Exploring Breathing-Music Coupling: Using the Breathing Mirror for Somatic Reflection in Piano Performance

Abstract

While breathing is essential to living and for sound production in some instruments, for pianists, it is often a hidden and automatic process, making it difficult to analyze or refine. A critical gap exists between data and awareness: while sensors record precise physical metrics, they fail to capture the performer's somatic experience. Conversely, the high cognitive load of performance makes it nearly impossible for musicians to recall their internal states with temporal precision. To address this, we present a system, Breathing Mirror, and associated methodology designed to externalize the pianist's internal somatic experience through three analytical lenses: a Baseline View (synchronized signals), a First-Person View (subjective recall), and an Interpersonal View (collaborative reflection). Through a four-week longitudinal study with a skilled amateur pianist (35 years of experience), we evaluated the system's effectiveness by recording respiratory data using textile-integrated strain sensor belts. The results show that the Breathing Mirror reveals some patterns of breathing-music coupling and identifies critical blind spots where objective data diverges from subjective perception. Furthermore, we propose four somatic themes regarding the link between breathing and musical elements, offering a foundation for future large-scale validation across a broader range of pianists. This work provides a new way to study body signals, transforming breathing from an internal biological function into an articulate expressive parameter.