Losing control is the only way to create something beautiful.
The Bassoon and the Mirror
The bassoon is a notoriously unforgiving wind instrument to play. There are different ways to breathe to both articulate & then support low, mid-range, or high register notes and passages. If the “air support” is off even just a little, the distinctive bassoon sound (or “tone”) of the instrument suffers and becomes strained. Pitch accuracy - the ability to play in tune with yourself and others - is next out the window. So, the bassoon acts as a super hi-def mirror for the (read: my) autonomic nervous system.
After 30,000+ hours with the instrument in my hands, practicing, recording, and performing all rolled into one, I've learned the quality of my output is not determined by my time in the practice room alone, but by the physiological state I bring to the bassoon. This also holds true away from the instrument in the business world I now also inhabit.
The Physiology of Breath as Anchor
We've all been there (admittedly with or without a bassoon):
- Stressful meeting
- Looming deadline
- New role
And the truth is, your physical state is a variable you can direct and control, not a constant you must suffer through.
A bassoonist breathes deeply from the diaphragm. Years are spent honing an ability to create a beautiful sound, stable pitch, and consistent tone over long and longer periods of time (i.e. long tones). The diaphragm is unique: it is the only part of our core that can operate both on its own (autonomic) as well as be actively, consciously directly by you (somatic).
Moving from shallow breathing (what often happens in stressful situations) to diaphragmatic breathing sends a signal to your brain that the environment is safe, which unlocks higher-order thinking and processing capabilities.
How do those in critical positions and situations – like the military – strategically use the breath? One way is called tactical breathing and is used to focus and induce calm in high-stress settings.
The “Productivity” Pivot
Whether on the battlefield, in the board room, or warming up for bassoon scale juries in the hallway in October at 26 Gibbs Street, your breath is a straight path to hack your autonomic nervous system.
Back in the conservatory, I was playing 6-8+ hours a day. Between ensembles, my time alone in the practice room, chamber groups, course work, and performance schedule, including travel, I was all in all day long. Despite my intensive regimen and dedication, I was often dissatisfied with my sound on the stage. I discovered this came from a stress-induced disconnect with my breath in the moment of performance. Which brings us to…
So when you sit (or stand) and play music (or lead a presentation), to create something meaningful you can use the power of your breath experientially – in the moment – to let exactly what you want come through.
Even if it paradoxically feels like you are giving up control to something so simple as a breath of air.
Try This:
Tips from the Bassoon Underground's Practice Playbook
Bassoon breathing focus points include:
- Breathe deeply from the belly, in a low pitch, and as silently as possible (no gasps).
- You should feel it in your lower back if you're breathing from the whole core.
- Exhale in controlled fashion, over as long and as consistent airstream as possible.
Bassoonists practice for strength and stamina (e.g. Brahms Violin Concerto second movement, second bassoon part, & the opening of Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony in the first bassoon). It is worth noting that, like English Bulldogs, we also sometimes exhibit short bursts of speed in a flurry of activity (Beethoven's 4th Symphony, Overture to Mozart's Marriage of Figaro or the “Haffner Symphony No. 35”).
Tactical breathing mentioned above is a skill used by military forces for stress reduction & has a similar effect to the above bassoon-specific model:
- Breathe in for 4 counts
- Hold for 4 counts
- Exhale over 4 counts
- Hold for 4 counts
- Repeat