Objective
Breathwork has become a popular practise in recent times - and rightly so. Here are some ideas that I learned from world leading voice teachers at the Guildhall and the RSC
Learning Points
Deal With NervesCentre Yourself
How?
eBook
We do this so that you can feel you are Developing Breathing for Focus and Projection…if you only get the chance to do one, then go for the big piece of imaginary chewing gum…you can do it without being noticed by the rest of the people in the office. And in any case…i want you to bravely do the lot of these, as it will make a real difference.
- In through the nose, out through the mouth (that came from rugby, for me)
- Shoulders down (do the opposite and you’ll see what i mean)
- Head shoulders knees and toes - remember from our previous exercise
- Add a count to it - in for 7, hold for four, out for 8 in, 2 three four 5 six seven - please note, you can have multiple variations of that…there’s even the yogic breathing of nostrils…i have to say i get distracted by…how unbearably unclearable my nostrils seem to be…so in for 7…hold for 4…out for eight - the one recommendation i will give is, keep the intake shorter than the out breath.
- Now try to Schhhhhh….for as long as possible
- Now sch sch sch schhhhhhh…..that’s a bit like doing reps…you want to bounce the breath so that last one has that effort but freedom…if you try it you’ll see…I do love that one because it means, when you need the breath, you’re gonna take it no matter what.
- Chew an imaginary piece of gum….(hubba bubba…bazooka joe) - you are trying to relax this part of your jaw…very tricky to do…you find it gets crunchy, clicky - maybe you’ve experienced that… Go for a two finger drop…
- Start to hum - your breath is making the sound but you don’t want it captured inside your mouth…so start to feel it on your lips
- Rub your face as you hum, see if you can release the tension even more so you get a hum going throughout your face. Hum into your nose, into your cheeks…even try the top of your head.
- Now mmmmmm…..going into Ahhhhhh.
I would not have learned so much about how to develop my vocal technique, were it not for the teaching and mentorship of Professor Patsy Rodenburg.
All of her books are still available.