BreathingRx
While attending the Classical Singer Magazine Convention this Spring in New York City I spoke with several of the representatives of music schools and conservatories around the country. I was curious about their commitment to online courses of study as I am developing an e-course for singers on the subject of breath support . One dean of a southern college mentioned the phrase, "extended online learning." Many colleges are using these online e-course formats in academics. The music colleges are starting to follow suit, it seems. I began to think why it is that the individual voice teacher or vocal or music coach couldn't do the same with their studio. It would add to the students value, help the student to structure their study outside the studio and in the case of my course, even help the teacher to deepen their understanding of an aspect of teaching voice that is often badly misunderstood or muddy at best. I also thought that structuring the course in the proper way would increase the student's ability to absorb instruction in the lesson in studio, create loyalty to the teacher and an extra income source for tha teacher as well. Steven Flam The Worlds Leading Teacher of Breath Support for Singers Reverse engineering is analyzing the finished product & attempting to break it down into its components to find out how it works & how the end product is ultimately arrived at. "Creating space" above the upper note that's sung: well with BreathingRx For Singers you have all the space in the world, above, below,& on both sides creating a resonant surround-sound. Singing "su fiato" (on top of the breath allowing the breath to carry the sound): well this happens automatically with BreathingRx for Singers since the diaphragm is totally free and the entire rib cage is loose, flexible & pliable. This will also allow the flourishing of a "linea scholastica" (true Italian phrasing in frontal fashion)! "Abbandono nella produzione canora": happens automatically with BreathingRx For Singers because all of the head/face/neck/trapezial/levator scapulae/deltoid & pectoral muscles are free, loose, relaxed & SYNCHRONIZED allowing NO tension whatsoever on the vocal cords & tracheolaryngeal muscles of phnation. "Spin of the sound as it rises," happens automatically as per the above concept & the total harmonic synchrony of the autonomic nervous system balance between the Phrenic & Long Thoracic nerves & cervical nerve roots. With the supported column of air within this Coordinated System: "passagio" happens automatically & becomes a fictional myth with a column of uniform sound throught the register. True inherent sound of the voice & vocal color open up when the Coordinated System is accompanied by the forward movement of the tongue & the "pelvic bump" the so called "archeggio" happens naturally & effortlessly. BreathingRx allows for a "perpetual-at-rest" state for the thoracic cavity & torso with minimal energy expenditure & maximum oxygenation allowing for optimum, non-fatigueability in vocal/stage performance!!" Why Diaphragm Target Training? 07/27/2010
Peaking the strength and freedom of your diaphragm, (possible through the techniques of Breathing Coordination upon which the BreathingRx System is based,) creates some interesting conditions in the body that help singers. For instance, when the diaphragm is trained to be so free that it can rise higher than normal, it can find you more air than you realized was there. This allows you to sing more empty of air consistently and is more relaxing for many reasons. Also, when the diaphragm rises high the pull on the trachea, (airway,) is lessened an the throat and back or the tongue magically release restrictive tensions most singers are not even aware they have. This can also allow the back of your tongue to modulate vowels to increase resonance when needed. Great singers tell me they occasionally find the "zone". A place where singing and breathing feel completely easy like a release without any effort. Learning specific techniques to be able to perform from that place consistenty gives you the mental space, while performing, to allow the subtleties of interpretation to be the main focus. When you can trust yourself to perform at this level consistently you can do deeper artistic preparation knowing you will be able to execute at that level. Yes, I am talking about elite levels of vocal and artistic performance. There are techniques that, when practiced, can ensure that consistency. Steven Flam Excellent herbs for getting rid of mucus in the throat, chest and lungs for the voice professional. 07/09/2010
 David Aaron Katz is a Cantor and international singer of Opera and Broadway as well as a nutritional consultant, Herbalist and Reiki practitioner. He has been using herbs, supplements and diet for over 20 years to enhance, strengthen, heal and maintain his voice and has helped countless others do the same. He uses his unique combination of Professional performance experience and nutritional expertise to empower and educate all voice professionals to take the health of their voice and career into their own hands. Getting rid of mucus in the throat, chest and lungs is one of the most difficult and pressing issues for the voice professional. We need mucus in our throat and a thin lining on our vocal cords to keep the cords hydrated and flexible. This is the way our body naturally takes care of our vocal cords. However, as voice professionals, to much mucus can be our worst nightmare. Over the counter and prescription drugs may remove the excess mucus but at what cost? Drying of the entire throat and vocal cords, dizziness, mental fog, digestive discomfort such as constipation or diarrhea and fatigue are just a few of the side effects that one can experience. In this post I will give you more than enough choices of excellent herbs that have been tried and tested through out the ages to get rid of excess mucus in the throat, chest and lungs without affecting the rest of your body negatively. They are safe, effective, and help the rest of your body to heal as well. Remember, from my other posts on food and diet, that excess mucus is almost always the body telling us we are off track with what we are consuming. Here are the herbs you may use, all of these herbs are very effective when used as a tea: 1. ANGELICA Angelica is a very good herb that may be used to break up mucus in the lungs. It is often used to ward off the flu or a cold and can break up mucus from a cold very quickly. NOTE: Angelica should not be taken by anyone who is pregnant or has diabetes. 