Dear Barry, Alain, and Fellow Listers:
Each of the concepts brought up in this discussion about breath
management has much truth and correctness about it. The ugly term
"belly breathing" is not one I choose to use. There can be some
release of the lower abdominal musculature during the inhale but when
done excessively it become a burden to the singer.
The diaphragm is capable of resisting the exhale. One can experience
this when exhaling a warm, most breath, There is a sense of deeper
firmness somewhere below the epigastric area, or, as Alain puts it,
between the navel and the pubic area. This firmness is a result of
the resistance of the diaphragm to the exhaling action of the
abdominal muscles.
When singing high notes a similar firmness can be noticed in this
same area. This is the result of the vocal folds acting as a more
efficient valve on the high notes and that causes a build up of
breath pressure. The lower abdominal muscle firmness is the reaction
to the increased breath pressure.
In each case it is not necessary to "make" the abdominal muscles
firm. Their firmness is a result, not a cause. I have found most
singers get into difficulty when they are exposed this this lower
breath concept because they think that must make it happen. If they
do try to make it happen they tend to create an overly antagonistic
or isometric muscle action that will, eventually, obstruct their
ability to inhale quickly and effectively, In such cases it then
become necessary to retrain the singer to allow a release of the
lower abdominal muscles that he has learned to "make" work during the
introductory stages to this concept.
The body does not really need all this instruction to work
effectively. For that reason I prefer to have the singer "notice"
the lower firmness that occurs during the warm, moist breath exhale
and during the approach and singing of high notes. I then suggest to
he/she that they only need to be "aware" of this "result" of the
process of breathing warm, moist breath or of singing in the upper
register. It is as if their mind was more an observer and less a
doer and it allows the larynx to opportunity to regulate the breath
as it has need for breath.
Lloyd W. Hanson, DMA
Professor of Voice, Pedagogy
School of Performing Arts
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
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