HOW TO LEARN CIRCULAR BREATHING (first ever Team Recorder video)

Have you ever wanted to learn how to circular breathe? Learn how in a series of very simple steps! This tutorial is from the point of view of a recorder player, but these techniques can be applied to any wind instrument.
Stay posted for more tutorials on the recorder, being a freelance musician and music teaching!
------
Website: www.sarahjeffery.com
Twitter/Instagram @sockmyshoe

[@michaelbettes7939]

does this help on the triangle?

[@Team_Recorder]

+Michael Betters yes

[@excalmatory2061]

yes but make sure too breath out your hands

[@umerbashir9738]

Sarah Jeffery / Team Recorder how

[@pear8875]

Indeed

[@nukihowlter5058]

Works best on cowbell

[@harel255]

I've watched many videos that explain how to do circular breathing but they aren't good enough. I thought that I would never learn how to do this, but now I've watched your video. You explain how to do circular breathing clearly, step by step. Thank you for this video. I play on the recorder, flute, clarinet and saxophone and now I can play without pausing to breath. Thank you!

[@Pinkielover]

lmao what am i watching

[@hannahmorgan7213]

How do you manage on flute? How do you maintain the embouchure??

[@meggreenwood3236]

how long did it take you

[@juliovitolo5356]

I am a saxophonist and heard another saxophonist utilize circular breathing, and it was very effective. So, I searched the internet to learn the method and found your video. Not only was it instructive but you are quite entertaining and fun to watch. Now I will have to get a glass of water and practice. I'll watch this again. Thank you.

[@Bubblegumfunfunfun]

It's been a year... how are you at circular breathing now?

[@Wrongald]

Maybe he drowned...

[@ErnestoValt]

@@Wrongald 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@1millioncicades183]

This is the best explanation on how to learn circular breathing I have ever found, and I even don't play on recorder. Thank you very much.

[@sus30t]

Foook!!! I'm from Sydney and have been studying and trying this for 2 weeks, I've repeated this video for 30minutes and I've got a steady cycle... I'm soo happy thanks Sarah. Now I can start practicing on the didgeridoo. F*%#*! Legend

[@Team_Recorder]

+sus30t Yesssss!

[@joannaw.1406]

LEGOOGEL z

[@ThatBish380]

Omg I’m in Sydney too

[@melanieweber1437]

Sarah, I'm still practicing, but your video has been the best at teaching how to transition from the inhalation and the exhalation. All the other videos I watched never explained that, and I was very frustrated. Thanks for doing such a great job. 👍

[@benblalock1616]

You know, I've been trying to learn but it seems your video breaks down the basics even more than any I've seen. Thank you!

[@Sylvia-Storm]

Thanks Sarah I've just soaked myself with water. Ha ha

[@alexchua8786]

You are so generous to share these tips on circular breathing. I thought I'll never learn it ... But it works. Love you !

[@MrSquidBrains]

I've been working on this for a few days now so I can play didgeridoo. I was practicing while driving in the car this morning listening to this video it finally clicked and I can do it! Great advice, thanks!

[@skytaylor4209]

Wow you put the part in that I was missing you totally rock thank you so so so much to giving the link of prep at end of breathe to fill cheeks that makes it more fluid you are an amazing help!!!!!

[@boscoraj6148]

Unbelievable. How could this even be possible? I couldn't believe that I could breathe while blowing!!! Thanks for the water practice; it proved it.

[@Team_Recorder]

Thanks guys! If you have requests/questions for particular tutorials, let me know ;)

[@noahmanji955]

THANKS ALLOT! I needed this!

[@chefdale9759]

Thx helped a lot

[@DisegnoSb]

thanks for this great video n.n im going to learn kawala so circular breathing is a must

[@Team_Recorder]

The most common is '1 and 2', as it's the one in tune most o the time, but closed thumb hole works too! Just use the one that fits the intonation more. You can also take the higher one and blow softer to create a nice soft end of a phrase :)

[@e.m.2591]

Sarah Jeffery / Team Recorder u

[@alanbarnett718]

I can 'fess up here - I'd got to the point of thinking that circular breathing was, basically, a con. Seeing Sarah so obviously and naturally doing it, and on a recorder to boot! This has restored my faith, and now I think I know where I have been going wrong. Thank you, Sarah!

[@BikingVikingMTB]

Hi quick up date since we last spoke ""I CAN CIRCULAR BREATHE"" 😁😁😁 and playing some awesome sounds -many thanks for ur lesson CB ☺️

[@TheSillychild]

It's so fun to watch your videos! You're delightful and explain things really well.

[@AndSendMe]

This is particularly well thought out. The exact opposite end of the spectrum from the multiple videos in which someone demonstrates the finished technique and says "there, that's how ya do it!". Thank you!

