Breath And Reading

It is often difficult to combine thinking about something difficult with allowing the breath to continue in a relaxed unimpeded way. If you're trying to read Kinko notation, for instance, you may find that your breaths are much shorter than when you practice ro buki.

This is why I urge even very beginning students to memorize some music, perhaps Choshi or Daiwa Gaku, as early on as possible. Once you have the music completely memorized, you can concentrate on your breath instead of the notation, and you'll find that you are inhaling more deeply and exhaling more slowly.

After you've experienced this relaxed, focused breathing while playing a memorized piece, try and get back to that feeling even while reading notation. It should be easier now.