Week 2
Essential Question: Where in the body are the organs directly involved with breathing? How does that knowledge inform our breathing for playing wind instruments?
Body Mapping
Body mapping refers to the conscious awareness and accurate mental representation of the structures in the body. Body mapping involves understanding how the muscles, bones, and organs work together to facilitate efficient and natural breathing. In music performance, body mapping helps musicians recognize and correct misconceptions about how their bodies move during breathing, which can enhance breath control, prevent tension or injury, and improve sound production.
By becoming more aware of the body's true anatomy and mechanics, musicians can refine their breathing technique, leading to better airflow, reduced physical strain, and increased ease in performance. For wind and brass players, accurate body mapping of the breathing apparatus—such as the diaphragm, rib cage, abdominal muscles, and lungs—can directly improve tone quality, endurance, and overall musical expression.
Instructions:
Do not do any research or look up an anatomy photo! You will NOT be graded on accuracy!
*You will have an opportunity to do another version at the end of this week’s module*
Drag and drop the names of the organs to their correct spot when the body is at rest (after an exhale): lungs, heart, trachea, diaphragm, intercostal muscles, abdominal muscles. Assume the torso outline is of a person facing you. So the left side of the screen is their right side. The labels are not sized to scale so just drag them to their approximate location.
Save a screenshot of your completed torso and upload using the button below.
Note: If the drag-and-drop activity isn’t working, you may screenshot the empty diagram and handwrite the placement of the organs. Then upload or email your diagram to the instructor.
IMPORTANT!
Fill out the body outline above and upload it using the button below. If you have trouble with the upload, you may email it to your course instructor or upload it to your Longy Toolbox.
Label the Human Torso
Left Lung
Right Lung
Heart
Trachea
Diaphragm
Abdominal Muscles
Intercostal Muscles