Chapter 3: Breathing and Breath Support
In this chapter, McCoy discusses the anatomy of the respiratory system and the important parts that involve singing. There is the spine, the thorax (ribcage), the lungs, the inspiratory muscles, and the expiratory muscles. The spine has a natural, S-shaped curve that should not be straightened artificially during singing. The thorax has the lungs and heart and has a significant range range of motion. The lungs are made of porous, spongy material and get bigger and smaller through inhalation/exhalation. The most important muscle of inhalation is the diaphragm and it expands like a parachute with two small humps at the base. The most important expiratory muscles are the internal intercostal muscles, found on the inside of the thorax. When contracted, the higher rib is pulled down and inward toward the lower rib, which decreases the circumference of the ribcage, inducing exhalation. McCoy also makes an important distinction between breath support and breath control. Breath support is "the dynamic relationship between the muscles of inspiration and expiration that are used to control pressure in the air supplied to the larynx. Support, therefore, is a pulmonary function." On the other hand, breath control is determined by the efficiency of the regulation of airflow through the two vocal folds in the larynx. Therefore, it is a laryngeal function. All of this information is important for us to know so that we can help our students use their respiratory system in the most effective way possible. Utilizing breath is an important concept that many young singers do not understand, and it can be an easy first step in improving the technique and projection of a singer.
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