Christina Fackler MUSE 258 Teaching Kids to Sing 1996 Chapter 7: Respiration Kenneth H.

Phillips Goal: The student will develop the skill of habitual, abdicostal breathing through exercises focused on posture development, breathing motion, and breath management

Begin Early Respiration training can start as early as 1st grade o Deep breathing is difficult at this age 2nd grade students generally have a better supported sound because they have more developed lungs Respiration Training Lack of universal agreement on how respiration should be taught Three muscle groups responsible o Abdominal o Diaphragmatic o Costal Abdominal-Diaphragmatic-Costal Breathing Three areas o Posture o Breathing motion o Breath management Posture Development Proper posture is the key to the respiration process Seven requirements 1. Feet on the floor 2. Knees relaxed 3. Spine lifted 4. Shoulders back and down 5. Sternum up 6. Head level 7. Hands and arms down and at sides Weight should be evenly distributed when standing Several posture development exercises listen on pages 153-194

Breathing Motion Inhalation-diaphragm down, ribs out, widening of waist

Exhalation-diaphragm relaxes, ribs in, smaller waist Lungs o Primary organs of respiration o Expand to fill the space of the thoracic cavity Rib cage o Protects the lungs Diaphragm o Major muscle of inhalation o Air rushes into the lungs when it contracts o Involuntary External Intercostals o Help inhalation Internal Intercostals o Between ribs and external intercostals o Exhalation occurs as they contract Exercises on pages 200-2008

Breath Management (Support and Control) Abdominal muscles are the major source of power in breath support o Rectus abdominis o External oblique o Internal oblique o Transverse Abdominal Breath control: the act that permits the slow emission of the energized air column at the vocal fold level Three approaches o Bear down and push out with abdominals o Draw in with the abdominals o High and expanded rib cage, gentle contraction of the abdominals Breath management exercises on pages 211-218

This chapter was definitely overwhelming at times. The detail is helpful, but it does take a while to hack through. The specific exercises will definitely come in handy in my future classroom. Proper breathing technique is the foundation to good singing. It will be my responsibility to make sure my students understand what should be happening physically and know how to make it happen.