Chapter 7: Respiration Flashcards
What has breath research shown in regard to young singers, and what age has breath instruction traditionally been started?
The research states that the lungs of first-grade children are not fully developed and therefore not capable of full, deep breathing.
In another research study, It is stated that deep breathing develops in the child during the second-grade, accompanied by a broading of the vocal range and greater accuracy of intonation.
Respiration training may begin as early as the first grade or at any age there after in which improve singing is desired.
Why should elementary and secondary music teachers be concerned with teaching students to breathe properly?
Proper respiration serves as the basis of good singing.
In most cases, the only training a student may receive in breath management will be from the classroom music teacher
What is the goal of respiration training, and what constitutes the three basic areas of instruction?
The goal of respiration training is to teach children and adolescents to support and control the breath through abdominal-diaphragmatic-costal (abdicostal) interaction.
Respiration training involves three basic areas:
1) posture development,
2 breathing motion (natural breathing), and
3) breath management (support and control).
The interaction of these three areas provide the basis for proper vocal production.
What are the seven basic requirements for good singing posture?
Why do so many students demonstrate poor posture for singing?
The seven requirements for good singing posture are as follows:
1) Feet on the floor, one foot slightly ahead of the other,
2 Knees slightly relaxed,
3) Spine lifted up and out of the hips,
4) Shoulders slightly back and down,
5) Sternum up throughout the act of singing,
6) Head level and held high,
7) Hands and arms down and back at the sides.
For standing posture, the weight of the body should be distributed evenly on both legs towards the balls of the feet. One foot should be slightly ahead of the other to maintain balance in the leg should be relaxed slightly at the knees.
For sitting posture, students should sit on the front half of the seats with feet flat on the floor, one foot slightly ahead of the other.
Care should be taken that the spinal stretch is maintained and that no slumping or swayback positions are permitted.
What are “muscle movers,” and why are they in important part of the vocal exercise program?
1) Muscle movers call attention to the fact that singing is the physical act and requires physical coordination.
2) Muscle movers are used to condition and prepare the body for good singing.
Describe the movement of the torso for a correct breathing motion during inhalation and exhalation.
Inhalation: the diaphragm descends (contracts) and the lower ribs expand outward, with a corresponding enlargement of the body around the waistline.
Exhalation: The diaphragm ascends (relaxes) and the lower ribs contract inward, with a corresponding contraction of the body around the waistline.
What is the major muscle of inhalation for singing?
Describe action for both inhalation and exhalation and its effect on the thoracic cavity, lungs, and air.
The diaphragm is the major muscle of inhalation.
The diaphragm is an unprepared muscle, that is, it has no paired muscle to reverse its action. Thus, the diagram only contracts during inhalation. In the breathing cycle, the diaphragm relaxes upward upon exhalation. The contraction of the abdominal muscles and muscles between the ribs ( internal intercostal) exert pressure upon the diaphragm during exhalation. The diaphragm then returns to its dome-shape position under the lungs, decreasing the size of the thoracic and pleural cavities and thereby causing air to flow out of the lungs.
During inhalation the diaphragm contracts downward. During exhalation the diaphragm relaxes upward.
What is the movement of the abdominal wall during proper inhalation and exhalation for singing?
During inhalation the abdominal muscles expand.
During the exhalation the abdominal muscles contract.
Should the diaphragm be consciously controlled during singing? Why or why not?
No. The diaphragm is an involuntary muscle (i.e. one that acts on its own) in the breathing process, one should not try to control it consciously once the proper breathing motion has been established.
Describe the “inverted” breath, common to young singers. Why do young people develop this style of breathing?
Inverted breathing is when a person breathes from the upper chest with out diaphragmatic descent.
Describe the action of both the internal intercostals and external intercostals in breathing.
When the external intercostal muscles contract they move the rib cage upward, allowing for expansion of the thoracic cavity and inhalation of air.
The internal intercostal muscles pulled the ribs inward and downward, contracting the thoracic cage and producing inhalation exhalation.
What are the two parts of breath management?
How does each function to “manage” the breath?
Breath Support is the power behind the act of singing. During exhalation these muscles contract upward and inward against the abdominal visceral and diaphragm, creating internal pressure (energized air column), which should be constant and balanced.
Breath Control is the act that permits the slow emission of the energized air column at the vocal fold level. The major muscle of control is the diaphragm, which, when relaxed, slowly counteracts the internal pressure created by the contraction of the abdominal muscles.
State the four abdominal muscles, from outermost to innermost.
1) Rectus abdominus
2) Transverse abdominus
3) External oblique
4) Internal oblique
Where does the power or support for singing come from, and what is the major muscle of control?
The power or support in singing comes from the contraction of the abdominal musculature and the muscles of the lower back. During exhalation these muscles contract upward in inward against the abdominal this around and diaphragm, creating internal pressure (energized air column), which should be constant and balance.
Describe “balanced resistance” in breath management.
The major muscle of control is the diaphragm, which, when relax slowly counteracts the internal pressure created by the contraction of the abdominal muscles. This type of “balance resistance” between the abdominal muscles and slowly relaxing the diaphragm is helped by the external intercostals, Which can continue the hold the ribs out as needed during exhalation. By maintaining a smooth application of the abdominal muscles up against the diaphragm, a steady stream of pressurized breath will create a constant subglottal pressure against the vocal folds, resulting in a steadiness of pitch.
