Athena Vale
Singing is an art form that involves a lot of muscle coordination and strength. The muscles involved in singing include the intercostal muscles, the diaphragm, the abdominal muscles, and the muscles that control the vocal cords, such as the thyroid and cricoarytenoid muscles. The coordination of these muscles with proper breathing techniques is essential for achieving greater control and improving one's singing voice. While some people may naturally have better singing abilities, anyone can improve their singing through mindful practice and a scientific understanding of the muscles and techniques involved.
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What You'll Learn
Singing requires a range of muscles
Singing is indeed an athletic activity that involves toning and strengthening a range of muscles. The diaphragm muscle in your abdomen is the largest and strongest muscle in the body, and it is what enables you to breathe in and out with your lungs. The diaphragm is controlled subconsciously by your brain, and you can feel the muscles close to it, getting an idea of its movement. When you breathe in, the diaphragm descends, creating a vacuum that sucks air into your lungs.
The abdominal muscles are the primary muscles used for exhalation. When you exhale, the abdominal muscles contract to bring the ribcage back inwards, and this process also pulls the diaphragm back up, expelling the air outwards. The diaphragm and abdominal muscles form an antagonistic pair, working in opposition to produce two actions. These muscles are also linked with the breath when they are used to "support the breath" or when they stretch as the belly expands due to the action of the diaphragm.
The intercostal muscles are also involved in taking a deep breath and controlling how air is expelled while singing or speaking. When you exhale, your ribcage returns inward, helped along by the internal intercostals. The external intercostals are responsible for the expansion of the ribcage when you breathe in. The deepest of the abdominal muscles, the transversus abdominis, go horizontally from front to back.
There are also many small muscles in your larynx and throughout your mouth and sinuses that you learn to control to produce the effects of speaking and singing. Control of the laryngeal muscles is done through a biofeedback process involving sensing and monitoring the vibration of the vocal folds. Learning to make adjustments to these actions is a complex and slow process, and it is beneficial to gain an understanding of the structures that create these sounds and feelings.
It is important to note that good singing technique involves avoiding tension in the throat and small muscles contained in the vocal mechanism, such as the vocal folds. This can be achieved by ensuring you do not have too much air in your lungs, which can cause the vocal folds to press tightly together. Instead, aim for a relaxed throat with controlled breath flow.
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Diaphragm and abdominal muscles are key
Singing is an art form, but vocal technique is a science. To improve, it is important to understand the physiological mechanisms involved in producing sound. The diaphragm and abdominal muscles are key to this process.
The diaphragm is a shelf of muscle and tendon that extends across the bottom of the rib cage, dividing the torso in two. The lungs and heart sit above the diaphragm in the thorax (chest), and the abdomen is below. The diaphragm is slightly higher on the right side and curves up toward the centre. It features a boomerang-shaped central tendon – the aponeurosis – connected by muscular fibres that originate at the lumbar spine, the bottom edge of the rib cage, and the sternum (breastbone).
When we inhale, the diaphragm contracts and moves downward, creating a vacuum in the lungs that air rushes to fill. During exhalation, the diaphragm relaxes and rises, decreasing lung volume and causing air to rush out. This mechanism is controlled by the nervous system.
While the diaphragm is often associated with breath support in singing, this is a common misconception. The epigastrium, where the abdominal muscles and diaphragm meet, is the key player in creating breath support. Engaging the epigastrium produces a consistent, supported flow of air that is expelled from the lungs. This helps to create a strong and beautiful voice.
The abdominal muscles are also linked with the breath. They are used to "support the breath" and stretch as the belly expands due to the action of the diaphragm. The deepest abdominal muscles, the transversus abdominis, go horizontally from front to back.
By understanding the mechanics of breathing and how it relates to singing, students can improve their vocal performance and avoid unhealthy habits that can lead to vocal damage.
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Intercostal muscles are important for breathing
Singing is an athletic activity that involves toning and strengthening muscles, developing stamina, and learning how not to fatigue or damage those muscles. The diaphragm muscle in the abdomen is the largest and strongest muscle in the body and is what enables us to breathe in and out with our lungs. There are also other costal muscles that are involved in taking a deep breath and controlling how air is expelled while singing or speaking.
The intercostal muscles are important for breathing and play a crucial role in the process of inhaling and exhaling. These muscles lie between the ribs and work in coordination with the diaphragm, which is located directly below the lungs. When the diaphragm contracts, it moves downward, increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity, creating more room for the lungs to expand. Similarly, when the intercostal muscles contract, the ribs move upward, and the rib cage expands, further increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity. This expansion of the thoracic cavity reduces the pressure within the lungs, creating a pressure gradient that draws air from the higher-pressure atmosphere into the lower-pressure lungs.
