Appoggio Breathing Exercises

         Now that you’ve learned the various ways it’s possible to breathe and hopefully, you’ve strengthened your breath control, which ultimately increases your overall singing and performing capabilities.  The top exercises below are similar to exercises I have already taught you; you may have even done a few of these in your voice lessons with me.  However, it is extremely IMPORTANT that you MASTER these exercises.  I have a few additional exercises but I will only post them upon request; these are seriously intense and require commitment but give them your best shot, and let me know what you think.

•            Posture Practice - Stand up straight, feet about shoulder-width, soft knees.  Extend your hands over your head with your thumbs together but only high enough that your head can remain LEVEL, without strain.  Be aware that this position straightens your spine and opens your chest.  Once again, “balance” is key.  You need to balance your torso over your abdomen but with the torso angled in front of the spine.  Be careful not to arch your back, however.  Slowly bring your arms down but make certain to maintain the position of your head and your chest.  Your chest will be high; your head will be level and alert; and your shoulders should be relaxed.

•            Abdominal Breathing - For this exercise, you will be standing similarly to Exercise 1.  However, instead of lifting your arms, locate your Epigastrium.  This is NOT complicated.  Find your Sternum or Breast Bone and run your hand down to the bottom of the bone.  Just below the bottom of your Sternum is a soft spot called the Epigastrium.  Put one fist on top of the Epigastrium and then, place your other fist over the first one, and press.  You want to PUSH the air out (PRESS out your exhalation) but keep your chest raised.  Continue to hold your fists in position.  As soon as all the air is expelled, inhale into your abdomen.  IF you feel your fists moved over the Epigastrium, exhale because you have inhaled TOO much abdominal breath.  Once the air is fully expelled, instigate another inhalation but limit the intake so that the Epigastrium remains level with the Sternum.  You should be experiencing a “comfortable” degree of fullness, not overfill.  Obviously, this kind of breathing exercise requires LOTS of practice.  This is NOT something you can do flippantly or casually.  If you want to do it well, you MUST work with it and get it right.

•            Chest Opening - Like all exercises, this one is not meant to be something you replicate in performance but this will, hopefully, help you get a feel for what Intercostal Breathing “feels” like.  Stand as you did for the two exercises above.  Make your hands into fists with arms bent in front of you, with your fists together at chin level.  As you INHALE, open your arms outward to your shoulders.  This should open and raise your chest.  As you exhale, pull your arms back together.  Repeat this over and over to get the strong connection with your Intercostals, your Ribs expanding as you INHALE.  This is the one time I will tell you to WEAR A BELT.  In this exercise, we WANT to restrict abdominal breathing and ONLY breathe using the CHEST or Intercostals.

•            Pancostal Breathing - I cannot emphasize enough that you MUST NOT do these exercises until you have successfully mastered Abdominal Breathing and Chest Opening Breathing.  For this exercise, you are going to COMBINE Abdominal and Intercostal Breathing.  For those of you who have taken lessons with me, many of you have already done this particular exercise once or twice.  Hopefully now, however, it will make much more sense, and be more beneficial.  Sit on the edge of a straight-back chair with your elbows on your knees.  In this position, your shoulders and upper body really can’t engage.  Draw in an inhale like the ones from Exercise 2, so that your Epigastrium does not bulge beyond what is comfortable.  Hopefully, you will have practiced Exercise 2 enough times to be familiar with the degree of inhalation needed.  As your inhalation fills, toward the end you should feel your ribs start to expand.  The abdominal breath should always form the foundation for your overall breathing, and act as a support for the Intercostal Breathing that follows.  The goal is to have these two movements become one fluid movement.

         These exercises are serious and you should respect them as such!  If you want to radically improve your singing, work these exercises and gain better and better breath control with them.  Once you have practiced them enough times in the positions I’ve suggested here, you should be able to employ them as you are vocalizing and performing.

         Thanks so much for reading this and following these suggested exercises; you will be glad you did!  I welcome any and all of your questions, comments, and ideas for future blog post topics.  If you have questions about my lessons or me, check out my website at www.SingitForward.net.  Thanks again!  Sing it Forward!