Alisha Reeve MUSED 258 Citation Teaching Kids to Sing 1992 Chapter 7: Respiration Kenneth H.

Phillips Summary Development of abdicostal breathing o Posture, breathing motion, breath management o Respiration is the basis of singing o Babies breath correctly naturally, but primary school children begin to breath incorrectly o Respiration exercises should eventually be applied to phonation or they are not worthwhile Begin Early o First grade at the earliest Lungs are not fully developed however and should not attempt full, deep breathing Should develop by second grade, along with greater vocal range Respiration Training o Many have a general lack of understanding of the respiration process o Also a lack of universal agreement on how it should be taught o Three muscle groups responsible Abdominal Diaphragmatic Costal Abdominal-diaphragmatic-costal breathing o Three areas Posture Breathing motion Breath management o Part one of the programs helps to define the respiration process Posture development o Good posture is key o Need to be taught and exercised in good posture o Seven requirements Feet on the floor Knees relaxed Spine lifted Shoulders back and down Sternum up Head level

Hand and arms down and at sides o When standing weight should be evenly distributed o When sitting they should sit on the front of their seat o Students should not sit for the entire class They should change between the two often o Exercises should generally be done while standing unless otherwise specified o Singing is as physical as any sport and students should be reminded of such Posture development exercises o Level 1: Muscle Movers Stretching and limbering exercises Expansion Set 1 1. Spinal Stretch 2. Shoulder Roll 3. Head Roll 4. Knee Flex Set 2 1. Side Stretch 2. Shrug 3. Yes and No 4. Toe Jam Set 3 1. Back Stack 2. Trap Stretch 3. Up Periscope o Level 2: Body Alignment Characteristics of good singing posture Model posturing-explain and model for the students Balanced stance-draw attention to the balance needed to connected singing 1. Diving Position 2. Balance Beam Posture Cues-gestures that will help students to remember these exercises while singing 1. Sitting Tall 2. Standing Tall 3. Sitting to Standing 4. Standing to Sitting o Level 3: Posture Practice The posture rap-rap that tells of the seven basic elements of good singing posture Pg. 185 Posture exercises

1. The Slide 2. The Knee Lock 3. The Hip Roll 4. Sternum Stretch 5. Shoulder Rotation 6. Extended Neck Stretch 7. Hand Placement o Level 4: Face Lift Facial expression Exercises 1. Eyebrow Sit-ups 2. Surprise! 3. Exaggerations o Level 5: Active Posturing Energized posture Singing with the whole body, not just the head Exercises 1. The lean-to 2. Stepping the Pulse 3. Physical Gestures o Level 6: Mental Posturing Students and how they should think about the physical action of singing and respiration 3 orders Neck free Head forward and up Torso widen out and lengthen Exercises 1. Free Flight 2. The Squeeze 3. Walking Tall Breathing Motion o Students must learn the proper motion for breathing o Inhalation-diaphragm down, ribs out, widening of waist o Exhalation-diaphragm relaxes, ribs in, smaller waist o Lungs Primary respiration tool Expand to assume the shape of the thoracic cavity o Rib cage Protects the lungs o Diaphragm Muscle of inhalation Contraction allows rush of air into lungs Unpaired, has no muscle to reverse it action Involuntary, should not be controlled

o External Intercostals Help in inhalation o Internal Intercostals Between ribs and external intercostals Exhalation occurs as they contract o Exercises Level 1: Natural Breathing 1. Horizontal Breathing 2. The Balloon 3. The Slow Sip Level 2: Deep Breathing 1. Eagle Spread 2. The Gasp 3. Deep Yawn Level 3: Breath Suspension 1. Inhalation 2. Suspension 3. Exhalation Level 4: Breath Rhythm 1. Locomotion 2. Silent Rowing 3. Counting 1-2 Level 5: Tired Dog Pant 1. The Tired Dog 2. Quiet Breathing Level 6: Hot Dog Pant 1. The Hot Dog 2. Evaluation Breath Management o Learn to support and control forced exhalation o True control behind singing o Abdominal muscle Source of energized power Four layers Rectus abdominus o Primary flexor External Oblique o Broad, thin Internal Oblique o Underneath the external Transverse abdominals o Side to side across the abdomen o Breath control Act that allows slow energized exhalation Three approaches

Bear down and push out with the abdominals Draw in with the abdominals High and expanded rib cage, gentle contraction of the abdominals o Breath Management Exercises No phonation or vocalization, emphasis on the role of the abdominals Level 1: Abdominal Lift Isometric Exercise The Lift The Cycle Level 2: Breath Stream The Foul Shot Ball and Pipe Level 3: Breath Articulation Mini-thrust Maxi-thrust Mini-bump Maxi-bump Level 4: Breath Pulse Extended Pulse Echo Pulse Level 5: Breath Extension The Slow Leak Lip Trill Level 6: Costal Breathing Lower-rib Hold Midrib Hold Upper-rib Hold Reflection Respiration is the source of all vocal production. As such it is very important that both my students and myself understand how to properly control the respiration process. These exercises are great examples for many age groups to help my students discover their full potential and how to utilize breath in the singing process. It is my job as a music educator to design, or implement a program that will help students with the respiration process and how it fits in to singing.