[@pedrosanchezpalma4443]

Amazing video 👏🏻👏🏻. I am trying circular breathing for didgeridoo, even more difficult than with the recorder. You have given to me the idea of transitioning through the recorder and the plastic to iteratively progress. Thanks for that and much more for the funny part and the happiness you transmit

[@elcaballero3430]

The best teacher is Sarah!!!❤❤❤

[@cynthiawolf2467]

Sarah, this stream of water thing is by far the most helpful technique I've looked at so far. I've been trying to learn with the straw and half glass of water, but with this (your) stream of water method I can actually feel the strain of the muscles in my face/neck/tongue as if I'm actually getting a work out. Which is what I want, right!? These are the muscles I need to strengthen, obviously. Thanks so much.

[@Epulor1]

Thank you for the explanation and tips detailing the process of circular breathing. I am a low brass player and have toyed with this idea before and find I just need to practice! Thanks again.

[@arunluthra9484]

Brilliant video, Sarah!!! Thank you for the great lesson!

[@jayaramanthamizhirai9332]

amazing amazing amazing a very good technique to play effortlessly thanks a lot i will surely take up recorder playing after watching you play sarah

[@Derek-xf3eu]

"Happy fish." Thank you for sharing that novel thought along with the method. Genuinely encouraging and made me laugh.

[@nanlehmann4097]

This is a marvelous tutorial. Thank you!

[@Sweatyfleariddledcamelblanket]

thanks for your help Sarah you explain Circular Breathing very well i now think i will be able to learn it..

[@lutecastro9553]

Muchas gracias Sarah. Soy un adulto de casi 50 que he empezado a estudiar la flauta alto... Con todos los inconvenientes de no haber empezado de más joven pero con todas las ganas de aprender. Tus vídeos han sido muy educativos. Y motivadores. Y creo que este video de la respiración circular será fundamental para mí. Y... Conseguí los tres libros que recomiendas de Walter Van Hauwe. Muchas gracias. Saludos desde Barranquilla, Colombia.

[@pfm624]

I’m a horn player (French horn) and I have sent this to my oboe playing friend as how to make this accessible to any student. Congratulations for this explanation..

[@Team_Recorder]

Thanks for sharing!

[@dejanilijev8550]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@josephweldon2283]

Absolutely wonderful presentation!!!!!

[@igorraven8870]

Really enjoy the your videos. Thank you for the time and effort

[@johnschofield2818]

Thanks, gal. Your stage one description was the best I've seen/ heard. :-)

[@lydiascott5808]

This is so cool. I just learned about this technique today and I'm really interested in learning it. I hope this helps. I play the saxophone

[@TheSearcher_thai]

This is the best Circular breathe tutorial I'v ever met and learn . Thank you

[@BackinActionTorrance]

fantastic video. Thank you. I just purchased two Yamaha recorders one in F and one in C major.

[@walterlim5855]

Hi, Sarah, thanks for your video. I tried some other methods and find your method with the water very useful. Thanks for sharing.

[@ruthschrager6052]

Hi Sarah, I am beginning to learn the recorder and I love your videos! They are often very funny and also very helpful in technique! Love, ruth

[@909Twodogs]

Sarah, I must say one word "FANTASTIC". You have explained it fantastically. And you are very pleasant to boot. Cheers..... Eddy

[@temp850]

I so appreciated this tutorial. You remind me of my partner (violin), a real gift for teaching. I started playing the didgeridoo and have picked it up quickly (percussion/vocals is my background) and can produce the circular breathing technique but I find it hard not to pause (gulp etc) during prolonged breaths. Keep practising, I guess!

[@sathaifisch660]

THIS IS WONDERFUL! Great explanation1 and youare so sweeeeeeeet and funny! Thanks a lot!!!!

[@ClaireBEAUMARD]

A soooo helpful video, Sarah ! ... and so funny to try ! I'm so bad, my sink is wet everywhere now ! hahaha ! I've been looking for informations for years (to improve my recorder playing) and, Alleluia ! I discovered you 2 days ago ! Then I'm watching ALL YOUR VIDEOS one after one ! Thank you sooo much for giving all these so precious things for free ! And I love your happiness, joy of life... it's sooo agreable to watch you !!! Claire, France.

[@jasonloke2219]

Thanks so much for sharing. Your video is very good. I understand it better. I am trying to play a bamboo flute. You explained the technique so Well. Thanks!!!

[@gregclarke8932]

You are a brilliant communicator Sarah, very informative and entertaining. Somehow I ended up here when searching for tips on the didgeridoo. It answered all those questions. Thank you :)

[@eolianflute5965]

Very good explanation .. ..I will try to apply your methodology...Thank you so much Sarah

[@spicymang0o]

Thank you so Much Sarah! I kinda had an idea of how it worked but now I with this 3 step method, I can visualize it and practice much better :D this is gonna help me tons with my didgeridoo playing ! wish you a great week!!!!

