Circular Breathing
Materials needed: small cup, water,
straw, mouthpiece (or reed, for double reeds)
1. Put a small amount of water (between
1" and 2") in the cup.
2. Place the straw in the cup. Blow
bubbles through the straw into the water using normal air.
3. Blow bubbles through the straw by
puffing the cheeks then forcing air through straw. You will not
be using your lungs at all!
4. Now try blowing bubbles with normal
air while gradually allowing some air to puff into the cheeks.
When your cheeks are fully puffed, stop blowing bubbles. Then,
blow bubbles with cheek air as in step 3. Repeat this process
several times.
5. Repeat step 4, but without stopping
between blowing normal air and cheek air.
6. Blow bubbles with cheek air as in step
3, but breathe in through your nose at the same time. Practice
motion without straw and water, first, to keep from inhaling
water on the first try! Repeat this motion several times, until
it begins to feel more comfortable.
7. Repeat step 4, this time breathing in
as you force the air out of your cheeks.
8. Repeat step 4 again, breathing in as
you force the air out of your cheeks but without pausing
between the normal and cheek air. Try to keep the bubbles
continuous. This is the key step: repeat this as long as needed
to become comfortable in keeping the bubbles coming. Go back
through the previous steps as needed.
9. Once you can keep a continuous stream
of bubbles going, prepare your mouthpiece or reed and do the
same motion with the mouthpiece or reed alone.
