Diaphragm Control - Yes or No?

In the latest poll, I asked if you think you should be able to control your diaphragm when you sing.  Astoundingly, 100% of you said "yes!"

Let's test it.  

If I say to you, raise your right hand - Can you do it?  I would hope so.

If I say to you, jump up and down - Can you do it?  I sure hope so.

If I say to you, move your diaphragm - Can you do it?  (Silence abounds!)

Having direct control over your diaphragm is really not up to you.  It's like asking you to jiggle your intestines.  It can probably be done, but only indirectly, by doing something else that affects it.

So, no, you cannot directly control your diaphragm.  This is a LARGELY misunderstood concept.  And it is understandable, since many vocal coaches will teach their students to "use their diaphragm."  Yes, your diaphragm is important in good singing.  But you can only affect it by other things you do - hence, indirectly.

By taking large breaths in (inhaling), you expand your lungs in a downward motion (like filling two balloons).  When those lungs fill with air, they push down on your diaphragm, which, being the flexible membrane that it is, curves from it's upward position to more of a sagging position.  When this happens, it forces your viscera (stomach, intestines, etc.) down and out.  This creates the "belly pooch."  When your belly "pooches" out, you then can directly control your air by contracting your abdominal muscles and slowly force the air back out of your lungs.  As the air moves out, floating over and setting in motion your vocal chords, the diaphragm slowly returns to it's original position, thus allowing the viscera to return to it's prior state.

Unfortunately, you CANNOT directly control your diaphragm.  But with lots of practice, you can indirectly control it, by controlling your inhaling, exhaling and contracting your abs.

Check the right column for the next poll!!!

5-Step Checklist (per your request)

Well, if you've been wondering where I wandered off to - I was on the Amazon!  We did some music word there and it was a long, exhausting, but WONDERFUL trip!

In the last poll, I asked which 5-step checklist you might like to have and the winner was:

How to better your breathing technique.  So, here we go:

1. Make sure that you do deep breathing exercises before you start your vocal warm-up

2. Although many professionals may advise you to breathe through your nose when singing, as long as you are well-hydrated, taking deep breaths through your mouth as you sing can be very beneficial to sing longer and stronger

3. When inhaling, your breaths should fill your lungs - as a "byproduct," you should see your stomach expand during your inhalations - use rests and commas as your cues to when you can inhale (do NOT inhale in the middle of words or in melodic runs)

4. When exhaling, especially on high or long notes, your abdomen muscles should slowly contract forcing your stomach to return to its relaxed position - make sure to use the strength in your abs to push your air all the way through long notes and melodic runs.

5. Listen carefully to your singing voice for "wasted" air, airy sounds, obvious breaths, hoarse or cracking notes and piercing notes.  TOO MUCH AIR ("wasted'): If you can hear air in your sound, and especially if you can feel it (put your palm about 4-6 inches in front of your mouth), you are not controlling your airflow with your abs and therefore, are probably exhausting yourself with excessive breathing.  TOO LITTLE AIR: If you have trouble finishing phrases, long notes or melodic runs, you are either not inhaling enough, or you are allowing the air to leave almost completely at the beginning of your phrase.  If you often hear hoarse, cracking or piercing notes, and especially if you feel pain after singing, you are probably not inhaling and maintaining with your abs correctly.

Never Underestimate the Power of Your Abs

Any singer who has sung for a substantial amount of time will tell you that "support" is vital to continuous singing. Many people will specifically say "breath support." And although it is important to be able to take full, deep breaths - no true breath support can happen without the power of the abdomen muscles.

The abdominal muscles directly affect how long we can hold a note or how powerful the breath support is behind any particular note. The concept of singing with your "diaphragm" is highly misunderstood. We have no control over our diaphragm except for how it is impacted by our breathing and abdominal movement. (To prove this point - try to move your diaphragm now. Don't know what to do? Exactly! We can't consciously control the diaphragm.) The abs, then, play a highly important role in supporting our breath and voice. After you have inhaled, by contracting your abs continuously while singing, you should notice a stronger and longer sound. Also, by using the abs correctly, many singers find that they no longer have "pain" in their throats. (Pain in the throat while singing often comes from trying to strengthen sound with the throat muscles instead of using the abs.) You can become a bit fatigued by using your abs consistently, but it should be completely painless. And just as with any other muscle, the more you use it, the stronger and easier it is to use.

Some of you may think that you are not in "good shape" enough to use your abs. This is a common misconception. In fact, your ab muscles lie beneath our "belly fat." And regardless of your overall health, you can tone and strengthen your ab muscles. There is no need to do full sit-ups when referring to muscle tone for singing. Simple crunches every day can help you strengthen those muscles. Just think of all those operatic performers who are highly overweight, but have amazingly strong and controlled voices. They have strong and toned abdominal muscles under that exterior!

Another helpful practice can be done anywhere and anytime - I refer to it simply as the "Breathing Technique" exercise.
1. Breathe in deeply.
2. Contract and hold your ab muscles.
3. Blow out the air with a quick "punch" (as if someone is punching your contracted abs which forces you to exhale quickly.)

This is very similar to the technique professional singers use to sustain notes (high or low) and to add power to any note (loud or soft).

So, are you a little on the chubby side? Do you have a weak sound? Does your throat hurt after singing? No worries...you can sing just as powerfully by strengthening and utilizing those hidden, but powerful abs!