Sarah Boucher SS Chapter 3 Summary

Sarah Boucher SS Chapter 3 Summary
Chapter Summary: Along with speaking, breath is a key element in singing. Thinking is required in breathing for singing, but we should not over think it. According to Smith, inhalation demands a "pooching out of the stomach" and expansion throughout the lower abdomen. We need good body alignment in order to breath correctly. The chest should not expand or collapse in breathing. In exhalation we should think or airflow more than we should think of support. We need to release all the breath when we exhale, this doesn't mean that our whole body collapses but it does mean that we release the muscles of inhalation. The vocal folds control air flow so we don't need to worry about controlling breath.
Key Points:
-The vocal folds control air flow
-"Release all your air, all the time"
-Not support but air flow
-The chest should not move in inhalation or exhalation
Key Terms:
Making Connections: I really liked when Smith related breathing to a reservoir: we don't have to hold air in or push it out. The vocal folds will "siphon out" what they need. This imagery really helped me to change my thinking about breathing. I don't need to control my breath, especially that I shouldn't be trying to hold it in. I really liked that imagery!