and a smaller one for other woodwinds.

2. Blow into the BB. The ping pong ball rises to the top. Exhale to keep the ball at the top. Then inhale with enough force to keep the ball from falling. The whole idea of this exercise is to keep the ball floating at the top.

3. There are 3 resistance holes at the top of the BB. You can increases the resistance by covering one or more holes as you exhale/inhale.

I believe the exercise is supposed to both strengthen breathing and keep it controlled.

[jdevereux]

Really, you should just play more-that way you get the fingerins as well as breathing right. I don't mean to offend anyone with this, and I must note that more pipers than flute players are guilty of this, but there seem to be alot of people who, though they have invested the cash and inital effort in learning the instrument, after a few tunes resort to playing with idiotic gadgets, surfing websights devoted to the subject, and generally doing everything but improving and playing their instrument. So...get off the computer and play some tunes!

[springrobin]

What?? Mark Eden kits don't come with instructions?

[lixnaw]

if you want to improve your breathing, i believe it's best to look at the way you hold your flute, the way you sit,
if you breath correctly,... buy a good tutorial, get a good teacher.

a good start is the main thing.

[mcdafydd]

Really, you should just play more-that way you get the fingerins as well as breathing right. I don't mean to offend anyone with this, and I must note that more pipers than flute players are guilty of this, but there seem to be alot of people who, though they have invested the cash and inital effort in learning the instrument, after a few tunes resort to playing with idiotic gadgets, surfing websights devoted to the subject, and generally doing everything but improving and playing their instrument. So...get off the computer and play some tunes!

true true.. while 99% of what you say is right, working to build stronger breath will help reduce stress, build energy, increase tone and strength in flute playing, among other things. Although I've not yet seen Marcos Granados, all the other flute players I've talked to who have met him say that his tone and playing is some of the most amazing they've seen (he plays latin/venezuelan folk jazz stuff). And he works a lot with pranayama and increasing the breath. I don't think that "just playing a few tunes" will have nearly the same effect on expanding breath capacity as controlled and focused practices.

now, after saying all that, I'm getting off the 'net to play a few tunes!

[I.D.10-t]

Really, you should just play more-that way you get the fingerins as well as breathing right. I don't mean to offend anyone with this, and I must note that more pipers than flute players are guilty of this, but there seem to be alot of people who, though they have invested the cash and inital effort in learning the instrument, after a few tunes resort to playing with idiotic gadgets, surfing websights devoted to the subject, and generally doing everything but improving and playing their instrument. So...get off the computer and play some tunes!

7:00 in the morning, If I played right now I would get evicted...

Any way, I think it was a high school choir teacher that told us to exercise our lungs by breathing in while counting to a number, holding for half of that number, and breathing out for half of that number. I found swimming to help more, but you cant do that at a desk.

As for playing, I make a note on where I should take a breath and work to get to that point without cheating. It is like all of the other things, keeping in time, keeping in tune, etc. consciously think on what you are trying to achieve and work on that one thing to perfection. Do you need a flute to say tu, tu, tika, tika, tu? Think of a tune hold the flute (or imagine holding one) in your hands, and play the fingerings without the pressure of hitting the right note.

If this helps, great, if not it only cost you some time.

Good luck. We are all going to the same destination, how we get there is less important.



Full disclosure: I am not a teacher, and do not play well.