OK, you’ve been practicing your song in your living room and hey, you even have the “Xbox Idol” game to hone your singing skills.  You sing a couple notes ….oh no, even the family dog howls!  And he doesn’t even have a pedigree.  Critics!  Why does your voice sound off key when you know it should stop a crowd and please all?

It’s all in your breath.  Not chronic halitosis, mind you, but instead the way you breathe in and out.  There’s a muscle under your rib cage called your Diaphragm.  As we age most people lazily drop our rib cages when we breathe allowing the tummy to go in and out and don’t even engage the Diaphragm.

When I was in the Philharmonic Chorus we talked a lot about breathing for singing.  Here is a good exercise to change lazy ways:  Stand up straight, feet shoulder width apart.  Keep the ribs high and feel a breath cool the back of the throat.  Feel it going deep, all the way down to your toes.  Ahhhh….so relaxing.  People also use this type of deep breathing also to heal, to meditate, to slow down.   Now place your hands behind your back, thumbs on your hips, fingers just touching together, about at your waist level.  Breathe in again, feel that satisfying breath fill you and until is even moves your fingertips apart a wee bit.  Sooo good! 

Next is an exercise to engage your Diaphragm and bring your singing up to Avril’s.  Again, make sure you are standing evenly, feet shoulder width apart.  Take a breath and say, “Sssss”, face relaxed, releasing the air slowly with your exhalation.  Did you feel how your ribs lifted up and area under your ribs inflate like a tire tube?  This is a good thing.  Release the breath, saying “Sssss” for 3 counts of four, 4 counts of four and see how far you can go!

Repeat these exercises as you drive your car, wait in a line up or are lucky to find yourself with some ‘Idol’ time.

Recording artist Karen Fowlie has been called, “A mainstay in the Vancouver Country/Rock scene”, receiving considerable local acclaim for her recordings and live performances of original music.  Aside from regular performances, Fowlie now gives lessons from her Lions Bay home. 
“Smokin’ Voice” – North Shore Outlook