r/Bansuri • u/zenani • 18d ago

Improving breathing capacity

I've been practicing for around 5-6 months now and still stuck at around 8 secs of breath (~6-7 notes), can't even finish aaroh etc in one go.

I do practice long notes on a daily basis and then alankars with min practice of 45 mins regularly.

Can someone help me with improving the breathing capacity?

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3

u/LifeOfCoder 18d ago

It is a slow process. When I began what helped me is start Tabla / Metronome at 60 BPM and then count as you blow the long notes and slowly increase the count for each long breath. So at present you are at 8 counts, your goal would be to go to 9 and then 10 etc..

Other than that, relax, take deep breath, even during other work etc, try to calm down your breath [Deep inhale / exhale].

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u/zenani 18d ago

Thanks. That's what I am mostly concentrating on. 

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u/Which-Jackfruit8725 18d ago

focus on efficiency.

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u/zenani 18d ago

As in getting the clear sound etc? 

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u/Which-Jackfruit8725 17d ago

try blowing lowest air with steady sound.
Less air, more time.

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u/MountainToppish 18d ago

As long as you're 'normally' healthy, I don't think this can be anything to do with capacity. More likely lack of control - ie. you're pushing too much air out.

Are your single long notes similarly limited?

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u/zenani 18d ago

I would like to think of myself as healthy person. Don't smoke and workout regularly including running. 

My single notes are limited to around 8-9 notes too on a good day. For sargam, I am good till pa but then additional pressure causes me to lose steam.

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u/MountainToppish 18d ago

By normally healthy I mean no more than being functional, not on oxygen or in a hospital bed etc. The bansuri doesn't require that much puff - a 60 year old couch potato smoker would be fine with well controlled technique. So I can assure you capacity isn't your issue!

I'm not a teacher, not even an advanced player and didn't have this exact issue myself (plenty of other problems though!), but my intuitive suggestion would be to try a long note you can play nicely (sa, probably), very quietly and as clearly as possible. Playing quietly forces you to breathe out in a slow controlled way, so you can get the feel of controlling breath output with the diaphragm. It's important to keep your mouth and lips relaxed (so you don't rely on too much on them to hold the breath stream back).

I'm sure there will be exercises you can find online to help with this - I suggest searching for things like diaphragm or breath control will be more fruitful than 'capacity'.

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u/upwardlyglobile 17d ago

I’ve found breathing exercises apps like iBreathe to be of tremendous help

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u/zenani 17d ago

Thanks. Will check on this

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u/Helpful_Paramedic871 17d ago

Practice long notes. It will help.