Proper breathing and diaphragm singing | Ron Anderson vocal tips

„The diaphragm singing” and taking a proper breath. We are certain you have heard about it. These represent the fundamental concepts in any professional singer’s handbook. There are sounds and vocal figures that you will not be effective to do without the perfect mastery of producing sounds with the diaphragm. But this is impossible when you don’t know how to breathe properly as well. Professional vocal coach Ron Anderson admits that even long-time experienced singers may have problems with proper breathing technique and diaphragm singing.

Breathing and diaphragm, the two key elements of excellent singing on stage

During thousands of private singing lessons online given, he noticed that even celebrities who have been on stage for years can commit fundamental mistakes in the matter of diaphragm singing. That is why when creating the singing app Voixtek Ron focused on learning the basics and working on improving these techniques. Trust a vocal coach to the stars, and check the proven methods by yourself (read more about how to improve your singing with Voixtek app). The results will surprise You.

Take a deep breath and just make your singing better with diaphragm exercises

Knowing how to control your breath while singing is the most basic and most important technique you must master when you sing. This has never been easy for vocalists to understand. But it is a crucial thing. Your voice should be properly supported while producing sounds. By this, we mean, first of all, proper control and regulation of breathing. It consists of deliberately prolonged exhalation with the slowest possible movement of the diaphragm up. And also of the simultaneous expansion of the chest as during inhalation.

This is the most difficult element of the basics of singing, which we must first of all be aware of. And then it must be also patiently practiced when we begin to feel the peculiar work of the ribs, abdomen, chest while inhaling and exhaling. All of this may sound complicated and incomprehensible. But Ron Anderson during his vocal lessons online will prove to you that it is not. He definitely knows what he is declaring!

Proper usage of your diaphragm makes your singing more economical

Until now, you have surely noticed that „singing with the diaphragm” is actually an art of inhaling and exhaling, perfectly in tune with sounds coming from your body. Its essence is holistic breathing, during which the entire chest is used, and the muscles of the ribs and diaphragm are the most active. The way and quality of breathing depend not merely on voice emission but also on bodily and mental conditions. Also, the proper use of the diaphragm will allow you to use less energy to produce the right sounds.

Everyone who has ever performed on stage knows how important it is to properly manage one’s condition during the show. That’s why practicing your entire vocal box is immensely important. With the Voixtek singing app you can do it easily. The app was created as a solution also to this crucial problem. It is attainable both as a web application, and interactive Virtual Reality software. Voixtek is available now, go to voixtek.com to check available membership options.

The breath is the spine. It’s what makes the voice work. It’s the most important thing that we have to make the voice function correctly. But it’s very simple: when we’re taking the breath we’re creating the space and we’re opening up the rib cage. Once rib cage is open we sustain that opening. Don’t let the ribs come back in. The second the ribs come in there is no support left, even though you may have a lot of air and a lot of breath left to go, you cannot support the sound. The mechanism at that point is closed. So we’re going to do this, and take the breath. Notice that nothing is moving. And when the ribs start to come in you need another breath, says Ron Anderson in the video above.

How does the diaphragm work when singing?

First let’s tell you what your diaphragm is. The diaphragm is a thin skeletal muscle that sits at the base of the chest and separates the abdomen from the chest. It contracts and flattens when you inhale. This creates a vacuum effect that pulls air into the lungs. When you exhale, the diaphragm relaxes and the air is pushed out of the lungs.
When you use it to sing, a flattened diaphragm keeps a supply of air in the lungs which is used to “support” the air released with proper placement for effortless singing. It holds the air in the body and gives the singer control of a resistant, steady breath. This is the foundation of your singing, the diaphragm and your breath are the first things you must learn to master in order to excel as a vocalist.

How do I know if I’m singing from my diaphragm?

Singing with your diaphragm, allows you to take larger, fuller breaths. Make sure you are standing straight and posture is proper.. Keep your back very straight, your shoulders rolled back, and focus on keeping them still as you breathe to give your breath the best space possible. Slouching pushes your ribs into your lungs and doesn’t allow for the expansion that is necessary to get a good steady breath. Make sure you’re relaxed. If you’re tense, even when in the correct posture, you will be working against the training. When you sing with your diaphragm, you will notice an ease in singing, without resistance. If you still feel tension, try standing against a wall so the back of your head, shoulders, and bottom rest against the wall now inhale into your belly button and sing on ah, in a yawn.. Notice how free your diaphragm feels while you’re singing? if you do, then you’ve achieved it.

Do all singers sing from diaphragm?

The answer to this should be YES! All singers should be using their diaphragm, but many fail at keeping the stream of air and posture consistent. So, all trained singers sing from their diaphragm, but not ALL singers do. It is imperative that this function is mastered as it is the “support” of your voice. There are many breathing techniques that will strengthen the diaphragm and teach your mind to engage all the proper muscles when singing.

Why is it important to sing from your diaphragm?

As you educate yourself in the techniques of singing, you will find the most common words you will hear are diaphragm, breath, control and ease. We use these to continue reminding the artist to support a soft and steady breath. When you fail to have control, many issues arise. Your throat will start to hurt. Your voice will crack and feel like you’ve been yelling all day. your neck and shoulder muscles will camp up and tense up, which in turn will affect the vocal cords and create inflammation, which can create nodes, polyps and vocal hemorrhage which will surely lead to surgery. If your goal is a healthy, long, career in music, you will definitely have to master your diaphragm and breath support.

Singing from diaphragm vs throat

When singing from your diaphragm, you will have an ease in singing. Your posture and body will be working, but relaxed. The breath and tone will be uninterrupted and will flourish. You can feel like you can sing for days, without feeling the least bit tired. Your shows will be a fun and enjoyable experience. Not worrying about your voice is the greatest gift a singer can receive. ALL singers can attain it. All it takes is consistency and the proper instruction.
When we sing from the throat there is a constant pressure and tension in your neck muscles. Your throat will start to hurt. Your voice will crack and feel like you’ve been yelling all day. your neck and shoulder muscles will camp up and tense up, which in turn will affect the vocal cords and create inflammation, which will lead to so many struggles in singing. You will worry about every performance. You’ll wake up and say, “I hope my voice is doing good today?” You will be constantly worried about transition notes and whether you’ll be losing your voice mid show.
Don’t let the latter be your experience when singing. Train and learn how to sing well. Join the thousands of trained professionals and see what loving to sing truly feels like.