Hi everyone. I study instruments and just like to sing for fun in my spare time. I have been reading up on basic singing techniques and one of the problems I have been encountering is losing air support. I'm an alto/soprano. When I'm using my chest voice (which starts at the beginning G for the alto for me), I can successfully go up two octaves without having air support problems, but when I go to say the high E for soprano using my head voice, I sound like a tea kettle. I just discovered this when I was trying to sing that song from The Phantom of the Opera "Think of Me". Please, I welcome any help!

breath support may not be the only issue. I have a break in my voice right around e and f at the top space and line on the treble cleff. Singing sirens will probably help with keeping breath support and evening out breaks throughout the registers. They helped me a lot. hope that helps.

Thanks!

Are you making sure that you are breathing with your diaphragm? That could have something to do with it. I am a soprano as well, and I start to have problems near that area too. I have found that if you stand straightand breathe in your "gut" rather than your chest, your support is much better.

Oboenightmare,

I concur with blueeyedbasson, practicing sirens will help this and other issues. I would also recommend a different support technique. Slightly controversial but I have a fabulous friend from college who does do recordings for TV commecials and shows and she concurs with my suggsted technique.

Test for measurement - sing a passage or do the siren exercise mention above as you would normally do or sing.


First off, forget about your "diaphram muscles". Your diaphram is interior and will do what it needs to. Second don't think about supporting your tone by pushing your gut in to get the air out. Think about pushing your entire torso outwards.

Here is an execise to demonstrate what I mean. Start wIth your arms at your sides.Slowly raise them out and up tot he side (not in front of you but to the side of you so your body makes a "T"). Now put your arms back down to your sides and raise them again, but this time have a friend hold them down to keep you from raising them. Feel the tension? Feel the awareness of pushing your arms out and away from you?

Now sing a passage or do a siren exercise while keeping your abdominal muscles and rib cage pushing out with the same sensation you had with your arms when pushing against your friends hands.

Compare this to measurement test above.

JOhn

So, if done correctly, will the proper breathing technique be similar to playing a wind instrument?

Well, yes for the most part.

But also understand that most instrumentalist are not taught proper breathing and support.
But again, YES.
The answer is Yes.

Let me know what you think after trying teh above exercise. I think you will find your higher notes much more fuller.

That worked very nicely! Thanks!