Breath Control is such an important part of our lives and yet we barely think about it. It is a natural phenomenon that we breathe. Breath comes in and goes out. We don't have to think about it, unless it causes us troubles or we need to use more air than is required by sitting still.
Singing study involves time spent on breathing and posture. Learning how to control the breath helps you develop a full and free singing voice. We use more air in singing than regular breathing and control the expiration of air so that we can sing a whole phrase on one breath and develop the endurance to sing a whole opera! Learning to control breath can also help you in other areas.
Physical activities and athletics require us to learn to use air a little differently. Running back and forth on a soccer field, long distance running, swimming, and other sports activities make our lungs work harder and our bodies process air a little differently. We must lower our breathing to use abdominal breathing or we will hyperventilate. We use this kind of breathing when we sleep and when we sing as well!
You also use air differently when you have a cold or bad allergies. The aeoli in your lungs do not react as quickly as necessary to keep your normal pace of life. You must slow down a little bit and learn to get your air differently. Controlling how you breathe can help you regulate this better on your own.
Asthma is a severe form of these actions- literally the reaction of the lungs inability to process air quickly. Working with breath control and support in a singing atmosphere facilitates how to deal with these breath challenges. We learn how to calmly find the best breath possible when we need to take breaths quickly in between phrases in singing. This muscular action and coordination of breath carries over to help with compromised breathing through illness, asthma, and athletic activities. When you work on your singing, you also work on the physical action of good breath (and how to control breath support for a smooth and free sound in singing). So, singing can help you to learn to breathe easier!
While studying Breath Control for singing, we also address Good Posture. Good Posture facilitates good breathing! Read more in next week's blog on Improving Posture and Poise!
For more information on the reasons on the extra reasons to take singing lessons, visit http://bit.ly/11jSBQj.
Would you consider someone with asthma incapable of singing or playing a wind instrument properly?
ReplyDeleteI have asthma and I have been singing all of my life. When I started studying and take voice lessons formally the breathing exercises actually helped to improve my asthma.
DeleteGive it a shot...the sky is the limit~