Breathing
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Many beginning players wonder where they're supposed to take a breath, especially in the middle of a fast tune. It's not written into the music (normally), so it's pretty much up to the player to decide. Experienced players use a couple of ways to make space for a breath.

First, you may shorten a long note. If you see a quarter note or a dotted quarter note, you can shorten it by an eighth note and take a quick breath there. Second, you can leave out a note. Be aware that taking a breath will put a break in the tune, and choose where you do so accordingly. There are certain places that experienced players typically take a breath, depending on the type of tune, for example:

• in a polka, typically a quarter note after a group of sixteenth notes will be shortened. Don't break up the sixteenth-note group.
• in a reel, you can usually drop the second eighth note in a group of four. If a bar starts with a quarter note, you can shorten it.
• in a jig, try dropping the middle eighth note in a group of three, or shortening a quarter note.

Ornaments are also good places to try taking a breath. Long rolls and crans can be shortened by reducing them to a quarter or eighth note, giving you space to breathe. Eventually, with practice, you won't have to think about where to breathe with most tunes - it will happen automatically in the right places.

You might also try circular breathing, if you feel really adventurous. This involves inflating your mouth and throat with air so you can keep playing while taking a breath through your nose (sounds impossible? It's at least very difficult.). This is the same principle on which a bagpipe works and will enable you to play continuously for as long as you want.  Try practicing this by blowing through a straw into a glass of water, and keeping it going continuously.

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