Diaphragm as your best friend

Hi guys and girls,

Welcome to the new monthly Vocademy column in which I’ll be giving you plenty of tips and tricks which together with your Vocademy lessons, will help you develop into the singer you want to be!

I’d like to start this column by talking about our diaphragms – think of your diaphragm as your best friend!

• It’s so important to use your diaphragm when you sing, not only to prevent straining your vocal cords, but to focus your tone and to shape the melody.
• You can easily feel your diaphragm. You place the palm of your hand in the soft space at the base of your ribcage where it meets your stomach.
• Say “HA HA HA” (like Santa Claus, but HA instead of HO!) and you’ll feel your diaphragm move.
• As you breathe in, you need to move your diaphragm muscle down (meaning your belly will come out) allowing your lungs to fill up with air. Lying down is the best way to practice this. Imagine you have a big, heavy book on your tummy – breathe in and “lift” the book.
• By practicing lying down you’re also avoiding raising your shoulders or ribs when you breathe in which is also an important part of technique – we want to avoid any tension in your neck and shoulders as you sing.
• A great time to practice “lifting the book” is in bed, because you’re be inhaling more oxygen then usual, your mind and body will begin to relax and help you drift off to sleep!

Now have a go at singing Katy Perry’s Firework.

The melody in this song builds up from low in the chest voice to a belter of a chorus, sung at the upper end of the chest voice – you’ve just got to go for it! There is a huge dynamic range in this song. It starts very quietly in the verse, building up to the bridge (You’ve just gotta ignite the light and let it shine) then explodes into the chorus at full throttle (Baby You’re a Firework)

When learning a song like this, you need to learn exactly where to breathe, as it is just as important as learning the lyrics and melody (don’t forget to mark the breathing on your lyrics!)

Using your diaphragm will mean you can effortlessly glide between each section (Verse, Bridge, Chorus) and really focus your tone. (especially in the bridge where the melody rises and rises while getting louder building up to that chorus!)

It’s so much fun to sing! – Enjoy and I will see you next month.

Bubsie
Vocademy Tutor Chichester