What is a diaphragm?

Question

(for theatre)
-What is a diaphragm?
-How can I tell if I using my diaphram to talk/sing?
-Is it better to talk from my diaphragm?

Answer 1

You have been told by someone to speak/sing from your diaphragm, haven't you?

Doc is right on target, as usual.

Breathe in, and make your chest bigger. Breathe out. Stand up, open your mouth, breathe in, do not expand your chest, keep your shoulders down and make your belly bigger. Feel that? Lower , isn't it? Hurts a little? More air? Now exhale using your belly muscles: HUH! Squeeze the air out with your belly muscles.

You have just used your diaphragm.

Using Diaphragmatic Breathing gives you more control, and a LOT more volume. Practice it.

Open mouth in. HUH!

In time, you can learn to control it. The practice of Breathing from the Belly is invaluable to Singers and Stage Actors.

Answer 2

Both of the above answers are right on target--to add to them, breathing with the diaphragm prevents damage to your vocal chords. When you breathe properly, the pressure is put on the muscles in your stomach--which can handle volume and high notes. If you aren't breathing properly, the pressure is put on your vocal chords and throat muscles, both of which are way too small to handle that kind of pressure. They end up getting hurt, and you can sometimes get vocal nodules.

When speaking, you get tremendous volume. When singing, you get volume AND control over your voice. Also, it is much easier hitting high notes--it requires a lot of air and a lot of pressure to do so, and your throat can't handle it. Your abdominal muscles and diaphragm can. And yes, it is DEFINITELY better to talk with your diaphragm.

Answer 3

It is the main muscle between your lungs and stomach that controls your breathing.. when you take in a really deep breath you feel your stomach move. When you speak from your diaphragm, you speak with a great deal of support for the voice which is good.