Breathe Management
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Transcript of Breathe Management
Name: Apinporn Chaiwanichsiri
Student Number: 131027
Subject: Major Study Music Theatre 2 (P3IM2)
Assessment: Breath Management
Page 1 of 7
Breathing is a very important mechanism for everybody especially singer. This
mechanism will help to support our voice as well as protect our vocal cords. However,
some people still do not really know how to breathe properly which can cause a real
problem in a long run. For example sore throat to vocal nodules. “Breathing Management”
study will help us to understand the physiology of our instrument and how to use it in a
right way.
The Physiology of Breathing
Diaphragm
- When we inhale, diaphragmatic muscles will
contract (shorten and tight) and move
downward which will create the space in the
lungs. This space will fill with air that we
breathe.
- When we exhale, the diaphragm will rises and
relaxes. The air will come out of the lung up
the trachea and out of our body through our
mouth or nose.
Vocal folds
- Sound is produced by the vibration of vocal folds when the air from the trachea
come through the close vocal fold. Beth, my singing teacher told me that it was the
same mechanism as the balloon. When we pull the end and let the air come through
it will squeak or make sound.
ExhaleInhale
Page 2 of 7
Breath management
There are two important aspects of breath management which are amount of air
that is pushed through vocal folds and how to make the air stream steady.
Support
Support of Breath support helps the singer to control their sound or phonation
better. It works when we are contracting the abdominal muscles to create the pressure in
the abdomen and thorax. This also helps the diaphragm to relax and rise up. There are two
different approaches to get a good support. The first one is when you exhale you have to
compress the abdomen during phonation. Another one is when you inhale and phonate,
you have to relax the abdominal muscles as much as you can.
Breathing from the Diaphragm
To control and support our singing voice diaphragm is an important part because it
controls the airflow that we use when we sing. “Diaphragmatic breathing” is actually a
natural thing that we born with. It should be no pushing or force the air but should ne
natural, safe, and gentle.
Technique and exercise for better breath management
Alexander technique
I learn this technique from Tyran, my acting
teacher. This technique will help you in order
to feel the connection of your breath and to
relax your body.
1. Lying on the firm surface (carpeted floor) and put some books underneath your
head to align with your body (slightly forward).
2. Bend your knees with our feet and legs about shoulder apart and put your hands
on your belly.
3. After aligning the correct position breathe deeply.
Page 3 of 7
4. When you inhale you can feel the stomach and abdominal area swells and your
chest is slowly dropping. You can also so feel the breath though your lower back
expand as well as the rise of your belly.
5. When you exhale count out the number 1-5 quietly without pushing your breath.
6. Continue doing it for 15-20 minutes.
Appoggio technique
This technique involves slowing down that rise of the diaphragm which create
better breath management as well as extended the breath cycle during singing. This
technique would also help us to gain better control on breathing mechanism through
training the muscles.
1. Practice flexing opens your ribs on the side of your body.
2. When you know how to open it on the side, try to inhale an open it at the same time.
3. Try to open the rib when you inhale and close when you exhale.
4. Still open your rib when you inhale but now leave it when you exhale.
5. After you can do step 5, try to allow your abdominal to move when you exhale.
6. Then allow the ribs to gradually close after the end of your breath.
7. Finally, exhale but moving your abdominal first and then the ribs.
Farinelli exercise
Farinelli exercise divides the breath cycle into three phrases which are inhalation,
retention of the air and exhalation. This exercise helps to develop the support muscles and
inspiratory muscles. It also helps maintain the lowered diaphragm and make us think
differently when breathing.
1. First phrase (Inhalation)
Inhale the air in three seconds (initially) with the open rib cage and raise abdominal but
not the chest
Page 4 of 7
2. Second phrase (Retention of air)
The breath cycle is held for an equal count but the air should not be held by the glottis
of the mouth (nose). While, the breathing tube open, the air can come in or leave
because the muscle that move the diaphragm. However, we should not feel that there is
air coming in our throat.
3. Third phrase (Exhalation)
Steadily Exhale the air which can be more than three seconds or initial time. We should
not feel gasp at the end of the breath cycle.
After the first cycle, we can add one second more each phrase. Many people can do six to
seven seconds per phrase at first.
Posture
A correct posture helps us to get a deep and full breath
which also helps with our breathing.
- Chin should be parallel to the floor.
- Shoulders back and relax with chest a bit forward.
- Abdomen should be in expandable position.
- Knees unlocked and arms relaxed.
- Feet slightly apart and one foot is a bit in front of the other.
How to get a right posture
1. Bend your knees and hang yourself toward the floor and relax.
2. Try to imagine that you hold two big shopping bags when you roll yourself up.
3. Roll your body slowly until the shopping bags are in the shoulder position.
4. Raise your hand up in the air then release.
5. You will feel every part of your body become relaxed and has no tension.
Page 5 of 7
In conclusion, in order to sing better breathing is a very important part. “Breathing
management” can be used to help us to understand and use our instrument correctly. Thus,
it helps us to be able to support and maintain our voice. It also helps to protect our vocal
cord as well as create better and sustain sound.
Page 6 of 7
Bibliography
O'Connor, K. 2013. Correct Breathing and 'Support' for Singing. Sing Wise. Available
from: http://www.singwise.com/cgi-bin/main.pl?
section=articles&doc=EffectiveAndProperBreathingForSinging. [Accessed 18/08/2013]
Philips, S. P. 2013. Singing with Outie Breathing (or, Appoggio). For Dummies.
Available from: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/singing-with-outie-breathing-
or-appoggio.html. [Accessed 18/08/2013]
Daugherty, J. F. Correct Singing Posture. The University of Kansas. Available from:
http://cmed.faculty.ku.edu/gummposture/posture.html. [Accessed 18/08/2013]