Expert: Wanda Reinholdt - 2/29/2008

Question
Hello,

I have a question along the lines of singing. I am a high baritone and would like to know if you had any exercises or warm ups to help me develop and use my diaphragm while singing.


Thank You


Answer
Hi Don...And thanks for writing.  I do have exercises or warm ups that can help with your diaphragm singing.  The key to them helping is that you do them regularly and repeat.

First of all, put your hand on your abdomen standing in front of a mirror.  Take a deep breath in through the nose concentrating on getting the breath down into your ab rather than moving your chest.  Most people breathe with their chest and that does not work very well.  It is shallow.  By learning to breathe deeply, you will help your body to circulate air and blood better.  You are more healthy AND you can sing better.  

Once you have your hand moving on your ab and NOT your chest (really work to get that chest to stop moving), then breathe in through the nose, out through the mouth standing in front of a mirror at least 20-30 times a day.   (1x is in and out)

Only after getting this breathing right, should you move to singing with it.  

Once you start adding singing, use only a la-la-la or oh-oh-oh to begin with.  Practice sining with the breathing like this concentrating on getting that breath down to the bottom.  Always breath in through the nose and out through the mouth and hold a long tone, as long as you can go.  

So when you breathe in, breathe in always a little more breath than you think you can take.  Then breathe out a little more than you think you can let out with and without a tone.  This will help to increase your capacity.  

Does this help?

Wanda