I sang a concert of Handel arias and duets a couple of months ago, for which the reviewer praised my "discreet and lovely gestures" during "Cara sposa". He didn't realize I was doing exactly what Sharon described, for exactly the same reason - to free the breath. :-) Sometimes you just get lucky.
Lee Morgan Mezzo-soprano
-----Original Message----- From: Sharon Szymanski [mailto:szy@n...] Sent: Saturday, January 18, 2003 11:47 AM To: vocalist-temporary@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [vocalist] Breathing
(I move my arms while singing, to make sure my midriff doesn't "lock up".)
Karen and all: After working with a student at UNC-CH who had the tightest midriff I had ever encountered, I developed a "breathing gesture" in which I had her lift her arms as though she were going to "conduct" or hold a book of music out in front of her, then move the hands down on the end of phonation/release for inhalation, and circle them out and back up prior to new phonation. During singing, the arms and hands are gently "bobbed" up and down an inch or two. This is very hard to explain in language, but very easy to do in real life.
I later realized that this action helped visually and kinesthetically mimic the continuity of the breath cycle: release/reflexive inhalation, preparation, phonation (this is how I think of it and teach it). It also insured a good lift and expansion of the rib cage, lift of the sternum, and aids in maintaining the lovely balance of muscles that insure good breath management. This worked wonders with the student, and I now teach it to EVERY student who comes my way. After they have practiced for a time with the gesture, it becomes automatic and they no longer need it.
Sharon Szymanski
|