2. BLUE VIOLET Blue Violet is excellent at relieving severe headaches and especially congestion in the head. It is known to clean mucus out of the system. 3. COLLINSONIA: Collinsonia soothes the mucus membranes. It has slight astringent properties relieving inflammation of the throat due to colds and flu. 4. COMFREY Comfrey is one of my personal favorites. It is used for lung problems, hoarseness, sore throat and is very effective in clearing the mucus membranes. It is also high in potassium providing the body with energy. 5. PLEURISY ROOT Pleurisy root is very good for all chest disorders. It is one of the best herbs known for breaking up colds and releasing mucus. The following herbs may be used as powders when crushed up and sniffed in the nose, gargles or applied to the chest or throat externally to release mucus. 1. COLTSFOOT Coltsfoot is very soothing to the mucus membranes. Boil a heaping teaspoon in a quart of water as a tea then take a cloth and moisten it with the freshly made tea. Apply it to the chest and throat for ten or fifteen minutes. This will loosen the phlegm and is good in all coughs and bronchitis as well as all lung troubles. For nasal congestion and obstruction, crush the leaves into a fine powder and sniff the powder into the nostrils. 2. FENUGREEK SEED Fenugreek seed is very useful when crushed up and sniffed into the nostrils. Especially when dealing with mucus from allergies and mucus in the head and chest. 3. HYSSOP Hyssop is mentioned in the bible in Psalm 51:7: “PURGE ME WITH HYSSOP AND I SHALL BE CLEAN; WASH ME AND I SHALL BE WHITER THAN SNOW.” It is extremely useful for all mucus problems in the chest throat and lungs. Use it as a gargle to loosen up mucus in the throat. NOTE: Never use for more than one week at a time. There you have some excellent herbal solutions to mucus problems in the throat, chest and lungs. Always consult an herbal practitioner and you doctor when you have questions about dosage and mixing herbs with any medications you may already be taking. As always, I wish you the best on your quest for Superior Vocal Health. David Aaron Katz Optimal Vocal Support 07/06/2010
An Article By Dr. Modesto Fontanez MD Neurosurgeon and Dramatic Tenor Many times we think we are breathing adequately for singing and the truth of the matter is that we are not. Before I learned to breathe properly as a singer I had the tendency to over-inhale and over-support. I was taking too big a breath before a long phrase. Ironically, this does not work as the alveolar structures of the lungs become over distended. Breathlessness results due to inefficient oxygen/carbon dioxide interchange. The singer then applies more effort to the inhale and tension develops in the upper chest and throat. This string of events undermines the individual’s true sound and vocal quality. The extra effort to inhale also creates tremendous difficulty in challenging arias or musical phrases. Over time this can result in any of the varieties of vocal stress or damage. How do we breathe optimally for singing and avoid vocal stress? Required is the recruitment of the muscles of the upper chest, including the intercostal and pectoral muscles, the abdominal muscles and all of the muscle groups of the back. All of these muscles must be taught to release effectively so they can follow the diaphragm’s motion. Conversely, the diaphragm must be trained to be optimally free and strong so it can effectively lead the rest of the muscles and structures in the movement of breathing. Only then is it possible to allow a gentler meshing of support and vocal fold activation and avoid stressful use of the voice. There is a system that brings together all of the components needed in order to achieve the ideal breath support. It teaches the ideal release and coordination of all the muscles and structures, scientifically target trains the diaphragm and is geared to synchronize the aforementioned muscles so that the support is perfectly balanced with the resistance from the vocal cords. It is called “The BreathingRx For Singers System”. It is based partially upon “Breathing Coordination”, (Carl Stough's discovery of scientific diaphragm training.) Breathing Coordination has been tested with extraordinary success on Olympic athletes as well as opera singers. Broader benefits exist beyond those of singing alone as there is increased oxygen in the bloodstream, brain, central and autonomic nervous system as well as body tissues. As a result of the additional oxygen nervousness would be reduced, memory increased and physical, (and vocal,) endurance would be enhanced. BreathingRx For Singers – Vocal Breath Support Mastery Even though ideal vocal support is dependent on factors like posture, diaphragm training and the right body release, there are some very easy and simple things you can do with your own body that can help you immediately with your singing. This exercise is simple and effective and will continue to help you improve as you practice it over time. When a singer can relax the abdomen completely, the abdomen can be felt to release all the way around. Lowering the abdomen correctly frees up the diaphragm to more easily support the voice and add resonance to your sound. It also allows you to take more oxygen into your body and blood helping you focus more and calming the nervous system. Diaphragm Releasing Exercise:
|  Steven Flam
Developer of the BreathingRx For Singers System, The Vocal Breath Support Mastery E-course and has traveled the world teaching for over 33 years. ArchivesAugust 2010 Categories |
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