The Old Songs

Recently I asked my chorus members this question: “What do you do when you run out of air?” The general consensus answer was: “Take a breath.” Sounds reasonable. And right they are. Well, almost right. I then told them: “Yes, that is a very good start, but it’s not the entire picture. What else do you do when you run out of air, besides taking another breath?”

At this point, silence came upon the members. (I recommend this approach if talking within the ranks is a problem!) I told them that there needs to be two other things that they must do when they reach for that next breath.

ISM

There are three things that a singer should do when running out of air before the next passage. I call it the “ISM” approach. Those three things are:

• Inhale (an obvious and vital first step)
• Smile
• Move

Let’s look at all three elements.

Inhale

First, let me be perfectly clear on one point: I am talking about planned breath spots throughout your music, not catch breaths to extend a phrase. At these planned breath spots, the first thing that the singer has to do is get a full tank of air. While this is not a discussion on how to inhale properly, just remember to use an open throat and your diaphragm to fill up for that next phrase.

Smile

I use the phrase “smile through the breath,” meaning that each time a singer inhales, a smile should cross their face. Even in a tender ballad or sad passage, a warm smile can keep the tone bright. This takes a lot of practice and repetition. Remember, each time you inhale, you must smile.

Move

Finally, move your feet. This is also called a reset. This final step is the reason that this approach applies to planned breath spots in the music. You might not want movement occurring during a catch breath on a long phrase, for example. This movement adds a visual element and increased energy to the next phrase. Some guys get lock knees or cement feet. By inviting them to move each time there is a planned breath can get them into the feeling of the song.

So try it and let me and the blog readers know how it works for you. You might be surprised how a simple little “ISM” can make a whole lot of difference.

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