[@Team_Recorder]

You too Antonio!

[@kennatco7916]

Wonderful presentation! I just got some recorders, and I would love to be able to circular breathe . I believe I will be able to do it now, thanks to this super tutorial. Thanks!

[@kryscall4544]

yourr great personality is half of the greatness of this video. thanks for posting.

[@Jazzbeau]

Very helpful and perfectly charming, Sarah!

[@davehawkins4443]

Thanks Sarah, that was great!!

[@pamelatatsukami8608]

Watching from Philippines, 2022! I want to know how to play a recorder like you! I really love how you play different recorders!

[@grounded7362]

So much easier to sit through a tutorial when the instructor has a beautiful voice and beautiful smile and lovely to look at.

[@handysandy4u]

Very well composed to show how circular breathing is done . Its nice to see a bonny lass explain in everyday terms and straight forward explanation ....well done lass ,regards Sandy

[@Drewster58]

I love this video, you are fun and amusing as well as darn informative! Bonus: the ‘Egyptian Princess’ copper necklace is beautiful. Thank you.

[@flavioserci6046]

You are a great teacher.

[@rachelrasmus366]

still, thanks heaps. Sarah you have helped a lot of people :) :) :)

[@kazinamimi]

Wind instrumentalists need to adapt the term "Isolated" breathing. Since air is "trapped" in the mouth, it is "isolated" there, for use simultaneous to inhaling.

[@stevenneil4998]

Thanks. Very useful. And entertaining.

[@yajingcui2534]

Thank you so much and it is helpful. :)

[@Ncarrascosa]

Hello Sarah ! very good video ! Thank you very much !!very helpful !!

[@danshankle]

Thank you! I play Bagpipe and have struggled with this for years.!

[@davidhumphreys3028]

I'm also a piper & I've struggled for a long time to get this smooth on the practice chanter. The low resistance is very similar to the recorder. I found that I've needed to learn how to blow OUT excess breath through the nose as well as all the usual circular breathing stuff.

[@camiloochoa1239]

although iam a trumpet player, i found your video very helpful, thanks for sharing, and i just loved your enthusiasm .....just great........

[@leofloten]

Fantastic tutorial!, Thanks for sharing this, Sarah. Regards from Colombia.

[@AidasRusa]

Wonderful! I just started to learn to play the didgeridoo and your video really comes handy! Thank you!

[@OIOnaut]

Came here from Marc Miethe didgeridoo. It is fun to watch all the different tactics. The usage of jaw is said to be rather the tongue. Helpful, thanks.

[@Impwerk]

Thankyou so much! This is SO GREAT! ♥️ ♥️ ♥️ ♥️ ♥️ ♥️ ♥️ ♥️ ♥️ ♥️ ♥️

[@domdlcruz]

Very importante video. Thank you for your so simple explanation for to teach things no simple.

[@RudiSchmitt]

With the help of your tutorial I'll give circular breathing another try :)) Thanks a lot!

[@BeeldspraakMM]

nice way to explain this.. watching this tutorial is funny.. now i have to start trying this out myself.....MM from the Netherlands

[@calewarren]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!! THIS HELPS ME A LOT!!!!

[@Lo-pd4tx]

Olá, sou brasileira. E descobri seu canal há pouco tempo. Tenho tentado encontrar algo que me ajudasse a aprender a tocar flauta pq onde moro não tem. Seus vídeos ajudaram demais. Todos os seus vídeos são perfeitos. Muito obrigada por toda esta ajuda. Quero muito aprender a tocar flauta direitinho. E estou muito feliz de encontrado seu canal. Só não faço o seu curso pq em real (moeda do meu país), fica caro demais. Mas se um dia a nossa moeda subir eu compro. Parabéns pelo maravilhoso trabalho.

[@ashribar]

cool!!! thanks for this.. you are AWESOME!

[@WilPIKE]

adorable 'band camp' dag!! love yr sharing SaRah :))) xoxoxox

[@elizabethoseid9016]

I shall have to try this! I generally sound like a winded horse when I gasp for my next breath. If I can get the coordination down, it will grestly enhance my playing. I have had my alto recorder for a couple of months now, and can almost remember that I am not playing my flute. My fingers want to go for the flute fingerings, but it gets easier.

[@1fujara]

Hah! Very pleasing to watch you explain :-) I enjoyed it. I just made a tutorial on this myself and you popped up.Cheers!

[@LeaToranJenner]

Sarah, this is great!!! :) watching this makes me smile so much :)

[@Team_Recorder]

+Lea Toran Jenner Thanks Lea! xxx :)

[@me-be1ll]

This is so haaard!! Im gonna start practicing right now!

