circular breathing

noun

1. a technique for sustaining a phrase on a wind instrument, using the cheeks to force air out of the mouth while breathing in through the nose

Example Sentences

I was like a horn player doing circular breathing.

From New York Times

Just take a look at HBO’s recent documentary “Listening to Kenny G,” wherein director Penny Lane grapples with the legacy of poodle-haired punching bag Kenny Gorelick, the circular breathing saxophonist who balances the descriptor of “the best-selling instrumental artist ever” and “the worst musician of all time” with equal aplomb and obliviousness.

From Washington Post

Legendary British saxophonist Evan Parker sits in with the group, using his signature circular breathing techniques to help elevate the groove to an even more ecstatic place.

From Washington Post

Long celebrated as an eminence of improvisational music, he plays his soprano saxophone using circular breathing techniques, inhaling and exhaling simultaneously, making the notes go nonstop for minutes on end.

From Washington Post

He taught students the special technique of circular breathing to play the didgeridoo, a method that’s transferable to other wind instruments.

From Seattle Times