The first 5 people to register will receive a free copy of James Nestor's book, Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art

Dear Wind Players and Singers,

Ahhh…breathing.

Can you think of a topic that is more fraught with confusion and misinformation?

I certainly can’t!

During my 20+ year career as a conductor (instrumental & vocal) and teacher (music & Alexander Technique), I’ve worked with over a thousand air-moving musicians and it’s rare that I encounter one who feels 100% secure and confident in their breathing.

Here are some of the most common things I hear:

• “I always seem to run out of air in long phrases.”
• “I’ve always been confused by the idea of breath support. What does that actually mean?”
• “How do I maintain better breath control in the extremes of high/low, loud/soft and fast/slow?”
• “My breathing often feels very tight and I’m pretty sure it’s affecting my resonance.”
• "There seems to be a disconnect between my body and my brain when it comes to breathing."

This widespread lack of breathing freedom represents a major challenge for wind players and singers.

As you well know...

When your breathing isn’t working well, every part of your musical expression suffers – from your sound to your resonance to your phrasing to your technique.

I used to be a confused and insecure breather myself. In my own music studies – singing in choirs and playing wind instruments – I was served generous helpings of the standard breathing fare, things like:

• "Breathe into your belly" (as if I actually could)
• "Support your sound with your diaphragm" (which I found out later is a muscle of inhalation)
• "Tank up with lots of air so you don’t run out" (no matter how long the phrase)
• "Don’t let your chest, shoulders or collarbones move" (ya know, the parts that actually want to move!)
• "'Take' a deep breath" (which never felt like enough)

I’m frankly a little embarrassed to think of some of the ways I used to think about and teach breathing to my students. So many of the ideas I espoused were crude, blunt instruments lacking any precision, sophistication or basis in anatomical truth (I’m looking at you “breathe into your belly!”).

10 years ago, I decided to get serious about exploring this topic.

I was driven by a deep desire to discover an intelligent and natural approach to breathing as opposed to the outdated, “one-size-fits-all” breathing ideas I had been taught.

Drawing mainly from my years of study in the Alexander Technique and human anatomy I began experimenting on myself and with my students. Not everything worked (after all, we were experimenting). But slowly an approach started to emerge that solved long-standing breathing problems, not just temporarily but for good.

To be clear, I did not invent a new breathing method.

It’s more like F.M. Alexander (the creator of the Alexander Technique) said:

“I do not claim to have discovered a new method of breathing but to understand the only true one – Nature’s.”

As my students and I were discovering, musical bodies absolutely love nature’s breathing method!

Over the years, I’ve shared bits and pieces of this approach in my “Breathing Made Simple” e-Book (which has been downloaded thousands of times), several mini-courses and a month-long breathing festival.

In this course, I’ll be sharing (for the first time) the entire approach – all my decade's worth of study, research, knowledge and ideas – carefully curated and organized in one place.

In this course:

You will learn how to separate the signal from the static, the music from the noise.

You will learn only the essential things you need to know to breathe well.

You will acquire new tools and knowledge so that breathing freedom becomes a real possibility for you.

It that sounds appealing to you, let me tell you more about the course... 

How the Course Works

This online course will be offered live via 4 x 90-minute classes.

These classes will be taught on 4 consecutive Wednesdays (May 8, 15, 22, 29) at: 

• 9:00am – 10:30am US Pacific
• 11:00am - 12:30pm US Central
• 12:00pm – 1:30pm US Eastern
• 5:00pm – 6:30pm UK Time
• 6:00pm – 7:30pm Central Europe

All classes will be recorded and available to watch on replay. You will have access to a private member’s area where you can access and download all course materials.

Each class will include:

• Presentations – brief, interactive lectures on core course concepts
• Group activities – done behind your mute button with my guidance
• Class discussions – impactful conversations about real-life issues
• Individual coachings – watch me work with individual volunteers on their breathing while they play or sing

Optional 30-minute guided breath meditations will be offered before each class that will further develop your breathing awareness and sensitivity.

Each course participant will also receive a digital copy of the brand new course handbook that contains all course concepts, principles and exercises.

Who It's For

This course is designed for wind players and singers. Teachers and conductors of wind playing and singing who are looking for fresh, new ways to approach breathing with your students will find this course especially valuable.

However, any musician or music teacher will benefit greatly from this course. After all, breathing is a central aspect of music-making, no matter if you move air to make sound or not.

 What You’ll Learn

The course will contain 3 learning modules which correspond with the 3 C’s of Breathing Freedom:

1. Communicate the Music
2. Cooperate with Your Design
3. Coordinating Your Whole Self 

Module 1: Communicate the Music

In the first module, you will explore the biological, social and musical aspects of breathing. You’ll learn about:

• The 4 ways humans breathe and how it relates to music-making
• Musical breathing vs. mechanical breathing
• Inspired breathing – how the music itself can be a source of “inspiration” for exquisite phrasing
• Practical exercises for long phrases, technical passages and working in the extreme registers
• Exploring the connection between breathing and emotion, character and mood
• The relationship between breathing and rhythm
• Why an indirect approach to breathing is best

Module 2: Cooperate with Your Design

Module 2 is a thorough look at the essential design features of the human body and respiratory system. You’ll learn about:

• How a study of functional anatomy supports breathing freedom
• The swallowing system vs. the breathing system – why it’s so essential to know the difference
• The key features of the respiratory tract including several key neglected features
• The arms and legs – how the limbs affect your breathing
• Coordinated sitting and standing – the prerequisite for free breathing
• The role of the abs, intercostals and diaphragm in breathing
• The breathing bones, particularly the movement of the ribs
• The larger structures upon which our respiratory system depends 

Module 3: Coordinate Your Whole Self

Discover various ways to coordinate your whole self instrument for better breathing and singing. Things you’ll explore:

• Breathing as a whole body event
• The whispered “Ah” – a simple yet profound exercise that can unlock optimal breathing coordination
• 360° Breathing – inviting the torso to move in all directions
• Nasal breathing and its practical application in music-making
• How to restore your torso to its natural state of elasticity and freedom
• How to avoid sucking, gulping, and gasping for air
• A fresh look at breath management, support and control
• An overall breathing coordination plan that brings everything together

Course Tuition

The tuition for this course is $300.

Your tuition includes streaming and downloadable access to all course materials and resources.

A few things to know:

• MBMS Subscribers get a $50 discount (Not an MBMS subscriber? Subscribe now to get your coupon code)
• MBMS Students get a $100 discount (Send me an email for coupon code)
• Payment plans are available at checkout
  
• Limited need-based scholarships are available (Send me an email to request more information)

What Will You Discover?

In the course, you will study, explore and become reacquainted with your own natural breathing and the universal principles that govern it.

You will learn “forever” ideas, practices, tools and skills that will support you the rest of your life.

You will make your breathing truly your own – a priceless discovery.

This course is not about doing loads of breathing exercises or strengthening specific breathing muscles. It’s about understanding how breathing works on a fundamental level. And once you truly understand that, you'll be well on your way to breathing freedom.

I’m fired up and ready to dive deep into this topic.

If you are too, I invite you to join me and a new group of breathing explorers starting May 8th.

In Music, 

Peter Jacobson
Founder & Director
Mind Body Music School

PS – If you have questions about the course, feel free to write to me directly.