Breathing Faults Dr Chuck Neufeld Lander University Breathing

Breathing Faults Dr. Chuck Neufeld Lander University

Breathing Faults l Upper Chest Breathing n Visible Rise and Fall of Chest n Found in Majority of Beginning Students n Limits Downward Travel of Diaphragm n Visually Distracting to Audience n Wastes Energy and is Physically Tiring n Associated with Poor Posture n Chest/Shoulder Tension Transmits to Neck/Vocal Mechanism n Inefficient

Correcting Breathing Faults l Correcting l Establish Upper-Chest Breathing correct posture. l Establish correct breathing techniques. l Student must be constantly reminded of appropriate posture and breathing. l Have student: Lean back against a wall; Lie flat on their back.

Breathing Faults l Rib Breathing n Contains Some Truth--Rib Cage Should Expand in Inhalation n Is Taught--Does Not Occur Naturally n Limits or Eliminates Expansion in Other Areas n May Be Accompanied by Tight Abdominals or Shoulders n Limits Downward Travel of Diaphragm n Wastes Energy and is Physically Tiring n Tension in Chest, Ribs, Shoulders Transmits to Neck/Vocal Mechanism

Correcting Breathing Faults l Correcting l Release Rib Breathing postural tension. l Encourage upper abdominal expansion while inhaling. l Possibly have student sit or lean forward to feel abdominal expansion. l Help student stop pulling in upper abdomen.

Breathing Faults l Back Breathing n A Variant of Rib Breathing n Focus is on Back Expansion n Eliminates Front Expansion n Limits Downward Travel of Diaphragm n Wastes Energy and is Physically Tiring n Tension in Chest, Ribs, Shoulders Transmits to Neck/Vocal Mechanism n If Shoulders Pull Forward, Posture is Weak

Correcting Breathing Faults l Correcting Back Breathing l Encourage frontal expansion. l Change shoulder posture if rolled forward. l Help student feel reduction in effort as they properly expand the front abdomen.

Breathing Faults l Belly Breathing n Students Take Deep Breath, Then Push Out with Diaphragm (at the Beltline) During Singing n Restricts Upward Travel of Diaphragm n Results in Poor Posture l Sunken Chest l Protruding Abdomen n Limits Breath Support for Upper Voice n Can Result in Tone Quality/Vibrato Problems

Correcting Breathing Faults l Correcting l Correct Belly Breathing the postural problems that result from this approach. l Help the student not to push out against the belt when singing.

Breathing Faults l Hypofunctional Breathing n Failure to Demand Enough Physical Activity of the Breathing Mechanism n Common Among Beginning Singers n Usually Results from Failure to Take Breath Deep Enough Into Lungs n Caused by Lack of Awareness of Demands of Singing n Responds Readily to Treatment

Correcting Breathing Faults l Correcting l Explain, Hypofunctional Breathing. demonstrate, and ask student to experience four stages of breathing for singing.

Breathing Faults l Hyperfunctional Breathing n Demanding Too Much Physical Activity of the Breathing Mechanism n Problem: Taking in Too Much Air n Caused by Misconception: Quantity Necessary for Long Phrases n Caused by Fear: Running Out of Breath in Performance

Correcting Breathing Faults l Correcting l Limit Hyperfunctional Breathing student to a comfortably deep breath. l Help student believe they have plenty of air. l Address the psychology of the pygmallion effect—if you believe, you can. l Develop positive thought patterns/habits about breathing.

Breathing Faults l Hypofunctional Breath Support n Failure to Demand Enough Activity of the Support Mechanism n Common Only Among Beginning Singers n Result of Failure to Activate Support Mechanism n Several Causes l No Suspension Phase in Breathing Process l Misconception That Singer is Louder Than They Actually Are l Anemic Concept of Vocal Tone l Devitalized Posture l Lack of Awareness Support Mechanism

Correcting Breathing Faults l Correcting Support l Make Hypofunctional Breath student aware of the problem and its causes l Ask student to make necessary adjustments l Early development may require exaggerated response from the student l Have student pant like a dog or laugh like Santa Claus (Ho, ho)

Breathing Faults l Hyperfunctional Breath Support n Demanding Too Much from the Mechanism n Very Common Vocal Fault n Can Support result in malfunction of phonation, resonation, and articulation systems n Often escapes detection

Breathing Faults l Hyperfunctional Breath Support n Several Causes l Misconception: More Support is Better l Trying to Make Voice Too Big l Pulling in on Upper Abdomen l Eliminating Suspension Phase of Breathing Process l Excess Postural Tension l Misconception of Dynamic Level (Singing Too Loudly) l Approach to Singing is Too Muscular l Result is Excessive Tension in Abdominal Wall

Correcting Breathing Faults l Correcting Support Hyperfunctional Breath l Reduce tension to achieve maximum efficiency—difficult because: l Removing familiar sensations leaves student with little feedback l Harder to judge amount of reduction in tension that amount of increase

Correcting Breathing Faults l Correcting Support l Student Hyperfunctional Breath must learn to relax upper abdomen l Encourage student to practice four stages of breathing l Ask student to desribe the details of sensation during suspension phrase— focus on work of lower abdominals l Ask student to “sing to a baby”

Breathing Faults Dr. Chuck Neufeld Lander University