POSTURE (WEBSITE: http://bit.ly/1bSvnQD)
1. Feet hip-distance apart, with weight balanced between feet, knees soft
and slightly bent, allowing pelvis to tuck in slightly
2. Most important of all: the spine stretches and lengthens from the
tailbone to the top of the head
3. Shoulders comfortably back and down, level over hips
4. The chest is buoyant and open (in other words, ribcage is lifted)
5. Jaw is relaxed, hinging back and down
6. The tongue is relaxed (similar to “ng”) position
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Breath Support (Video: http://bit.ly/1fzDPJ3) Watch the first 4 min
Singing with Outie Breathing (or, Appoggio)
By Pamelia S. Phillips from Singing For Dummies, 2nd Edition
Your lungs, which are housed within your rib cage, allow the ribs to open as
you inhale — and for singers, letting them stay open on the exhale is
beneficial. This is also known as outie breathing, or appoggio (that’s Italian
for “support” or “lean”). Don’t force your ribs to stay open, but allow them to
stay open.
Even if the words force and allow seem similar, they’re different. Forcing the
ribs to stay open results in pressure being put on your body and a tight sound.
When you’ve been working with breath for some time and you can easily
manage quick, efficient inhalation and have some control over longer
exhalation, try the exercise that follows.
1.Practice flexing open your ribs. Stand in front of the mirror and try to open
your rib cage. You want to open your ribs on the side of your body,
not raise your chest. Watch the movement in your body to make sure
that you’re not lifting your chest. It may take a few tries before you
can figure out how to open the ribs. When you know how to move
them, allow the ribs to open as you inhale. The area that you’re trying
to move is at the bottom of the rib cage.
2.Inhale and open your ribs. Practice inhaling and allow your ribs to open. If
you aim the air at the lowest rib, you can open the ribs without forcing
your chest to rise.
3.Work for a time just allowing your ribs to open when you inhale and to
close as you exhale. As this becomes easier, allow the ribs to stay
open longer on the exhalation.
4.Inhale and allow your ribs to open. Leave the ribs open as you exhale.
Take the next breath and allow your abdominal muscles to expand.
5.Now that your ribs are open and your abdominal muscles are expanded,
exhale. As you exhale, allow the abs to move in as the ribs stay out.
6.As you reach the end of your breath, allow the ribs to gradually close or
collapse back to their normal position.
7.Exhale, moving your abs first and then your ribs.
The long-term goal of this exercise is to provide you with the option of
opening the ribs as you inhale and letting them close by choice, depending on
the length of the phrase you’re singing. Try to keep your ribs open if you have
to sing a long phrase.
Respiratory System: (Website: http://bit.ly/1nFJa5e)