Vocal Breathing Exercises

Vocal Breathing Exercises

Do this this vocal breathing exercise to help you hold notes and pitch longer.

First, balance the body beyond the front foot, and become conscious of the existence of the back muscles by extending outwards and forwards with the arms, palms upwards and thumbs back, while keeping the elbows in.

Fill the lungs half way with air, then take air through the mouth in very small breaths in and out, quicker and quicker and without noise, until you feel yourself panting, yet doing absolutely nothing with the chest, and without filling up the lungs.

Now you should feel a throbbing or fluttering from your diaphragm. The breaths must be taken with the mouth open, and without making noise. Notice while doing this vocal breathing exercise how comfortable and wide open the throat feels, and how relaxed your shoulders and and chest are. The objective of these quick breaths is to avoid using the muscles that raise the shoulders.

Now broaden this quick, noiseless heaving until it is felt not only at the diaphragm, but at the sides and back close to the shoulder-blades.

At this moment take a deep full breath interlocking the muscles under the shoulder-blades, enlarging the diaphragm,
and slightly drawing in the abdominal muscles.

Now push out the breath by contracting the abdominal muscles, controlling the pressure so that it is stabilized, while mentally (not vocally) pronouncing a long Ah hold for ten to fifteen seconds.

Now stop with controlled breath to spare, by halting it with the breath muscles, so that the throat is still wide open and natural. If
this is done as directed above, you will experience fatigue in the back muscles and diaphragm, but
a relaxed throat, tongue, and face.

Vocal Breathing Exercise Recapped

1. Balance the body beyond the front foot, and become conscious of the existence of the
back muscles by extending outwards and forwards with the arms, palms upwards and thumbs
back, while keeping the elbows in.

2. Do quick breaths in and out, through the mouth, without noise, until they are felt at the diaphragm and under the shoulder-blades.

3. Press out the breath as though warming some object with it, while mentally pronouncing a long Ah for ten to fifteen seconds, and finally, without losing control, stop the breath by halting it with the breath muscles, the throat being relaxed and open.