Name: Apinporn Chaiwanichsiri

Student Number: 131027

Subject: Major Study Music Theatre 2 (P3IM2)

Assessment: Breath Management

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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]