What is Breath Support?

What is Breath Support?

Traditionally, the term SUPPORT comes from singers' world, and there are at least two types of SUPPORT widely spread over singers and wind instrument people, as far as I know.

(1) Traditional, appropriate use of SUPPORT
Excellent singers consistently realize comfortable, slight to moderate, and passive tension on either stomach area or lateral wall of abdomen when they are successfully producing their voice associated with good projection and good resonance (pure color, or pure with shining core; consonant released forward and vowel upward consistently behind the consonant). They perceive as if the air stream is SUPPORTED by that passive tension of abdominal muscles. Meanwhile speech voice or dirty/poor singing voice (both consonant and vowel go forward together) causes less SUPPORT perception. Thus, SUPPORT perception is recognized as one of expected phenomena during good quality singing, and is usually associated with well-projected, resonant tones of wind instruments. The amount of air, air speed and air pressure can be minimized during production of vocal-quality, well-projected tones with which proper SUPPORT is associated.

Physiological interpretation:
Major role of SUPPORT function can be described as: "inspiratory activity of inspiratory muscles (=diaphragm and some intercostal muscles) during exhalation". Various patterns of active/passive increases in diaphragmatic tension (it is a VOLUNTARY muscle) during exhalation enable both singers and wind instrument players to make delicate and fine control of the air stream.

Major exhaling force during exhalation:
*Passive (spontaneous) elasticity of respiratory bulk (up to 30 cm water gauge)
*Increase in abdominal muscle tension

Major inhaling force during exhalation:
*Increase in diaphragm tension
*Increase in intercostal muscles to expand rib cage

Make sure of the fact that the amount of passive elasticity, derived from structure of our respiratory system, depends on the amount of air left. This readily indicates that exhaling force contains a big uncontrollable element. Therefore it is of physiologically rational and essential behavior for our body that fine control of air stream is established by recruiting inspiratory muscles during exhalation.

Although the mechanism of action of diaphragm during instrument playing or singing still remains to be clarified, there is evidence that trained singers manipulate diaphragm voluntarily and another possible explanation is that stretch reflex-like behavior of diaphragm is also involved. Well-trained diaphragm is supposed to be very sensitive to changes in the property of air stream and once it is stretched by some force (small increase in the air pressure, etc), the diaphragm may result in its passive and quick contraction via a stretch reflex-like mechanism.

As a result of inspiratory muscle activation, abdominal organs are pushed down and abdominal wall is passively extended in order to SUPPORT internal stuff, if abdominal muscles are well relaxed and NOT actively contracted. Passive extension causes increase in tension of abdominal muscles and thus it is perceived. Levels of passive tension on abdominal muscles can be supervised and controlled by our central nervous system so that these muscles do not interfere with inspiratory muscle activities.

2. Traditional, wrong use of SUPPORT
Those who misunderstand the role of abdominal muscles have urged students to hold ACTIVE and CONSTANT contraction of abdominal muscles. They sometimes feel gravity center around the navel. They feel comfortable and no fatigue in their throat.

Physiological interpretation:
Primary and sustained active contraction of abdominal muscles interrupts freedom of inspiratory muscles. This means fine control of the air stream is tough and nearly impossible. In addition, respiratory muscles may receive excess stress because of restricted function of inspiratory muscles, resulting in protective action which may cause stiffness and lack of flexibility of muscles including lips, tongue and throat muscles. In this case, however, it is sometimes very difficult to perceive muscle stiffness since one is paying much attention to perceive "gravity center" and thus less sensitive to the condition of other muscles.

Original draft, Fall, 2005
Revised Jan 6, 2010