When To Use Breath Support

Sorry to be asking so many questions, but I'm clueless when it comes to singing. My singing teacher won't be available until September. Instead of waiting for September like a normal person, I got impatient and decided to post all of my questions here.

Anyway, I am confused about breath support. Am I supposed to "push" (for a lack of a better term) my abdomen for an entire phrase, for every note, or for only high notes? I don't even know if I'm making any sense...

Sorry to be asking so many questions, but I'm clueless when it comes to singing. My singing teacher won't be available until September. Instead of waiting for September like a normal person, I got impatient and decided to post all of my questions here. Anyway, I am confused about breath support. Am I supposed to "push" (for a lack of a better term) my abdomen for an entire phrase, for every note, or for only high notes? I don't even know if I'm making any sense...

For the entire phrase, for every note.

Sorry, I think I should reword the question. Should I "push" for a note and then stop pushing, then "push" again for another note?

No. During an entire phrase (while you're letting out any sound), you should be holding your "push". Don't stop pushing at any time while you're singing a phrase.

Thank you That clears everything up.

You're welcome.

When I sing, I keep the support active for the entire song. I've read tht some singers do it for the entire gig/night.

In that case I'd wager that support is also a very confusing word with multiple meanings.

As a scientist, the singing scene is a frustrating mess.

In that case I'd wager that support is also a very confusing word with multiple meanings. As a scientist, the singing scene is a frustrating mess.

Boy is this ever true! Just Google something like "breath support for singing" and the stuff you get is all over the map....very confusing!

I had no idea about Pushing the abs. But I realize that I am pushing my abs....I have been just making sure I am breathing and attacking the note right...never noticed my abs.

I wonder how many calories are burned when singing

Not that many.

But i often hear the swimming is the best exercise for singers.

Obviously, you need good breath support for swimming.

And it burns a lot of calories.

The word push kind of makes me suspect your going in the wrong direction. I know you said "for lack of a better term" but...

However, to try and draw yet another mental image, imo, only confuses the issue more. There are so many analogies and explanations and "it's kind of like," out there that you don't need another.

But as far as when? Some one already said, whenever you're letting out any sound. For me it's just a matter of control. When I sing, support is part of the act of singing....not an added feature. So it's always there. However, I vary how much and how long depending on how long a phrase might be or how high a note is or how high and how long, or even for texture and/or color of a word or phrase. Or control of a particular word and on and on.

For example I might sing the phrase "All that you need, is in your soul." I can sing it like that with just enough breath support to make a nice controlled and strong phrase as well as have enough breath to finish the sentence. Or I could emphasize the word "need" and kind of slide up the scale. So it would become "All that you neeEED" (sort of...I don't know how to write it). For that I need more support because I have to push out the last part off "need" for it to be stronger than the first part of the word. My voice is going up. And I don't want it to be airy so I want my folds closed too. I don't want to push air out like "neeheed."

In my opinion support is best explained in person. What I explained is only what I do....which for someone else could be wrong.

Sing a lot....good luck

How much support to use equals how much air your have left in your lungs and how high you are singing. Therefore, if you end a music sentence on a high note, you are most likely to feel like you need to apply more support as you run out of air. To understand what correct breath support feels like, pretend that you are blowing candles on a birthday cake. Supporting the voice feels the same. You just need to find your balance between too much and not enough. Good luck!

Singing is like playing a wind instrument, and requires similar breath support through melodic phrases. Some of the most amazing singers I know of were or are also trumpet/trombone/sax players.

It's also similar because whether singing or blowing a horn, you are forcing a small but steady compressed stream of air through a tight space.

That's true and I never thought of how horn playing would be similar to the feeling of support. I tend to think explaining support is kind of a two part thing. As the example you gave, which is similar to pushing air through tightly pursed lips; these are examples of what support feels like. Even the above example of blowing out birthday candles. What it feels like is step one. I think step two then becomes how to use support which apparently not everyone is understanding.

I think the length of the phrase you are singing is a key component in your breath support. Think about when you are holding a conversation with someone. Do you consciously pay attention to when you take a breath? No. You naturally just know when you should breathe. I apply that thinking to my singing and will take a new piece of music and review the phrasing, where the rests are and how long the phrases are. Short phrases I need less air so will take a shorter breath, with longer phrases I know I will need more air so I will have to take a larger breath. The trick is to take in only as much air as you will need for the next phrase because if you take a huge breath in for a measure or two the rest of the breath is wasted and you will have to exhale before taking your next breath. (Very important if you have a fast tempo piece with lots of syllables) And remember your posture stand up strait, one foot ahead of the other and use your whole lungs.