'Breathing in the Shape': Prepping your breathing & mouth shape for singing
Let your Vocal Coaching Expert Dr Anikó Tóth support your Vocal Coaching Lessons with this blog…
Singers, you sometimes use your breathing to count before coming in on your first note. Am I right?
This is problematic because it often means you breathe just before you sing. This is too late!
You need enough time to get your articulators (jaw, tongue, throat, soft palate, etc.) and larynx into the correct shape, position and posture to start the first phrase.
Often, these sudden breaths are unnecessarily quick (shallow, clavicular - using the upper chest, rather than the lower belly) and can be noisy - which indicates that your vocal folds are slightly together, and your vestibular folds may also be in play, rather than fully retracted.
Noisy, airy breaths dry out the vocal folds and leave you feeling tired and stressed. This is especially true if there is abdominal (tummy) tension, which can get worse throughout your song, if left unmitigated; you will feel more and more breathless. (See our blogpost for more on constriction.)
Just as you don’t just start doing a pirouette when dancing, but prepare beforehand by bending your knee and planting your feet from which to push off, you have to prep the same way with singing.
There is usually at least a two-bar (two-measure) instrumental introduction.
That’s the time to use to get into character and the world of the piece, but also to ‘breathe in the shape’ of your first word and vocal style (Classical / CCM / Legit / Rock / etc.), taking the time to release the middle and lower belly.
When you start each new phrase, breathe in the shape of the next phrase - if you start with an Ah, prep an Ah; if you start with an EE, start with an EE (you may have to modify at height), using as much time as is available.
Sierra Boggess models the perfect dropped jaw when singing legit musical theatre as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera (1986). Ramin Karimloo is her masked Phantom.
Classical / Legit musical theatre / 80s pop / Elvis:
While releasing your abdomen with a silent in-breath…
Lift your soft palate
Add your Mona Lisa smile
Tilt your larynx (sob / cry)
relax the tongue onto the back of the bottom teeth
Drop your jaw into an Ah shape (‘Eating a tall apple’)
Sing!
Amber Riley sings with a perfect ‘eating a hamburger’ mouth, while belting into a microphone.
She adds body anchoring to support her big voice.
Photo by Mogenburg
CCM / Pop:
While releasing your abdomen with a silent in-breath…
Lift your soft palate
Smile showing your top teeth (I call this ‘hamburger mouth’.)
Relax your larynx into the neutral position
Drop your jaw into an Eh shape
relax the tongue onto the back of the bottom teeth
Sing!
ESSENTIAL tip for Breathing:
Throughout the piece, give yourself ample time to breathe into your belly.
I can’t say this enough.
Rests in the music and punctuation (like commas and periods) in the lyrics are your friend. Use them for breathing points*.
Always ‘breathe in the shape’ of the next vowel and larynx position needed for the style you want.
*EXTRA TIP: Mark your breaths throughout your piece so that you always know where to breathe!
Try vocal coaching lessons with our vocal coaching expert Dr Anikó Tóth.
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