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Focus Breath
We then practice mindful breathing, sometimes called • Sounds
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the Focus Breath. Have students sit tall. If comfortable In Plum Village in France, which Hanh founded, there
they can close their eyes or invite them to find a space to fo- is a clock that plays music every fifteen minutes. Ev-
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cus their gaze, perhaps outside if there are windows. Inhale eryone stops to focus on the music and their breath.
and exhale through the nose for four counts each. Do this I play chimes to gather attention. Sometimes I use
at least three times. You will likely notice a settling of the an ocean drum (Ocean Breath) or a rainstick (Rain
energy. Breathe with the students and use it as a moment Breath). What sounds can you find in your room?
to recharge.
Students enjoy being leaders of the breathing ball and
Renew and Release Breath instruments.
After vacations, I like to introduce students to the Re-
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new and Release Breath. Inhale through the nose for four Strategy #5: Silence, Awareness, and
Dancing Leaves
counts while thinking “renew” to rejuvenate. Exhale for six
counts and think “release” to let worries go. Stay in this Sometimes a change of scenery is needed to reset. Stu-
breathing space as long as you need. dents walk silently and pay attention to their surroundings.
When we return to the classroom, we have a discussion
Musical Scarf Breathing about their observations, including the power of silence
A kindergarten class entered the room in chaos. Unable and its significance in music.
to garner their attention, I was on the verge of reacting We may walk inside the building looking for things that
from an emotional place. I turned on a placid piece of bring us joy or peace so that students can come back to this
music as I slowly passed out colorful scarves, giving myself on their own. I show them my favorite spot in the school—
time to breathe and think. By the time every student had a a hallway with windows that look out onto a beautiful gar-
scarf, I had a plan. den and courtyard. How often do you walk in the hallway
I invited the class to inhale and exhale as we moved the and pay attention to your surroundings?
scarves in an arc to musical phrases. They quieted down Other times we go outside to find inspiration in nature.
and were soon creating their own scarf breaths. Their cre- During the pandemic, I took a class outside. As we listened
ativity was boundless! I moved from exasperation to joy. to Copland’s Appalachian Spring, the wind picked up and
One of my favorites is the Flower Blossom. Squeeze the leaves started falling off the trees. A first grader called out,
scarf in your hands as you inhale. As you exhale let your “The leaves are dancing!” Indeed, they looked like they
fingers come apart slowly. It really does look like a flower were dancing in the wind and sunlight. It was an unexpect-
opening! Scarf breathing quickly became a requested ac- ed moment of joy that would have been missed if the stu-
tivity in many grade levels. dent had not been paying attention. The superintendent,
who happened upon our class, witnessed this, and I was
Visual and Aural Cues grateful to share the moment.
Students may benefit from a visual and/or aural signal The dancing leaves became an integral part of lessons.
to help them to pay attention to their breath. This is what I brought leaves into the room to use as a visual for leaf
Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh refers to as “a bell of mind- breathing and musical movement. Bringing nature inside
fulness.” helped the students to recall the beauty we experienced
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that day. What is an unplanned teaching moment that
• Breathing Ball turned into magic for you and your students?
There are breathing balls and animated visuals online. Teaching students to become aware of what is happen-
I like the Hoberman Sphere, which I also use to help ing around them is an important part of developing empa-
students learn breathing for singing as well as for mu- thy and living life in the present moment.
sical articulations such as crescendo and decrescendo.
Mine glows in the dark, creating light on dreary days.

ChorTeach Volume 15 • Issue 4 17 Summer 2023