Week 2! Power and Breathing

Summary

Breathing is fundamental to life, and crucial to singing technique. The foundation of every singer's success is built on his or her concept of breath and power, and that is why it is so important to correct misconceptions to prevent injury or re-training of the body. The vocal folds control the breath, not all breathing must be low and full, and you do not always need a full tank of air to create a big sound; in fact, that can be detrimental. 

Breathing Basics

-How do we breathe? 

------> the body wants to equalize pressure and volume, and we allow air to enter past the vocal folds to the lungs to help achieve equilibrium. We do not suck in air, and the lungs are not air-sac balloons. The lungs rely on the movement of muscles and bones around them to inflate and release, and this is the movement we feel when we are kinesthetically aware of our breathing. 

-Who moves? Where? What?

------> the ribs (via intercostal muscles) move up and outward on inhalation, and release down and in on exhalation

------>the diaphragm contracts when you breathe in as the lungs expand and push it out of the way. This also squishes down the organs where there is some room to move in the abdomen.

------>the abdominal muscles stretch and release as we breathe in and out, which is usually easier for people to map, feel, and exaggerate. This is also the sensation of the stomach "filling up with air," which is really the organs being rearranged. Super cool!

------> the spine contracts on inhalation and releases on exhalation, which may seem counter intuitive at first. However, when you consider the connection of spine to ribs and ribs to lungs and the breathing mechanism as a working system, it is easier to visualize and understand this motion.  

-What is a "singing breath" supposed to be?

---TRICK QUESTION! There are many options for breathing even in specific musical styles. The important thing is applying the technique you need for a given laryngeal position, volume, or task at hand. Here are some options and tips instead:

------>Low abdominal breath: this is a natural release usually appropriate for a lower larynx and feeling the stomach and lower back expand. It is commonly associated with choral singing, but does not have to be.

------>Clavicular breath: this is great for a quicker breath with increased air intake and higher larynx. It can be applied across all styles including classical singing, but is typically most useful for musical theatre and popular styles for most singers.

------>Recoil breath: this returns to the concept of equilibrium in the body. Because the body wants to equalize, breath "springs back" when displaced. 

-----------this can be felt by releasing all air from the lungs, counting to three, and allowing the body to refill automatically without effort. Recoil breath is desirable in singing. 

**You have enough air!**

------>once the basic techniques are laid out, the singer should understand that it does not take a full tank of gas to drive to the grocery store from two blocks away. Using too much air to get "more power" is a common mistake singers make, and it can result in subglottic pressure that leads to pathologies and injuries on the vocal folds.