I sang a concert of Handel arias and duets a couple of months ago, for which
the reviewer praised my "discreet and lovely gestures" during "Cara sposa".
He didn't realize I was doing exactly what Sharon described, for exactly the
same reason - to free the breath. :-) Sometimes you just get lucky.
Lee Morgan
Mezzo-soprano
-----Original Message-----
From: Sharon Szymanski [mailto:szy@n...]
Sent: Saturday, January 18, 2003 11:47 AM
To: vocalist-temporary@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [vocalist] Breathing
(I move my arms while singing, to make sure my midriff doesn't "lock
up".)
Karen and all:
After working with a student at UNC-CH who had the tightest midriff I
had ever encountered, I developed a "breathing gesture" in which I had
her lift her arms as though she were going to "conduct" or hold a book
of music out in front of her, then move the hands down on the end of
phonation/release for inhalation, and circle them out and back up prior
to new phonation. During singing, the arms and hands are gently
"bobbed" up and down an inch or two. This is very hard to explain in
language, but very easy to do in real life.
I later realized that this action helped visually and kinesthetically
mimic the continuity of the breath cycle: release/reflexive inhalation,
preparation, phonation (this is how I think of it and teach it). It
also insured a good lift and expansion of the rib cage, lift of the
sternum, and aids in maintaining the lovely balance of muscles that
insure good breath management. This worked wonders with the student,
and I now teach it to EVERY student who comes my way. After they have
practiced for a time with the gesture, it becomes automatic and they no
longer need it.
Sharon Szymanski
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