 1. Your diaphragm is a muscle. While you don’t have to go to a diaphragm gym, you still need to train your diaphragm daily if you want it to function at its full capacity.
2. Diaphragm training must be isolated from vocalizing exercises. When you go to the gym you used different machines for different muscles – and the diaphragm is a different muscle than the vocal chords for example – so plan to do independent exercises to isolate the muscle groups. 3. The diaphragm is an involuntary muscle and is best trained when your body is passive. Unlike other involuntary muscles (like the heart which requires activity to train) the diaphragm is best trained with the body completely passive so there are no interferences. 4. The diaphragm supports your body and voice in both its contraction and in its release. The diaphragm is like a bicep --- it has several parts which work together on both the inhale and on the exhale to keep you breathing! 5. Training for the diaphragm will increase its dome. When the diaphragm has a high dome, it supports a voice with significantly less effort from other muscles. 6. Using voluntary muscles to force air eventually weakens a diaphragm. If you were to use a car to get around all the time and never walk, your leg muscles would get weaker. Every structure in the body works like this. Use it or lose it! 7. Throat and tongue tension release when the diaphragm is trained well. When the dome of the diaphragm is higher, it releases the tension on the throat from the trachea. Steven Flam is the developer of the groundbreaking teaching technique called BreathingRx For Singers which includes diaphragm target training. For more information or to debate the content of this article please contact him at [email protected]
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When you walk into a Gothic style Cathedral you may notice that the ceiling is rounded. Sometimes we look up at the ceiling, and one can feel that it is divinely inspired. The arch that holds up the ceiling has strength because the weight is evenly distributed.  This divinely inspired architecture can be yours in your own body if you will envision your diaphragm as one of those arches. We know that being emptier is better. When the diaphragm is higher, its arch is higher and the higher arch supports the voice more easily and effortlessly. When you are singing, if you let your body fill naturally, and take the breath it wants the next phrase will be easier to belt out! So your challenge is to learn to be a little emptier on the phrase before a long phrase allows the body to take the air it needs more organically. To sing like an angel, just make your diaphragm into a Cathedral ceiling after Sunday Services - empty. Steven Flam is the developer of the groundbreaking teaching technique called BreathingRx For Singers which includes diaphragm target training. For more information or to debate the content of this article please contact him at[email protected] 8/6/2010 0 Comments Ecourses for Vocal StudiosWhile attending the Classical Singer Magazine Convention this Spring in New York City I spoke with several of the representatives of music schools and conservatories around the country. I was curious about their commitment to online courses of study as I am developing an e-course for singers on the subject of breath support . One dean of a southern college mentioned the phrase, "extended online learning." Many colleges are using these online e-course formats in academics. The music colleges are starting to follow suit, it seems... Continue
7/28/2010 1 Comment Coordinating Breath and VoiceReverse engineering is analyzing the finished product & attempting to break it down into its components to find out how it works & how the end product is ultimately arrived at. "Creating space" above the upper note that's sung: well with BreathingRx For Singers you have all the space in the world, above, below,& on both sides creating a resonant surround-sound. Singing "su fiato" (on top of the breath allowing the breath to carry the sound): well this happens automatically with BreathingRx for Singers since the diaphragm is totally free and the entire rib cage is loose, flexible & pliable... Continue
7/27/2010 0 Comments Why Diaphragm Target Training?Peaking the strength and freedom of your diaphragm, (possible through the techniques of Breathing Coordination upon which the BreathingRx System is based,) creates some interesting conditions in the body that help singers. For instance, when the diaphragm is trained to be so free that it can rise higher than normal, it can find you more air than you realized was there. This allows you to sing more empty of air consistently and is more relaxing for many reasons. Also, when the diaphragm rises high the pull on the trachea, (airway,) is lessened an the throat and back or the tongue magically release restrictive tensions most singers are not even aware they have. This can also allow the back of your tongue to modulate vowels to increase resonance when needed... Continue
7/9/2010 4 Comments Herbs to Eradicate MucusGetting rid of mucus in the throat, chest and lungs is one of the most difficult and pressing issues for the voice professional. We need mucus in our throat and a thin lining on our vocal cords to keep the cords hydrated and flexible. This is the way our body naturally takes care of our vocal cords. However, as voice professionals, to much mucus can be our worst nightmare. Over the counter and prescription drugs may remove the excess mucus but at what cost? Drying of the entire throat and vocal cords, dizziness, mental fog, digestive discomfort such as constipation or diarrhea and fatigue are just a few of the side effects that one can experience... Continue
7/6/2010 0 Comments Optimal Vocal SupportHow do we breathe optimally for singing and avoid vocal stress? Required is the recruitment of the muscles of the upper chest, including the intercostal and pectoral muscles, the abdominal muscles and all of the muscle groups of the back. All of these muscles must be taught to release effectively so they can follow the diaphragm’s motion. Conversely, the diaphragm must be trained to be optimally free and strong so it can effectively lead the rest of the muscles and structures in the movement of breathing. Only then is it possible to allow a gentler meshing of support and vocal fold activation and avoid stressful use of the voice... Continue
BreathingRx For Singers – Vocal Breath Support Mastery Even though ideal vocal support is dependent on factors like posture, diaphragm training and the right body release, there are some very easy and simple things you can do with your own body that can help you immediately with your singing. This exercise is simple and effective and will continue to help you improve as you practice it over time. When a singer can relax the abdomen completely, the abdomen can be felt to release all the way around. Lowering the abdomen correctly frees up the diaphragm to more easily support the voice and add resonance to your sound. It also allows you to take more oxygen into your body and blood helping you focus more and calming the nervous system. Diaphragm Releasing Exercise:
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Steven Flam
Developer of the BreathingRx For Singers System, FLAM Voicework and The Vocal Breath Support Mastery E-course and has traveled the world teaching for over 40 years. Archives
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