Caitlin Craig McKinney 4

What is the normal breathing rate of a person at rest? 12-16 times per minute. While sleeping it decreases. 

What are the stages of breathing for life? 1. a slow intake of air. 

2. a some what quicker release of air. 

3. a waiting or recovery period before the next intake.

What is the essential difference between breathing to live and breathing to sing? The difference lies in the amount of conscious control exerted. 

What are the factors involved in getting air out of the body? 1. the diaphragm relaxes. 

2. the lungs are elastic and tend to return to their original shape after they have been expanded.

3. the abdominal organs and abdominal wall return to their original shape and location when the diaphragm quits pushing against and compressing them.

4. the internal rib muscles and the abdominal muscles assist in the expulsion of air.

What are the benefits of breathing through the nose?  (Why do we normally do this when breathing for life?) It is designed to filter, warm, and add moisture to the incoming air. In order for the nose to perform all these functions, it is constructed so that it slows down the air. When breathing for life at a state of rest, it is easy to get enough oxygen this way to perform everyday tasks.

Why does McKinney believe that aerobic conditioning is good for singers? People who engage in aerobic conditioning for 20 minutes several times a week are training their cardiovascular systems to work at near peak efficiency. This cardiovascular improvement is great for singers, because it also has a training effect on the entire respiratory system. 

What are the stages of breathing for singing? 1. a breathing-in period

2. a setting-up-controls period. 

3. a controlled-exhalation period (phonation).

4. a recovery period.

How does inhalation for singing differ from inhalation for life? Inhalation for singing is quicker, the quantity of air inhaled is greater, and the breath goes deeper into the lungs than in inhalation for life.

What are the three scenarios he suggests trying to condition a good inhalation for singing? 1. pretend to smell a flower, and notice how the breath enter the body slowly and easily without any conscious effort.

2. pretend to begin a yawn, but don't actually go into a full yawn. Notice how the lower jaw drops free, the gentle lift in the soft palate, the deep feeling the throat, how the air is moving easily through the throat, and how deep the breath goes into the body. 

3. pretend to drink a glass of water, make note how easily the jaw drops open, how deep and spacious the throat seems, the lifting of the soft palate, how easily and quietly the breath enters the body, and how deep the breath is without any conscious effort.

What are the three postural conditions that should exist BEFORE you inhale? The chest should be comfortably high, the lower abdomen should be comfortably in, upper abdomen should be free to move. 

How does breath seem to move when you inhale? The breath moves in, down, and out around the middle with an expansion around the middle part of the body just below the rib cage.

In the quote from Van Christy, “[When] all the muscles function properly in singing, there is a feeling of flexible, expansive openness in the body.

Why does McKinney say that recovery is important? Because muscles need a period of recovery, and if they don't receive a period of rest after contracting, they build up tension. 

What is the secret for performing a good catch breath? Drop the lower jaw quickly open while breathing as if you have been startled or surprised. There should be no noise involved. 

What is breath support? Breath support is a dynamic relationship between the breathing-in muscles and the breathing-out muscles, the purpose of which is to supply adequate breath pressure to the vocal folds for the sustaining of any desired pitch or dynamic level. 

What is breath control? Breath control is mainly a function of the vocal cords themselves: a dynamic relationship between the breath and the vocal cords which determines how long you can sing on one breath. 

What are the four incorrect methods of breathing and their corrective procedures? Upper Chest breathing (clavicular breathing) is the visibility of high rising and falling movements of the chest. Corrective procedures for upper chest breathing are to correct postural and breathing techniques. They must be aware and reminded of these goals.

Rib breathing is breathing with only expansion in the rib cage and no where else. Corrective procedures include release of postural tension, and the encouragement of abdominal expansion while inhaling. 

Back breathing is the breathing with too much concentration on expanding the back, and nothing else. Corrective procedures include encouraging frontal expansion during inhalation.

In Belly Breathing the breathing-in muscles are so prominent during exhalation that they overpower the breathing-out muscles and other means must be found to expel the breath. It inhibits the release of the diaphragm. Corrective procedures are to correct their postural techniques, and to be told the knowledge that he doesn't need to push out against his belt.

What is hypofunctional breathing and what are the corrective procedures for it? Hypofunctional breathing is failing to demand enough physical activity of the breathing mechanism, and the failure to take enough breath as deep in the lungs as it should go. Corrective procedures should be to explaining, demonstrating, and asking the student to experience the 4 stags of breathing for singing.

What is hyperfunction breathing and what are the 2 main causes and corrective procedures for it? Hyperfunctional breathing is demanding too much physical activity of the breathing mechanism. Two causes are the misconception that the ability to sing long phrases is in direct relationship to the quantity of air you can inhale, and the fear of running out of breath while in performance. Corrective procedures are to limit yourself to taking a comfortably deep breath.

What is hypofunctional breath support and what are the possible causes? The failure to demand enough activity of the support mechanism. It consists of the failure to activate the support mechanism enough to provide adequate breath pressure for the proper functioning of the vocal cords. Possible causes are: no suspension phase in the breathing process, the misconception that the singer is singing much louder than he actually is, an anemic concept of vocal tone, devitalized posture, and a lack of awareness of the nature of function of the support mechanism.

What is the corrective procedure for hypofunctional support? Make the student aware of the problem and its causes, ask him to make the necessary adjustments in what he is doing. Panting like a dog, laughing like Santa.

What is hyperfunctional breath support and what are the possible causes? Demanding too much from the support mechanism. It results in malfunction of the phonation, resonation, and articulation systems. Putting so much breath pressure on the larynx that is cannot function freely. Causes include: trying to make a voice bigger than it really is, pulling on the upper abdomen, eliminating the suspension phase of breathing, excess postural tension, and a too-muscular approach to singing.

What is the corrective procedure for hyperfunctional support? Get the student to stop exerting so much local effort in teh upper abdomen. Reducing tension to the level at which a muscle function best. Encourage him to practice the four stages of breathing, while making sure that he achieves expansion around the center of his body before he attempts to support sound. You may encourage him to use less support, and ask him to sing as if he is a baby.