Chapter 1 - Breathing And Vocal Hygiene

Breathing Exercises | Relaxation Exercises | Vocal Organs | Vocal Hygiene

Correct management of the breath is of first importance to the student of elocution. When the voice is not in use breathe exclusively through the nose so that the air may be warmed and purified before reaching the lungs. This habit will, in large measure, obviate the disagreeable effects of dry mouth and sore throat, so common to public speakers. Practise as much as possible in the open air. Be enthusiastic and in earnest.

It is now generally conceded that the abdominal method is the natural and correct way to breathe. In inhalation the abdominal wall moves outward, the diaphragm contracts and descends, while the lungs resting upon the latter are expanded to their fullest capacity. In exhalation the reverse movement takes place. To inflate the chest and draw in the abdomen is to breathe wrongly.

The correct position for practising the exercises is as follows: Stand easily erect, chest active, shoulders equal height, chin level, one foot slightly in advance of the other, heels at an angle of forty-five degrees, knees straight, weight of the body on the toes, arms a dead weight at sides.

BREATHING EXERCISES

1. Gentle abdominal breathing. Inhale through the nose gently and slowly, expanding first the abdomen, then the chest, filling the entire breathing capacity. Exhale quietly and evenly until these parts are wholly contracted. Repeat, inhaling and exhaling through the mouth.
   
   
2. Sipping and packing the air. Slowly sip the air until the normal capacity is filled, then increase the expansion by firmly packing in more air. Exhale slowly on aspirated ah (the sound of a in father). The exhalation should be
   
   
3. deep, smooth and sustained as long as possible.
   
   
4. Nostril breathing. Gently close the right nostril with the thumb of the right hand. Inhale slowly and deeply through the left nostril until the capacity is filled, then change the thumb to the left nostril and exhale slowly through the right nostril until the breath is exhausted. Then with the thumb still closing the left nostril, inhale and repeat.
   
   
5. Holding the breath. Inhale deeply. Hold the breath while mentally counting five. Exhale slowly. Increase the count to ten, fifteen, etc. Stop at the first sign of dizziness.
   
   
6. Muscular expansion. Inhale deeply. Hold the breath and expand the lungs with a muscular effort. Exhale slowly. Again inhale and force the air down into the lungs. Also move the chest up and down, keeping the air in the lungs all the time.
   
   
7. Counting in a whisper. Inhale deeply. Count one to fifty in a loud whisper, in tens.
   
   
8. Whispering continued. Inhale deeply. Count in a projected whisper to fifty, one at a time, completely exhausting the air upon each figure.
   
   
9. Raising the hands above the head. Clasp the hands and while inhaling deeply raise them slowly above the head, endeavoring to reach as high as possible without raising the heels from the floor. Exhale while the arms gently fall to the sides.
   
   
10. Raising the shoulders. Inhale deeply. Clench the hands at sides and while holding the breath, slowly but firmly raise the shoulders up and down five times. Exhale slowly and smoothly.
    
    
11. Instantaneous breathing. Inhale instantaneously, deeply and fully. Exhale instantaneously.
    
    
12. Rapid breathing. Inhale fully and deeply. Breathe rapidly through the nostrils as in panting. Exhale slowly through the mouth. Rest and repeat.
    
    
13. Lying down. Practise the foregoing exercises lying flat on the back, without the use of a pillow.

RELAXATION EXERCISES

1. The arms. Relax the arms at sides. While inhaling, slowly raise the arms above the head with as little tension as possible. Hold the breath, make the arms tense and reach as high as possible with the hands, hold a few seconds, then relax and exhale as the arms slowly descend.
   
   
2. The hands. Repeat, clasping the hands above the head and swaying from side to side.
   
   
3. Walking. Relax the entire body and walk in imitation of intoxication.
   
   
4. The body. With head and neck thoroughly relaxed, shake the body vigorously.
   
   
5. The breath. While inhaling, raise the arms to horizontal position, then hold the breath and stretch as far as possible.
   
   
6. The feet. With weight on forward foot, the back ward foot lightly touching the floor, slowly raise one arm while inhaling deeply and reach out as far as possible.Relax and reverse.
   
   
7. Position. Relax the head and drop the arms down as if reaching to the floor. The knees should be straight. Slowly assume an upright position and inhale deeply. The head should be raised last.
   
