An easy way to develop great breath support

Hey Guys! Madeleine Harvey here! Thanks for joining me today!
In our video, we’re going to talk about an easy way for you to develop really great breath support. That means, more power, more projection, more range, and more presence. The list goes on and on. Because we all know that great breathing is the foundation of great singing. So if you like today’s video, please feel free to give it a thumbs up and click the subscribe button below, I would love to see you here more often.

One more thing before we get started. When you are learning to sing through youtube, it’s crucial that you develop a sense of discernment. Take what resonates with you, and leave the rest for now. It’s all about using the information that really works best for you to develop your best vocal habits.

So let’s get started. The breathing process happens in two parts. The inhale and the exhale. We all know that singing happens on the exhale, but it’s really the inhale that will determine the quality of the exhale as well as the overall sound. If I were to pull my breath in using my chest and back muscles, I would be forced to pinch my throat to keep the breath inside, and the sound quality would reflect that tension. So to maximize the openness on our inhale and tap into great breath support, let’s think of the inhale in two parts.

#1 the throat
If we think of the inhale process being similar to that of a turkey baster (stay with me here..) A turkey baster creates a vacuum to pull those delicious juices inside. So this turkey baster idea visually demonstrates the breathing process beautifully. If we were to use our bodies in the same vacuum effect manor, we know that we need to start with an opening for the airflow to travel. That would be the area right where your throat, jaw, and tongue all meet. And this is where things go wrong for most people during their singing. When they are ready for the breath, there may not be enough space for the air to fall in, so the body attempts to pull the breath in using the muscles in the chest and the back. No good. When we open the space in the throat, we can observe that plenty of air moves in and out easily. Take a minute to observe this process and feel how effortlessly your breath moves when just a little bit of space is created. A wonderful way to practice this is using a mirror. Simply watch for the drop of your jaw when you go for the inhale during your song. And if you feel that you are resorting to using the muscles in your chest and back to pull the breath in, notice how it is usually in reaction to not enough space in the throat for the breath to fall in easily.

#2 The diaphragm
The biggest idea that I would love for you to focus on is targeted relaxation. When it comes to the whole concept of the diaphragm, there’s lots of confusion. And most of that distortion comes from the whole idea of control…. But remember guys, breathing is reflexive. The idea is not to control, but to get out of the way while the body does its thing. Utilizing the visual of the turkey baster once again, if I exhale and I notice that the space along my abdomen contracts, how do I get the breath back inside? Just like the turkey baster, I simply let go. This will allow the diaphragm to drop (which creates the whole vacuum effect) and voila! The breath has been replaced. It’s that simple! Targeting the relaxation towards the abs and the spaces under the ribcage will allow the whole process to occur without having to control it. The deeper you target your relaxation, the more the diaphragm can drop and the lungs can fill.

Take your time with this exploration. The trick with maintaining excellent breath support is to get out of the way of the natural breath, so that it can fall in. When you’re practicing this concept, you’ll want to begin with the exhale, feeling everything contract and just wait for it…. that sense of letting go and the breath falling inward.

There you have it guys! An easy way to develop great breath support! If you’ve enjoyed today’s video, be sure to give it a thumbs up and click the subscribe button below for more singing tips and best practices! And if you want to study together, I would LOVE to hear from you! So visit my website at MadeleineHarvey.com to get started! Thank you for joining me! I’ll see you next time!