The Breathing Cycle - Kelly Kerr Vocal Method

Module 1	Welcome!
Unit 1	Welcome!
Module 2	Lesson One - How Your Voice is Produced. First release movements.
Unit 1	Lesson One Introduction
Unit 2	Optimum Tempo
Unit 3	Voice Mechanics
Unit 4	Home Position
Unit 5	Stance
Unit 6	Home Position Exercise
Unit 7	Lesson One Summary
Unit 8	Cheeks
Module 3	Lesson One Vocal Workouts
Unit 1	Vocal Workout - Home Position
Unit 2	Vocal Workout 1
Unit 3	Home Position
Module 4	Lesson Two - Breathing Basics
Unit 1	Breathing Basics – Lecture
Unit 2	The Breathing Cycle
Unit 3	How to Inhale and Exhale
Unit 4	Breath Control
Unit 5	Top of the Breath
Unit 6	Comfortable Full
Unit 7	Stillness at the Top of the Breath
Unit 8	How to maintain an open throat at the top of the breath
Unit 9	Breathing in the Mask
Unit 10	Basic Breathing Techniques
Unit 11	Breathing Basics Summary Exercise
Unit 12	Summary Breathing Basics
Unit 13	Breathing Basics Exercises
Module 5	Lesson Three - How to Find Your Real Voice
Unit 1	Lesson Three Lecture
Unit 2	Initiating the Tone
Unit 3	Inside Voice
Unit 4	Inside Voice Pitch Line
Unit 5	Tuning the Vocal Instrument
Unit 6	Sustain pitch: 110hz, 220hz, 440hz
Unit 7	Lesson Three Summary
Unit 8	Lesson Three Exercises
Unit 9	Vocalise Top of the Breath
Module 6	Lesson Four - Jaw, Face and the Middle Voice
Unit 1	The Middle Voice Range
Unit 2	Vocalise Sustained A
Unit 3	Jaw
Unit 4	Head Placement
Unit 5	Mid Head to Chest Relationship
Unit 6	Nose and Sinuses
Unit 7	Facial Mask Workout
Unit 8	Siren Exercise
Module 7	Lesson Five - Posture - Vocal Exercises to Tune and Tone the Voice
There are no units in this module.
Module 8	Lesson Six - Tuning and Toning the Singing Voice
There are no units in this module.

There are four stages to each breathing cycle

Inhale - The In Breath
Top of the Breath
Exhale - The Out Breath
Bottom of the Breath

We will learn specific techniques to employ at each stage of your breathing cycle.

The Inhale

Air moves into your upper body in a continuous, smooth and easy flow. All points of the vocal core remain at rest while the lungs fill and the chest and back expand.

Top of the Breath

The end of the inhale is called the, “Top of the Breath”.

It is not a set amount of air, but a location at the end of the inhale, before the exhale begins.

The Exhale

The chest gently deflates as the air leaves the lungs. The vocal core contracts evenly with all points of the vocal core open and rested.

Do NOT BLOW outward. Simply allow the upper body to deflate like a balloon.

Bottom of the Breath

The end of the exhale, is called the, “Bottom of the Breath”.

It is a designation of a place in the breath cycle, and does not indicate a specific volume or capacity.

You will learn specific skills that occur at the bottom of the breath. It's tempting to let the bottom of the breath move by without notice, but you must remain conscious and mindful at the end of your exhale in order to plan the volume of your inhale.

Goal

Name each stage of the breathing cycle: Inhale, Top of the Breath, Exhale, Bottom of the Breath.
Remain mindful for the entire breathing cycle so that you are able to ‘track’ each degree of an in and out breath in the vocal core without letting your mind wander.  
Larynx remains passive. Breaths are silent.  
All points of the home position remain at rest. They move in response to the in and out flow of the breath cycle in the upper respiratory/chest, but there is no effort to push the air out nor draw breath in.

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