Box Breathing Exercise

I remember a music teacher telling me, "Don't forget to breathe". I thought that was him being funny, but it turns out there are many benefits to focused breathing.

Before you play your instrument, try this simple breathing exercise. It's known as Box Breathing.

Some of the benefits of box breathing are:

• calm any performance anxiety

• helps you to focus

• reduces tension in your body

If you can, try to breathe through your nose. You can set your metronome to 60bpm and count 4 beats for each part. Or you can count for 4 seconds for each part.

Exhale for 4

Hold for 4

Breathe out for 4

Hold for 4

Repeat several times and enjoy the benefits before you play.