Hey everyone, I'm new. I'm in 11th grade, and am 1st chair Horn in the Symphonic Band in my school. Abouta week or two ago I decided to go to go in my bathroom and play a little so I could see what I looked like when I played. I've done this a few times over the years, but this was the first time that I noticed that the right side of my neck expands a good amount whenever I play high notes, or have been playing without a breath for a long period of time. ''

I was wondering if this might cause any problems, like if it might be slowing down the air I'm using, or make me run out of air faster. I have noticed that the 2nd chair in my band doesn't have to take breaths quite as often as I do, but then again he's a good deal taller and bigger, so that might be why. Or I could just be worrying about nothing, and it could be a common thing (but I think it is kind of weird that it's only one side of my neck...).

Thanks for any help.

I doubt the bulge affects your air. It really is quite common. Some people bulge more than others. You may have a tear in some muscle sheathing or a weak neck muscle; or you simply could just be out of balance. If you wanted to be absolutely sure you could have your doctor check it out next time you see him or her.

If you have to take breaths often you are either not breathing in full enough, or you are not being very efficient with your breathing. Two things you can do to work on this are:

When you breathe in say the word 'how' while you breathe in. hold it and try and take a littel more breath on top of that. This is a full breath - you should be breathing in about 80% of your full breath. If you haven't been taking full breaths start practicing this slowly (breathing in while saying 'how'). Take your time , about 1.5 seconds per breath, eventually you will be able to breath in quicker.

Practice breathing out. Hold a sheet of paper in front of you at arms length. Hold the top of the sheet with one hand and blow a very fine stream of air to move the paper just a little bit and hold it in that position for as long as you can.

Do these things every day. You will make great progress in a week. Then you will platau for awhile. You will notice more improvement after another month.



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Oh, I should add, if you do decide to go to a doctor; or if you want to ask for curiosity sake the next time you have a check-up, take your mouthpiece with you so you can buzz for the doctor so he or she can see what is happening.