   
8. The waist. Relax the head and revolve at the waist. Reverse.
   
   
9. Yawning. "While inhaling, slowly raise the arms as in yawning, then stretch and relax.

The student will find it beneficial to hold some lofty and appropriate thought in mind while practising these exercises.

VOCAL ORGANS

A brief outline of the organs used in speech, or closely related thereto, is all that is necessary in the present volume. Those who wish to make a comprehensive study of this branch of the subject will find numerous books upon the physiology and anatomy of the vocal organs.

1. Chest. The chest is formed by the backbone, ribs, breast-bone and collar-bone. It is lined and covered with membranes supported and worked by muscles. It contains the lungs, heart and principal arteries and veins.
   
   
2. Lungs. The lungs are conical, formed of five lobes, honeycombed with hexagonal cells of various sizes to contain air. The duty of the lungs is to supply oxygen to, and take up carbon from, the blood.
   
   
3. Heart. The heart is situated between the two lungs under the breast-bone, inclined to the left. The duty of the heart is to regulate the passage of the blood; the blood is passed into the lungs to receive oxygen and deposit carbon; it is then passed through the arteries to the extremities, then returned through the veins to the heart, and again undergoes the same process.
   
   
4. Larynx. The larynx is formed by the top ring of the windpipe, the two shield cartilages, and epiglottis or lid.
   
   
5. The vocal cords. These consist of two slight, elastic bands, situated in the larynx, and immediately below its outward projection, known as the "Adam's apple." In the act of voice production, they are thrown forward into the current of air escaping from the lungs, causing them to vibrate rapidly.
   
   
6. The epiglottis. This is the lid of the glottis, preventing foreign bodies from entering the larynx. The epiglottis is raised during the action of breathing, and closes to allow food to pass over it into the gullet.
   
   
7. The soft palate. This is the membranous, muscular curtain at the back of the mouth, forming a partition between the mouth below and the nasal passages above it. When it is raised as high as possible, it closes the opening from the back of the mouth to the nostrils, and the vocal current passes out entirely through the mouth. When it is allowed to fall upon the tongue, the passage to the mouth is closed, and the vocal current escapes by the nostrils, producing a nasal tone.
   
   
8. The uvula. This is the pendent portion of the soft palate.
   
   
9. The hard palate. The hard portion of the roof of the mouth above the upper teeth.
   
   
10. The pharynx. This is the cavity into which the mouth and nose open.
    
    
11. The diaphragm. This consists of two muscles and a central tendon, forming a floor on which the lungs rest and partitioning them from the abdominal organs. To the former it is convex in shape and to the latter concave. This arch contracts in inspiration, pressing the abdominal organs downward and outward, thus making room for the increased body of the inflated lungs. In expiration, it recovers its former position, thus pushing or pressing against the lungs and drawing the air out. It has been termed the bellows of the vocal organs. It takes a slanting direction from the breastbone to the loins.
    
    
12. The glottis. This is the mouth of the larynx, and is a membranous or muscular fissure, the edges of which constitute the vocal cords or glottis lips.
    
    
13. The trachea or windpipe. A cylindrical, cartilaginous and membranous tube, forming the common air passage to the lungs. It is partly situated in the neck and partly in the chest, and measures about four and a half inches in length.
    
    
14. The articulative organs are the tongue, teeth and lips.

VOCAL HYGIENE

In order to keep the voice in the best condition, strict obedience must be paid to laws for general health. Care should be taken as to daily physical exercise, bathing, fresh air, sleep, food and clothing. A speaker should never expose himself to cold or damp air immediately after exercising the voice. Loud and animated conversation, whispering and immoderate laughter, should be avoided. Cold or iced drinks are not good for the throat, but if used they should be taken slowly and in small quantities. The outside throat should not be muffled, but hardened by exposure. Cultivate the habit of breathing through the nose and keeping the mouth firmly closed.

Lozenges, troches and drugs are not generally recommended. If the mouth becomes uncomfortably dry just before speaking, the flow of saliva will be quickly promoted by chewing a piece of paper. A gargle for the throat, to be used night and morning, is made of one pint of water, a teaspoonful of salt and ten drops of carbolic acid. The following method of gargling is recommended: 1st. Raise the head slightly. 2d. Open the mouth moderately. 3d. Bring the lower jaw forward by raising the chin. 4th. Sound the vowel e as in the word her. 5th. Breathe easily and regularly.

Are You Ready To Move Onto The Next Lesson? Click Here….