Breathing Faults Dr. Chuck Neufeld Lander University Dr. Chuck Neufeld Lander University

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Breathing Faults Dr. Chuck Neufeld Lander University Dr. Chuck Neufeld Lander University