[beezerbnt00]

I am a 14 year old Freshman male that has been playing alto for 4 years now and recently acquired a Wexler silver or nickel plated sax (can't tell which but it is a lot heavier than my old one) and was playing great on it up to about a month ago. I started playing anywhere from 10-15 measures in a breath and then having to stop playing and actually breathe out. I switched from a Rico Royal 3.5 to a Rico Lavoz Medium-Soft around that time, so the problem may be the reed. But I'm also a cross-country runner, and when I'm done with my race (3.1 miles) I am not having any problems breathing. I also played the Bari using a 3.5 Vandoren reed for about a year up from December 2010 to January 2011. I started practicing an hour every day since about August and have been playing an hour every day (along with the hour practicing) at my school, and an additional hour before school 3 days a week for Jazz Band and Private Lessons all the time using my Wexler. So I'm pretty much giving you guys as much info as I think you guys need, because this breathing problem has really been bugging me and has been messing up my sound. Please help me.

 

[Tony5175]

It could be your mouthpiece not allowing you to get rid of all your air. What mouthpiece are you using and what size?

 

[beezerbnt00]

I am using a Selmer Paris C Star. Not sure on the size though but my technique instructor at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp told me to use it.

 

[Tony5175]

The mouthpiece is good, a lot of people use it. Try going back to the Rico Royals and see if that helps. Make sure your breathing from your stomach not your throat.

 

[goldberg447]

This happens to me occasionally as well. It only happens when I play slow music, especially when I am standing up at the same time.

 

[Grimmell73]

Keep in mind that music wants you to breathe about two to four times a minute, but sometimes your body needs more oxygen than that. If you do 12 normal breaths in a minute while reading a book, that's 6 quarts of air (assuming 50% respiration on each breath). If you play two long phrases using full lung inflation, that's only 2 quarts of air in that same minute. You can go into oxygen starvation. This is a lot more likely if the rest of your body happens to be demanding more oxygen at the same time. For example, if you have gym class just before band, your body is still demanding oxygen. Or if you've just eaten. Most especially, if you've unconsciously started tensing any muscles while you play, like hunching, leaning, holding your shoulders too high, etc.

If your musculature isn't the problem, I've had this happen when I'm not moving enough air while playing passages. In other words, your breath control may have gotten a little too good. When I only blow out about 20% of my air before my next inhale, 80% of my breath is really stagnating. To remedy this, make sure to take deep breaths, and then if you need to, blow some of the air out from the corners of your mouth while you play the passage, so that you can take another big inhale at your next breath. Doing a couple of these in a row will get your oxygen needs back in synch with the music.

 

[brandenq188]

The mouthpiece is good, a lot of people use it. Try going back to the Rico Royals and see if that helps. Make sure your breathing from your stomach not your throat.

I agree, breathe from your diaphragm and not your throat, you'll get a much fuller sound, and in retrospect will have more air. It could also be a reed problem. Adjusting to new reeds isnt easy. I would recommend going back to Rico Royals for now, and try weening yourself onto Vandoren's as a permanent reed. Vandoren's have an amazing response, and have different types so if one type doesn't suit you, try switching to another. The Vandoren Blue Box is a nice place to start, then cross between the blues, reds, and greens. The ZZ's and V16s are nice too. Try doing longtones as well. When practicing long tones, try holding a note for as long as you can, and have someone time you. Then go back, and try to beat your previous time. You'll develop your tone and your ability to breath for a longer period of time. Hope this helps!

 

[maiaihii]

I used to have this problem a lot, I think with experience you just kind of grow out of it, I never really thought of it but it did really affect me. The only time I experience it now is if I like run somewhere with my sax and then stop to play while still out of breath a little bit. I don't know why it happens but that's the only time it happens anymore, well it also happens when circular breathing but that's because I breath to frequently when circular breathing.