Monday, February 24, 2014

Elizabeth T McKinney Ch. 4


What is the normal breathing rate of a person at rest? 12-16 breaths per minute
What are the stages of breathing for life? 1) slow intake of air, 2) somewhat 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 essential difference between breathing to live and breathing to sing lies in the amount of conscious control exerted. (that’s it)
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?) The nose is designed to filter, warm, and add moisture to the incoming air. 
Why does McKinney believe that aerobic conditioning is good for singers? People who exercise regularly have a more efficient breathing system working, which is a good thing!
What are the stages of breathing for singing? 1) a breathing in period (inhalation_), 2) setting up controls period (suspension), 3) a controlled-exhalation period (phonation), 4) a recovery period.
How does inhalation for singing differ from inhalation for life? The inhalation stage of breathing for singing is quicker, the quantity of air inhaled is greater, and the breath goes deeper into the lungs than in natural breathing.
What are the three scenarios he suggests trying to condition a good inhalation for singing? 1) smelling a flower, 2) Pretend the beginning of a yawn, 3) pretend you are drinking a glass of water.
What are the three postural conditions that should exist BEFORE you inhale? 1) the chest should be comfortably high, 2) the lower abdomen should be comfortably in, 3) the upper abdomen should be free to move.
How does breath seem to move when you inhale? When you inhale, the breath seems to move into the body, down to the lungs, and out around the middle of the body.
In the quote from Van Christy, “[When] all the muscles function properly in singing, there is a feeling of                                                       ,                                                                                                               in the body.
Why does McKinney say that recovery is important? Muscles perform their task of contracting most efficiently when allowed ample opportunity to rest and recover. 
What is the secret for performing a good catch breath? The best approach is to drop the lower jaw quickly open while breathing as if you have been startled or surprised. 
What is breath support? 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? A dynamic relationship between the breath and the vocal cords shich determines how long you can sing on one breath. 
What are the four incorrect methods of breathing and their corrective procedures? Upper-chest breathing, establish correct posture and breathing.  Rib breathing, maybe push out the epigastrium.  Back breathing, don’t limit other areas of expansion.  Belly breathing, correct posture. 
What is hypofunctional breathing and what are the corrective procedures for it? failure to take deep enough breath, working on the 4 stages of breathing.
What is hyperfunction breathing and what are the 2 main causes and corrective procedures for it? Demanding too much physical activity of the breathing mechanism, limit students to comfortable breaths.
What is hypofunctional breath support and what are the possible causes? failure to demand enough activity of the support mechanism, panting like a dog!
What is the corrective procedure for hypofunctional support?
What is hyperfunctional breath support and what are the possible causes? demanding too much from the support mechanism, get students to not exert so much local effort in the upper abdomen.
What is the corrective procedure for hyperfunctional support?

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