Posted by David on January 12, 2003 at 02:57:46:
In Reply to: Re: Air posted by Allison on January 11, 2003 at 17:21:24:
Believe it or not, flute requires more air than tuba. The excess air just flows right past the lip plate. If you know how to control air on flute, then you know how on tuba. Techniques the same. Loud playing requires lots of air, no matter which instrument you use. The normal method is to take more breaths like the other posters have indicated.
While there are exercises to expand the lung capacity, it takes either buying a breathing device or working diligently to stretch the lungs outward and downward. Practice doing long tones is one of the best. Hyperventilating, well almost, prior to doing a passage that requires what you described will help you have the oxygen needed to play a little longer.