“Breath is the beginning and end of what we do as classical singers” Miranda Wright In this episode we turn our attention to the importance of breath in singing. This episode features highlights from our ‘Breath in Vocal Technique’ event … Read more…
Do you know that singing can have a positive impact on people living with a lung condition? The British Lung Foundation (BLF) is working with leading singing for lung health trainer and Music Therapist, Phoene Cave, to develop and roll out a … Read more…
Under the Surface is a choral piece composed by Toby Young which was specially commissioned for, and premiered at, the Feel It Festival in November 2016. Inspired by the research of the Life of Breath team, particularly the work of … Read more…
Artist Caroline Wright writes: Earlier this year, a two-day project called Space to Breathe took place at Somerset House in London, a building that is located in one of the most highly polluted areas of the city. Commissioned by the … Read more…
Singing teacher Deborah Hudson writes: There I was, lying on a couch with a whole lot of acupuncture pins in my head when the idea dawned on me. I should write a book which would encourage even the shyest person … Read more…
Composer and academic Toby Young writes: ‘Our business in living is to become fluent with the life we are living and art helps’ (John Cage) Music and breath are inseparable. From a singer inhaling audibly before launching into an epic chorus, to … Read more…
In the second of a series of posts on cetaceans (see also ‘The cetaceans may give rise to some perplexity‘), Project Manager (Bristol) Jess Farr-Cox writes: Whaling abounds with breathing, breathlessness, air, death, myth and song. Factory whaling boats were … Read more…
Kate Binnie, yoga teacher and music therapist, writes: In his brilliant book Being Mortal (2015) Atul Gawande calls for all healthcare professionals working with patients at the end of life to “help people to end their stories on their own … Read more…
Vocal coach, community choir and workshop leader and music therapist Phoene Cave writes: In 2008 I answered an advertisement for a singing teacher at Royal Brompton Hospital in London. The original idea was inspired by Bronchial Boogie in Oldham, to … Read more…
Kate Binnie writes about the recent Medicine Unboxed conference (November 18th-20th, Cheltenham). Next year’s conference is on the theme of wonder and you can keep up-to-date via Twitter @medicineunboxed. The theme this year at Medicine Unboxed was mortality. This extraordinary conference is … Read more…
Kate Binnie, yoga teacher and music therapist, shares a memory of a hospice patient: Paula wakes early every day and spends time in bed, praying. “I’m a good Catholic girl” she wheezes up at me from her chair, grinning naughtily. … Read more…
Rebecca Oxley, post-doctoral research fellow on the Life of Breath project, writes about the recent project launch in Durham (see Making the invisible visible (1): Life of Breath officially launched its programme of work in Durham this week by offering a … Read more…
Sarah McLusky, Project Manager (Durham) writes: What is breath? We all know what it feels like. We can perceive the rise and fall of the chest, the air moving in and out of our lungs, but unless it’s a frosty … Read more…
Jess Farr-Cox (Project Manager, Bristol) writes: Our recent official launch of the project was in many ways a model of interdisciplinarity.[1] The team is diverse and large, which gives us a richness of perspective, but also creates difficulties in how … Read more…
In the second of a series of posts about smoking (see also ‘A three-pipe problem’), Project Manager (Bristol) on the Life of Breath project Jess Farr-Cox writes: The overlap between breathing, smoking and singing is an interesting one, particularly as it bends … Read more…
The Life of Breath team and guests gathered at Royal Fort House on 14 May 2015 to launch the project at the University of Bristol. The film gives a flavour of the various parts of the day, introduces core members … Read more…
Project Manager (Bristol) for Life of Breath Jess Farr-Cox writes: I have written elsewhere (see ‘Taking a deep breath’) about the strength of the link between heart and lungs, and others have touched on the strong association between the emotions, breathing … Read more…
Project Manager (Bristol) for Life of Breath Jess Farr-Cox writes: The second Breathing Space meeting (see ‘Taking a deep breath’ for an account of the first meeting in October 2014) took place on January 21st 2015, in Friends House, London. After tea, … Read more…
Anna Magnusson, writer and freelance radio producer, writes: Air. It’s not a scientific word. It’s poetic. It has many meanings and shades. It’s a heart word. A word that you feel, a word that holds memory and experience and emotion. … Read more…