Lung Capacity (for wind players) affects the wind player by allowing them to control their breathing while playing an instrument. Lung capacity on its own may not be to the players full capacity which is why wind players need to work on expanding their lung capacity. Lung capacities can be expanded through flexibility exercises (ex: yoga), breathing exercises, and physical activity.
Contents
Having an expanded lung capacity can help a player improve in many ways such as tone, dynamics, sound quality, performance, etc. Although an expanded lung capacity may help a wind player to have a better sound, the player must also work to improve on their instrument and not only depend on the size of their lungs.
Lung capacity for wind players could be an important part for success for some players. Some may believe that practice is what makes the player learn and become perfect, but lung capacity does help to achieve this goal much quicker. Sometimes it can help to benefit rather than being a burden. For example, a player may recognize something that needs to be done in a piece of music, such as dynamics, but it doesn't not mean they have the skill to actually do it. If a piece of music requires for piano dynamic, a stronger lung capacity will be able to help the player control their air to create a softer sound. So a controlled and increased lung capacity allows the player not only to recognize their pieces, but to actually create music with their pieces.
Tone
Tone can be affected by a players lung capacity. For a non-wind player, tone is a very important part while playing an instrument. Tone deals with pitch, intensity, dynamic, quality, and more. Many can argue that a good tone comes naturally and with practice, but it is also proven through studies that increasing the lung capacity will also have an effect on tone. A stronger and fuller lung capacity allows more air to be inhaled into the lung area. While holding this air in the lungs, it works to increase it. While exhaling this air, there is a more controlled sense of air flow that is being put into the instrument. This can control the intensity of the sound, if we exert too much air at once causing the sound to be more intense compared to controlling the air and letting out softer and less air to create a more soft tone and sound. Wind players will voluntarily and skillfully employ ones breath while playing an instrument. Playing different instruments can be affected by the lung capacity. On a study of Koko the Gorilla, she played different wind instruments such as the recorder and a party favor. This studied showed Koko playing more times on a recorder than a party favor. This can show that a recorder was played on more because it was easier because a result of the air that was exhaled into the instrument. A recorder requires less air from the player than a party favor because a party favor requires a lot of air in a short amount of time.
Musicality
While performing different pieces, musicality can be the difference between a good sound and a bad sound. Musicality enhances the piece of music and allows the player to play a piece in their own unique way. Musicality is different for everyone, and for some, lung capacity can help them improve their musicality. Many believe that musicality comes from a sense of flow to the music, and how a player chooses to play. While this is true, an increased lung capacity allows the player to be more aware with how they have to control their air. Controlled air is important for musicality because it can allow a player to last a longer phrase in the music without there being sharp cut offs or dropped phrases. A study from "How Does a Flute Player Adapt His Breathing and Playing to Musical Tasks?"" it shows how flute players were able to provide different techniques and complexity when they played different pieces. This is important for wind players because a wind player wouldn't want to play a slow song with long phrases very airy and with dropped phrases, etc. "The results show that in preparation to a long musical phrase, the player takes a deeper and longer inhalation than for a standard phrase and, that he need to develop a specific control of flow for playing." Generally a wind player should be able to recognize when they need to play out a phrase or when it is a short phrase, and although the player may recognize it, does not mean they can do it. This is where lung capacity can help musicality by allowing the player to hold out their phrases.