Hello Family,

Looks like it's going to be a minute before I can post another video blog, so here's a Virtual Voice Lesson quick tip on breathing.

If you ever watch a baby breathe-especially while sleeping- you'll notice that the baby's stomach rises as he breathes in, and falls as he breathes out. This is the way we were all born to breathe.

However over the years as we got older we got a lot more vain. So we became really concerned about our appearance--mainly, our stomachs! To hide them we taught ourself to breath the opposite way, pulling and holding our stomaches in as we breathe in. However breathing this way puts our stomach muscles in the way of our diaphragm, so it can't move up and down as freely as it needs to in order to support our voice properly.

Stand in front of a mirror and take a deep breath. Chances are you'll raise your shoulders, inflate your chest and suck in your stomach. We think we are taking a deep breath when we do this, but we're actually taking a very shallow breath.

Now try taking a deep breath again, only this time do this:

Place your hand on your stomach. This time resit the urge to pull your stomach muscles in. Allow your stomach to rise as you draw breath in. Do not move any other part of your body. There should be no outward indication you are taking a deep breath. Breathe out slowly allowing your stomach to fall naturally. Breathe this way a few times, in and out. Don't force your stomach out as you breathe in, or pull it in as you breathe out. Allow it to happen naturally.

Now try it while singing a note. Take a deep breath as described above, with your hand on your stomach (this reminds you not to pull in or push out) and then begin to sing a note. As you begin to expell air to sing, resist the urge to begin forcing air out by pulling in your stomach muscles. Simply allow your stomach to fall naturally.

Chances are you'll add a few more seconds to how long you can hold a note or sing a phrase, just by making this adjustment. But that's only a sample of that can be achieved with lessons.

So the road to better breath control begins with baby steps. Breathing for singing is the same as breathing for life. So breathe like a baby!

Later,

Ron

www.soundwitness.com