[@brogle437]

Way better than other tutorials

[@emcuyugan2465]

thank you Sarah J!

[@MRIBEIROSAX]

well done! You are a very funny person too. Best Whises!

[@christopheradams7158]

Thanks Sarah that was really helpfull & your gorgeous

[@muderavatin]

Excellent tutorial Sarah. And you look beautiful to boot. Will give this a try. Wonder if this will work when playing the harmonica.

[@rebeccasakulku2059]

Thank you. Very helpful. Though I recently discovered the inside of right cheek is numb so this is an extra challenge.

[@MsBettyRubble]

Why is it numb?

[@miaherrin8067]

Rebecca Sakulku woah mine is numb too 😳

[@tonnie8641]

Entertaining, wonder if helpful would try for couple weeks👏

[@barboraneznama9944]

you are amazing :D thanks for you tips !

[@jeffreybarton1297]

I can manage circular breathing with the Didjeridoo, but I've just got myself a Penny Whistle, and it's a lot more difficult to do with that instrument, due to the low air pressure, I think. Thanks for the video, I'll try the glass of water method, to perfect my technique :-)

[@michaelalderman6815]

Hi Sarah! Love your videos! Do you use circular breathing for an entire piece or just for passages where taking a breath would intrude on the mood? I ask this because when you played “The English Nightingale” in your interview with Revoice! seem to be taking breaths through your mouth.

[@corvus0]

Very helpful video

[@romandano1342]

Love You for this moment. :) Made me laugh and wiser. I play on Fujara, so I guess, circular breathing will be challenge. All the best. Roman from Slovakia.

[@danieldaniel3418]

You know a lot of tricks :))) Thanks

[@jeremiahmimspauth2810]

Ok thanks very much my friend...cheers!

[@mvdstroom]

You ARE a happy fish!! And now I can be one too! :D Thanks!

[@sauliustb]

great complement to the other video I watched today :)

[@gustruj]

Love it! I want more!! :)

[@stephanieellison7834]

I must find out if circular breathing works on transverse flutes (blow hole on the top, AND with the lips open rather than vibrating, which gives mouth pressure for keeping them vibrating during the breath intake). I am going to learn to play Carnatic flute, as I live in India. I circular breathe for didgeridoo, which I play these days. Does the size of the windway make an impact on maintaining mouth pressure during the breath intake? I'm glad you pointed out the thing about using your jaw or cheeks for mouth pressure. I find that on the didgeridoo, like a brass instrument, I have to maintain embouchure, so i use my cheeks exclusively. I THINK also because of the nature of super-low frequencies (and how it hides transitions) and the rhythms I play, I do not use my throat to cut the airflow through my mouth, as my flap in the back contacts the very back of the top of the tongue to cut the airflow out the mouth. Think of it this way. There are two paths of breathing; nasally and orally. You are breathing in nasally, and breathing out orally. When you breathe in, think of the ending of the word king. Stop the word king and breath in. Notice that the flap in the back has closed off the mouth at the back of the tongue. So, to help the transition between in and out, think of alternating between "ng" of king and ah orally with the nasal cavity close off. Go ng-ah-ng-ah repeatedly, and you'll notice how this works. This may help stop the throat clicking. Also, I tend to put the transition on the down beat so that any pulsing note as part of the rhythm masks that transition. I would have to see how that is possible on flutes. Because of the aerophone nature of the didgeridoo, the transition can be masked somewhat, but there is a difference in the shape of the mouth cavity that makes the transition phasing apparent through a "cycling" of the overtones, like when you are at formada for some time, but you can't stop playing and have to circular breathe during that time. That may not be evident with flutes and recorders, which I didn't see while you were playing.

[@bonzeroo]

Most informative and quite entertaining! Thanks ever so much for sharing this rather elusive skill ! I use a larger version of the recorder - it's called a didgeridoo. lol

[@starholdway6]

As soon as I was able to do the bubble thing without stopping, I was so happy. I probably can't transition to my instrument, but at least I got a hella awesome party trick.

[@mariesakowallis171]

I found this video way easier to understand than other videos. I just hope I have enough determination to learn this. 😂

[@MsBettyRubble]

So, how is your practicing coming along?

[@nita2419]

Sarah!! I love your explanation, I will try it with my didgeridoo. Cheers from Buenos Aires. I think I will be a happy fish today...ahahhaha

[@romeosciommeri2646]

Grazie! Ne avevo sentito parlare e pensavo fosse cosa da guru degli strumenti a fiato - ti ho seguita e ci riuscivo, appena un abbozzo, un primo tentativo ma lo facevo! :-)

[@jimharger3529]

I've found breathing into sippy cups with lids helps prevent splash-back on the blow-out through the straw. Just another way that may work for people. Sustain the air bubbles!