Start with the Breath

Yes, yes, yes - breathing exercises...  That's where it all starts. 

A lot of people think that they have to suck in a huge breath of air into their chest to sing.  Wrong, wrong, wrong.

When we lie down we breathe naturally. The diaphragm expands and contracts pulling air into the lungs and pushing air out.  Lay on your back and place your hands on your abdomen and pay attention to the breathing process. This is proper breathing. When you sing, this is the way you should always breathe - relax the abdomen muscles to pull the air in, naturally tighten the muscles in to support, sustain and to push air out.

Now sing a song.

Are you aware of the way you have to use your abdominal muscles to maintain enough air to sustain the notes?  Notice how the muscles are working?  Getting the feel for the whole mechanics of the process?  Hopefully, the answer is yes and you are on your way to learning how to sing with proper breath support.

While lying on the floor, position a heavy book on your abdomen. It should be heavy enough that it creates a little pressure to make you have to tighten your muscles to provide resistance.  Just a few pounds - no more than 2 or 3.   

Sing again.  This exercise further demonstrates the proper mechanical functioning of the body while singing.  Your body (except your abdominal muscles) is fully relaxed.  Neck is relaxed, throat is relaxed (unless you’re screaming and please don't scream), chest relaxed, shoulders, etc.

Sing this way for a while and become fully aware of how your body feels, how the air feels as it moves in and out.  Know these sensations.

Get a good feel for the mechanics of singing.  As I mentioned, when you lay down, you breathe properly.  Practice paying attention to your breathing when you lay down. The exact formula applies when you stand up and sing.  The voice is supported by the diaphragm and the abdominal muscles. 

NEXT