Singing teachers use instructions such as "appoggiare la voce" or "inhalare la voce" or "think of breathing in while singing" to help singers manage the breath.

An effective way of ensuring that this happens is to be very sure that the body does not collapse or shorten during the out breath. How can one bring this into effect without interfering with the breathing organ or holding and stiffening the body?

It is an established fact that the in-breath is triggered when the body lengthens and widens. This lengthening and widening is the direct result of freeing the neck to let the head go forward and up. We do not have to "do" the lengthening and widening. These occur when we stop shortening and narrowing the body. (Full description of this can be found in the article "Born to Sing" on this web site.)

It is therefore safe to say that, when the body lengthens and widens, the diaphragm descends. It is this descent which draws air into the lungs.

It is also safe to say that during breathing out, the diaphragm rises.

However, during singing, the breath must not escape too quickly.

The best way to manage the out breath is to make sure the body is lengthening and widening (not shortening and narrowing) during singing (or playing). Why?

If, during singing, the body is lengthening and widening, then the diaphragm is being encouraged to descend. This provides the exact counter balance needed during singing to stabilise the breath, prevent the diaphragm from rising too rapidly in the chest cavity and, at the same time, ensures that no direct action is taken to control the diaphragm or interfere with its action. The resulting tone is fuller with a strong ring. (See also Professor Frederick Husler: Singing the Physical Nature of the Vocal Organ, pub Hutchinson.)

(Back to Born to Sing)