Does anyone on the org use "propper breathing techniques" when they sing. I've heard about it but I'm not sure how to do it. It's supposed to help the airflow while singing.

Well without being there with you I can say this:
-Proper posture is a must, make sure you lift you chest and make sure you spine is straight when you sing.
-The worst way to breathe while singing is sucking your stomach in on inhalation and out on exhalation, it should be the opposite. When breathing in, the stomach expands foward and your ribs expand outward, when you breathe out, your ribs collapse and your abdominal muscles come inward.Even if you have to push you stomach foward the first few times while inhaling , it is a good thing to teach your muscles this concept.
-there is also a concept of "sitting on the sound" basically, its like putting pressure on your sound from your lower body, king of like a feeling of "going to the bathroom"this may also help.
-Another thing that helps with breathing while singing is larynx position and vocal chord closure.If you can find a vocal teacher that understands these concepts it would be better for you.
-If any teacher tells you to suck "up and in" before you sing, get rid of them immediately, that is horrible technique that is responsible for alot of the bad singing we have today.
-Also if any teacher tells you to sing with your diaphragm, fire them immediately, the abdominal diaphragm is a involuntary muscle that cannot be controlled.Period.The pelvic diaphragm can be controlled but it really doesn't have anything to do with singing.Tell them to take Vocal pedagogy.

NikkiH said:

Good info!

thank you.....





Jshua

I agree with Nikki, very important to breathe that way. Pull your abdominal muscles in to push all the air out. Practice, just breathing with correct posture, slowly... in for 8 counts and out for 8 counts. Don't gasp, or make any sound when you do this and be aware of any tension in your neck, shoulders... anywhere. Relax. The only muscles doing any work should be your abdominals.

I've taken some seminars with Arthur Samuel Joseph. He created this Vocal Awareness method. I need to practice more, but this is what I've learned from him. His website is www.vocalawareness.com : Check out his calendar and see if he's coming to your city. I went to a 5 day seminar with him and he's great.
[Edited 2/12/05 19:56pm]

I totally forgot that my Ped teacher has some articles online about breathing... check outhttp://www.tsmp.org click on the choir tab and look for any article by Dr. David Jones, he's amazing, and very educated on the science of singing.

I've had singing lessons (with alot of attention to breathing) and they definitely helped me. I end up still doing half of it wrong, but at least I know what I'm doing and I can correct it if I need to. OOOOEEEEIIIIAAAOOOOOEEEH!

It really does take some time to master..which is what I keep telling my student, your muscle memory only knows one way to breathe so you have to retrain your body to do the oppostie of what you did b4...it's very difficult.