The Maestro Online
Singers’ Breathing Technique
Singers’ Breathing Technique Benefits
Many singers are working hard at improving their tone and high notes, but do they realise that their ‘engine’, their starting point for all quality sound is their breath, their breathing technique? Different singing teachers take different stances on how to achieve the best results. Intercostal breathing is a particularly common technique, in which the ribs are expanded and held out, relatively firmly, so that all the muscles can act strongly inside. A simplified version of this can be seen in this video, in which I discuss “Breathing from the Core”:
Singers’ Breathing Technique from Different Places
Some singers try too hard with their breathing and so the opposite kind of teaching is needed – getting students to blow their air out, letting their body naturally respond afterwards, expanding by instinct. The next stage is to help the ribs and lungs expand a little further.
Many singers only breathe from the front of their tummy, but the lower back should expand too. When this happens, the ribs move out from the spine and the lungs are perceived as expanding by 360 degrees, like entire balloons being filled.
Another direct connection with breathing and tone is posture. We naturally hold a slight ‘duck’ shape curve at the bottom of our spine. By unlocking the knees and straightening the lower back, the lower torso muscles have something firmer to push against, making them more effective. The lower back muscles are also more engaged and these are our strongest muscles because they hold us up all day.
Singers’ Breathing Technique – Diaphragmatic Breathing
Many singing teachers discuss ‘diaphragmatic breathing’. In reality, we don’t use the diaphragm because that is an involuntary muscle that makes us sneeze or cough. However, we do use other muscles in that region.
Some choral directors are actually to blame for bad tone. Instructing singers to breathe in a bar early is actually counter-productive. When you take your breath in too early and you hold your breathe, tension builds at the top of the neck (try it, hold your breath and see what the result is).
Singings’ Breathing Technique: Breathing through Your Nose is a No-No
What about breathing in? I disagree with singing teachers and vocal coaches who instruct pupils to breathe through their noses. Try the opposite, breathe through your mouth with an “ah” shape. Can you feel the difference between the two? Breathing in through the nose narrows the throat, but breathing in through the mouth with an “ah” opens the throat wide. If you combine the two though, you then have the most open breath and throat, which also allows the most open and warm tone.
In summary: posture, spine position, how early you breathe in, using your mouth with a little nose for inhaling and considering your lungs as 360 degree balloons, all enhance your tone. If you want to improve your tone, consider your breath first!
Singing Lesson Online – Digital Library Or 1-1
The library of courses is rapidly expanding. It contains digital magazines with embedded teaching videos on every page. Courses range from Beyonce style licks, to pentatonic improvisation, to Justin Bieber, to Dua Lipa and many besides. Structured tutorials included ear training, vocal technique and improvisation. Members of the library also get to request their own courses.
If you would like to explore specific individual 1-1, bespoke singing lessons then visit:
www.the-maestro-online.com and book online.
Advanced Choral Directing by Suzi Digby OBE
Do you conduct a good choir, but are not sure how to conduct with more impact? You want your choir to sing even better but repeatedly hammering the correct notes on a piano doesn't work for you? Suzi has the answers!
Advanced Choral Directing
This course gives you an in-depth insight into Suzi’s philosophy that has made her the highly respected and renowned choral director for advanced ensembles that she is. She also gives you top tricks of the trade that she has developed over years, access to her toolkit that will lead your choir to become an ensemble that are incredibly responsive to each other, and you, and that will help them develop a wonderful range of vocal tone. Most importantly, your choir will listen like they never have before.
This conducting masterclass course will cover the following areas:
- Suzi’s Philosophy
- Repertoire
- Rehearsal Objectives
- Suzi’s Toolkit
- Introduction to Score Preparation
- Rehearsal Techniques
- Listening Games
- Gesture (Prepare Your Left Hand) & Leave Your Singers Pliable
- Preparing Your Right Hand
Who is Suzi Digby OBE?
Suzi Digby OBE is a British choral director of the greatest repute and respected as an astonishing music educator. She has the ability to connect with people around her, inspire them incredibly, and then, with kindness and love, she demands and achieves excellence from all that have the honour to work with her. Suzi began singing at the age of 3.
She talks about the greatest live experiences in her career from Beirut to Soweto, to conducting a scratch youth Messiah in the Royal Albert Hall with 2000 young singers. Her final pearl of wisdom? “Keep your ego out. You have to be true to yourself and have enough self-esteem that you can be vulnerable and authentic. If you essentially don’t love people, there’s a problem and that will always seep out.”
She is a visiting professor at the University of Southern California for Choral Studies. She has presented for BBC Wales on “BBC Cardiff Singer of the World” competition and has adjudicated for the BBC’s “Last Choir Standing”. She is a past president of ISM and former Acting Music Director for Queen’s College, Cambridge. Venues that she has conducted are numerous and very significant: The Royal Albert Hall, St Martin in the Fields, King’s College Cambridge, Glastonbury main stage, Hyde Park, O2 and many besides. Orchestras that have performed under her direction include the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, members of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Mozart Players, English Concert Orchestra, Brandenburg Festival Orchestra and more. She was the official conductor for the Rolling Stones.
Photo credit: Fran Marshall of Marshall Light Studios
What are Our Music Masterclasses Like?
Our music masterclass courses are self-study digital courses embedded with information, interactive music software (scores), exercises, objectives, tasks, progress tracking, teaching pedagogy and videos of celebrities and international level musicians explaining and demonstrating key skills. Certificates are awarded at the end of each course.
Our community is also evolving and we have a chat feature so that you can contact us whenever you need help and can make other musical friends.
- Thorough Musicianship: Creativity, improvisation, ear training integrated with popular and classical tunes to help you gain musical freedom.
- Unique Learning Journey: Tailored methodology emphasising improvisation and ear skills first, with notation to support.
- Certification: Clear objectives, tasks, and light-hearted quizzes leading to downloadable certificates.
- Gamification: League tables for frequent log ins and certificate points.
- Interactive Software: Connect visuals and sound with creativity.
- Human Touch: Engage with our team, request specific courses, and receive personalised support.
- Flexible Learning: Low monthly fees, cancel anytime, learn in the comfort of your home (no travelling!) and at your own pace.
- Personalised Experience: Tailored support and bespoke courses available.
- All Levels: Diverse range of courses, masterclasses & 1-1 lessons are tailored for all skill levels. Perfect for adult and teenage pianists, university and conservatoire students, music therapists and home schoolers.
A Quick Look at a Typical Masterclass Course
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