Middle Voice Singing Secret | Mixed Voice Singing Lessons

Breathing for Singing

• Singing and speaking are based on breathing.

• When you sing or speak air is pushed through your vocal chords – this makes them vibrate to produce the sound of your voice… obviously this means that breathing control is essential for singing

• Breathing for singing is regulated by the ensemble of your diaphragm, your intercostal muscles and your abdominal muscles

• Your diaphragm is a dome shaped muscle at the bottom of your rib cage; it moves downward (your belly rises somewhat) while you are inhaling and it moves upward while you are exhaling (your belly deflates somewhat)… what is important for your diaphragm is that it has the space to function properly – that is provided by the proper posture outlined in my previous post… your diaphragm is the key muscle for breathing, thus it is obviously very important, yet for singing it is equally important to work with your intercostal and abdominal muscles

• When you breathe air is going into your lungs and for singing you want to make your lung capacity expand because that air is the ‘fuel’ of your voice

• You increase your lung capacity by using your intercostal muscles which are the muscles in between your ribs – as you inhale and stretch your capacity to expand your intercostal muscles (your chest) your lungs also expand because your ribs and lungs are attached to each other

• You do not have to think about taking in a lot of air by grasping at or gulping the breathe; all you have to think about is moving and stretching your intercostal muscles to allow you chest and lungs to expand – then air comes in automatically and this is how to breathe quickly and quietly

• When you start to sing be sure that your ribs do not collapse (keep your chest lifted off your waist as stated in the posture post)… if you do allow your ribs to collapse you lose control and tone

• Instead of collapsing your ribs keep them expanded; hold your abdominal muscles in and gently lift them up to ensure that your chest stays lifted (this is not so much a sucking your belly in; it is more that your abdominal muscles are firm and toned to provide support)

• The support of your abdominal muscles also:

• Takes the strain off your vocal chords

• Helps you to control your voice

• And it also helps to increase your vocal range and volume level

Next time I’ll cover: Singing Warm Ups…