Control freak!

We talked about controlling your breathing on long phrases in order to achieve a really good legato; this control is not just as the air leaves your body but also controlling it as it enters your body. So think of it in this way

1. As the air comes in let it enter deeply but gently; fill your lower abdomen as slowly as the music allows, feeling the rhythm of the music (the beats) as you breathe in.


2. Before you sing hold the breath firmly in your tummy, ready to use in those lovely long phrases


3. As you begin to sing there should be no sudden burst of air, just a steady stream of sumptuous sound.


4. Release all the air by the end of each phrase.

There is one big big big no-no! It is so important that I will write it in red, bold and capitals.

KEEP YOUR SHOULDERS RELAXED AND DOWN WHEN YOU BREATHE IN!

I would love you all to have a go at this exercise every day for the next week - just spend five minutes on it each day until you perfect it.

• Breathe in as above
• Gently blow the air out onto your index finger held in front of your mouth
• Practice until you can feel the air hitting your finger smoothly and evenly through the duration of the blow out.
• Listen to sound of the air and make it smooth and even through the duration of the blow out.

Smooooooth!