Proper breathing for singing?

Question

According to this website: http://www.sing-like-a-pro.com/dangers_breathingimproperly.htm

These are the four steps to proper breathing:

1.Our diaphragms expand in the front, back and sides to hold incoming air.
2.Our pelvic muscles naturally lift up to support the expanding diaphragm,
3.Our backs extend downwards,
4.And our hips gently roll forward and pull our gluteus (bum) muscles together.

I can only make number 1 & 3 happen when I breath from my diaphram, but not 2 or 4. How do I make number 2 & 4 happen?

Answer 1

I suggest finding singing lessons some where.

Answer 2

First: find a reputable voice teacher in your area.
To explain what you've read:
Your diaphragm is a huge muscle that is shaped like an upside down bowl. When you inhale, it descends and flattens out, pushing all the organs, etc., underneath it downwards to make room for your expanding lungs. Breathing is complex, but try this: Starting with good posture, standing tall but relaxed, place one hand on your upper stomach, the other hand so that you have your thumb on your lowest ribs, and the fingers coming around your back, so you can feel the rib cage on three sides. Inhale slowly so you can feel the expansion in your hands, and your chest and shoulders are not moving upwards. Everything should feel relaxed, if there is tightening, you're doing it wrong. Often I will ask my students, "Does that feel better or worse?" If the answer is better, they're generally doing it right. The greatest singers are the ones that make it look effortless- you'll see no visible tension when you watch them sing.

Answer 3

Breathing exercise, and breathing during singing,,,, instead of flexing your diaphragm out to inhale, and then relaxing on the exhale, do the opposite. Push your diaphragm into your body to exhale, and then relax to make the inhale. This helps strengthen your diaphragm, and develops the technique you need to keep breath pressure up while you sing. Keeping the pressure up helps keep your notes from becoming flat when you are tailing off your breath. Excellent exercise and warm up is the old standard, ME, MAY, MA, MO, and MU,,, on any note progression you like. Then take it up a step or down a step, depending. The real trick is to imagine a string pulling your mouth open, from top to bottom. Imagine an oval, like the number zero. If you let your mouth go wide, or flat, you get that EEEEEE sound that so many starting singers have. Remember, loud and high is not the goal of singing,,,, it's on pitch, with good annunciation. Once you have the proper annunciation, and you build some strength in your voice, then you can think about "STYLING".... for now, while learning, keep it basic. Practice 3 to 4 times a day, 10 minutes to start. Then work up to longer and longer sessions, and cut the sessions down to 2 per day. Have fun, and relax.

Answer 4

2 & 4 are very subtle. It's hard to notice to perhaps you are doing it and you just can't tell. If you slouch when you do the breathing exercise you can feel it. But of course that isn't the proper way to hold yourself when singing.

Try this exercise: Lay on your back and place a heavy book on your stomach. Now breathe using your diaphragm. The book should lift and this will make you more aware of what it feels like to breathe using your diaphragm. Try singing this way too. It's a good exercise.

Answer 5

i've heard of the first and second, because i took a sing/dance class a few years ago, but i don't know how to extend your back downwards or roll your hips forward. i do know that holding your bum together does help though.
i was always told to keep your back straight and not slough, for reasons of not projecting enough. the thing about the hips i have never heard of or why that helps.

Answer 6

Practice makes perfect.

Answer 7

My suggestion is to find a good voice teacher in your area and sign up for lessons. Trust me, it is well worth it.

Answer 8

aarch your back while laying one the floor or while sitting in a straight backed chair this always helps me. when i find i cant do it i lay down flat then arch, it helps loads, it even helps me now that im a dancer, i still sing aswell.

Answer 9

it's natural. it's basically the results of deep and controlled breathing.

Answer 10

practice