SPIN

TEN STEPS TO BETTER BREATHING FOR SINGERS by Christopher Beatty

“...then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Gen 2:7

Until God breathed His life into man there was no man. His life-breath-spirit is what makes us alive. Isn’t it ironic that a process as commonplace as breathing can give, or deprive us of, life itself. Add to that the importance of breath to the singer or speaker and we have something worth talking about. Or better yet, something worth perfecting.

The next time you are with a child take a moment to watch him or her breathe. You can't find a better model of correct breathing. Also, notice the posture. The way the head is balanced over the shoulders, hips, knees and ankles. The shoulders are relaxed, not pulled back or rounded forward. The slightly round tummy clearly shows the in-and-out movement of easy, natural and low breathing. The chest is still.

Adults, on the other hand, offer a less efficient picture of good posture or proper breathing. We are victims of gravity, long days, poor role models and often poor eating and exercise. We also tend to buy clothing smaller than we are, forcing us to hold in our tummy and seriously limit the breathing process. The result: Our posture and our breathing—and our singing and speaking—become unnatural and suffer. And so does the listener!

But it doesn't have to be that way! Loosen your waistband, relax, and take the following ten easy steps to correct breathing. If you have a mirror or a video camera connected to a TV for real-time feed back, so much the better.

10 Steps to Breathing Victory
1. Start with good “upright” posture. Psalms and Proverbs talks much about being “upright” before the Lord. And, even though those scriptures are talking about obedience, and spiritual uprightness, it’s not too far fetched to see how physical uprightness is a byproduct as well.
Keeping your shoulders relaxed, lift your holy hands straight up over your head and find a naturally upright posture. Hold for a ten-count then relax them at your sides. Now, say this phrase out loud: “I want a long back of the neck and a short front of the neck.” Repeat that phrase letting its meaning sink in.
Feel the stretch in the neck and the slight lowering of the chin. And though this head position will feel rather extreme you will find it looks very balanced in the mirror. It also leaves the throat area very free and available to naturally good singing and speaking. Remember, keep the head back over the shoulders, but with the chin down, not sticking out or up. Imagine that a string" is lifting you up from the top, back of your head. Your ears, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles should be in close alignment. Use video or a mirror so that you can be sure you're teaching your muscles to memorize the right position.

2. Extend your arms out to your sides until they are parallel with the floor. You will look like the letter “T.” Without moving your chest and ribs, gently inhale. Allow your lower abdomen (your tummy) to expand down and out feeling like it drops away to receive the breath. You will also feel your sides and back expanding during this inhaltion. Now, exhale in short, abrupt breaths, keeping your chest and ribs comfortably expanded never collapsing. Notice how naturally the abdominal area takes over the work when you keep the chest and ribs still. Also notice also how uninvolved the back and sides are in the exhale.

3. This next step is critical. To fully access your best God-given breathing you must keep the sides and back expanding (not collapsing) as you exhale to sing. Babies and animals do this naturally which is why they can make so much noise, for so long, without any vocal fatigue or damage. We, on the other hand, can fatigue from one long rehearsal or worship service. What’s the difference?
They do what comes naturally. It’s God’s design.

Exercise: Inhale with a slow, full (not over-full) breath feeling the entire waist area expand. Now, exhale, allowing the sides (in the waist, below the tenth rib) to maintain the feeling of expansion.

4. Check your posture, then do the above exercise again focusing entirely on the expansion of the lower and middle back. A simple yawn, with hands on your back, will let you feel the power and potential of expansion in this area. As you exhale, try and maintain the expanding in the back. As you strive (and sometimes struggle) to develop this constantly expanding status in the sides and back, you will begin to experience amazing freedom. And, though it may take several months to own, it will serve you for the rest of your life.

5. Lie down on the floor on your back. (This should not be done while driving.) Get comfortable. Rest your hands on your tummy, fingers interlocked. Feel free to use a small pillow or book under your head. To ease any tension in your back, bend your knees, keeping your feet flat on the floor. Now, using only your front, sides and back, (no chest or ribs) take in a slow, full breath sipping as though through a straw, allowing full expansion. Exhale on a “hissing” sound.

From this relaxed position on the floor you should be very aware of a healthy expansion of the abdominal area all the way from the sternum (the base of your breastbone) to the pelvic bone . You should also notice a significant expansion throughout the lower and middle back.

6. As you continue the exercise place one hand on your abdomen,the other on your collarbone, at the top of the chest. Your abdomen should be moving, and your collarbone should not. Let this coordination of the still chest and ribs, and the expanding-contracting abdomen become part of you. All the while be striving for those continually expanding sides and back. Practice every day and soon you will own it!

7. Now, still on your back, extend your arms out into a T position and continue to breathe, taking deeper breaths. As you exhale, notice that your abdomen naturally contracts first as your sides stay out.

8. Place your hands behind your head, keeping your elbows on the floor. Keeping your chest still, begin rhythmically taking in short breaths and blowing out short breaths. Try this several times on a four-count. When you're ready, advance to an eight-count, sixteen-count and even a thirty two-count. But don’t be in a hurry. This is a process. And remember: Proper preparation prevents poor performance, and that is your goal.

9. Now take a seat on the front edge of a firm chair and lean forward, resting your elbows on your knees. Even though you're tilted forward from the waist, your head, chest, ribs, and pelvis should be in perfect alignment. Now sip through an imaginary straw, in a slow breath through your mouth. Allow your waist (front, sides, and back) to fully expand. Notice how the sides stay out and the chest doesn't even need to help. Instead, you should feel your abdominal, back, and side muscles getting involved. Exhale with a gentle hiss (ssssss), letting those abdominal muscles do most of the work.

10. Still sitting, let your "posture string" lift your head and chest into an upright sitting position. You want the top of the head to be as far away from the floor as possible. Again, feel the alignment of your head, chest, ribs, and pelvis. Now repeat the sip/hiss pattern you practiced before: sip in a breath and hiss it out, keeping your chest still and letting your abdominal muscles do the work.

Alternate Steps 9 and 10 several times, letting the relationship between your posture and your breathing muscles become firmly established in your mind and in your muscles. When they are, proper posture and correct breathing will seem natural as you stand, sit, speak and sing. Remember that muscles have memory and practice makes permanent, so be sure that you're practicing proper posture and correct breathing.

About the Author:
Vocal Coach Chris Beatty trains the Christian singers of today and tomorrow. He and his wife Carole believe that those who communicate with a clear and strong voice will dramatically affect those around them. If that’s your goal visit the Vocal Coach web site at www.vocalcoach.com and see over 30 CDs, Cassettes, Videos and Books to help you be your best. The Beattys also have a voice studio in Nashville, TN. Their mailing address is P.O. Box 2144, Brentwood TN 37024.