Hi, i was wondering if with the proper lessons,can someone who does not have a natural singing talent be taught to sing passably? And what are some breathing exercises i can do to increase my lung capacity?
thank you Saint Bee, for your informative answer.
Certainly, dregensten, you can profit from singing lessons, insofar you are alert, intelligent, and willing to unlearn some societal habits we have all formed since 7 or 8 years old, namely, that we breathe too shallowly ( most of us up around our collar bones, and not down into our bellies., that we all carry that " the boss has said something stupid, but I'm not going to let myself reply" tight jaw, and that we don't have a feeling of being happy with our personal space/propriety/sexuality ( whaddaya mean, I'm supposed to get energetic down there???!!!).
Singing lessons can help us make contact with abdominal breathing ( also called diaphragmatic breathing), with a loose relaxed jaw, and feeling happy about who and what we are. This can only profit a pleasant voice, and help a scratchy or rough voice in the direction of becoming pleasant.
Faintly akin to the disciplines of yoga or martial arts which emphasize body awareness, singing is also good for one's mental as well as physical health. ( The German magazine GEO has just published an article in this month's issue on the benefits of singing, if anyone out there reads German)
By all means, indulge yourself with lessons from a good teacher. Take the time to find someone who is good, and not just expensive. Consult with your church choir, your local college or university, a good solid music store, to see who has a reputation that can be trusted. There is no one single teacher who has a 100% success rate, but if you come across someone whose students are more than regularly pleased, try your luck there.
As someone else suggested, swimming is excellent for breathing. For a drier time of it,start by moving your awareness down into your belly region. You will become acquainted with various sorts of muscles there. The major ones are the long front muscles, rectus abdominus, and the "abs" that we know from all the fitter men out there…..
Along with the broad muscles in your back ( lattisimus dorsi), the sensation is not unlike having a tire or swimming ring around your middle. Breathing in means letting the tension there go. Breathing out is like a long, satisfied, only that the above mentioned muscles act like a brake. You can start and stop whenever you like. Try hissing ( your teeth and jaws are not clenched), and see how many seconds you can go. 20-25 is a good start. Don't let yourself get dizzy. By using your belly and back muscles in this way, you can GRADUALLY work your way into longer periods of time. Let's not try for the Guinness Book of Records, however, anything over 30 secs. is quite passable. This is what we call breath control. It really has nothing to do with your vital, or lung capacity. It has everything to do with how you use it.
Best wishes and do sing