The mechanical advantages of the external and internal intercostals depend on the orientation of the muscle, the interspace number, and its position within each interspace. The external intercostals in the dorsal portion of the rostral interspaces have a significant inspiratory mechanical advantage. In contrast, the internal interosseous intercostals in the caudal interspaces have a large expiratory mechanical advantage. The intercartilaginous portion of the internal intercostals, or the parasternal intercostals, has an inspiratory function during breathing, while the triangularis sterni has an expiratory function.
Breathing exercises and aerobic activities like running or cycling can help improve the strength and coordination of the intercostal muscles and the diaphragm. Additionally, specific singing exercises and regular lessons with a professional voice teacher can help develop the necessary muscle memory and coordination for optimal breathing and singing.
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Laryngeal muscles control vibration of vocal folds
Singing is an athletic activity that involves toning and strengthening muscles, and developing stamina. The diaphragm muscle in the abdomen is the largest and strongest muscle in the body and is essential for singing as it enables breathing in and out with the lungs. There are also other "costal" muscles that are involved in taking a deep breath and controlling how air is expelled while singing or speaking.
The larynx, also known as the voice box, is a vital part of the vocal apparatus and is composed of cartilage, ligaments, and muscles. The larynx is split into three distinct regions known as the supraglottis, glottis, and subglottis. Within these three regions, the cartilage, neurovascular, and musculature are all intertwined to allow the larynx to function as a unit and carry out its many functions. The primary functions of the larynx are voice production, protection of the airway during respiration, and swallowing.
The vocal folds, also known as vocal cords, are located in the larynx and are responsible for producing sound through vibration. The thyroarytenoid muscle, also known as the vocalis muscle, runs the entire length of the vocal fold and is the most dense portion. The vocalis muscle is surrounded by a sheath of mucosal tissue, which varies in stiffness. The overall looseness or stiffness of the mucosa depends on the state of contraction of the laryngeal muscles.
The CT muscle, an intrinsic laryngeal muscle, and the sternothyroid muscle, an extrinsic laryngeal muscle, work together to alter the frequency of vocal fold vibration by changing the length and tension of the vocal folds. The CT muscle increases the angle between the cricoid and thyroid cartilages, elongating the vocal folds and increasing the tension and rate of vibration, resulting in a higher pitch. On the other hand, the sternothyroid muscle lowers the larynx, reducing the angle between the cartilages, shortening the vocal folds, and lowering the frequency of vibration, resulting in a lower pitch.
In summary, the laryngeal muscles, both intrinsic and extrinsic, play a crucial role in controlling the vibration of the vocal folds, which is essential for voice production and singing. By altering the length and tension of the vocal folds, the laryngeal muscles can raise or lower the pitch, allowing for a range of vocal expressions.
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Stamina and muscle memory can be improved
Stamina and muscle memory are key to improving your singing. While some people are born with a natural talent for singing, it is still a skill that can be learned and improved upon with dedicated practice. Singing is an athletic activity that involves toning and strengthening muscles, and developing stamina. It is important to be aware of the specific muscles used when singing and how to control them.
The diaphragm muscle in your abdomen is the largest and strongest muscle in the body and is used for breathing. There are also other costal muscles that are involved in taking a deep breath and controlling how your air is expelled while singing or speaking. Then, there are the many small muscles in your larynx, mouth, and sinuses that you learn to control to produce the effects of speaking and singing.
To improve your muscle memory, it is important to perform a specific motor task in the same way each time. The muscles used to perform the action will start to remember that action's form and shape and will become pre-conditioned to perform the action automatically. For example, the acts of singing, breathing, swallowing, and how we open our throat and position our tongue can all be considered motor tasks.
To build stamina, it is important to practice regularly and gradually increase the length of your vocal practice over time. This will help you learn what healthy technique feels like and improve your muscle strength. Additionally, you can try exercises such as taking a relaxed belly breath through the mouth and exhaling on a hiss, singing on a lip trill, and "suspending" your breath by inhaling and then stopping your inhale without closing your throat.
It is also beneficial to be mindful of your vocal health and avoid straining your voice. Make sure to warm up before singing and relieve any tension in your body.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, singing involves the use of many muscles, including the diaphragm, abdominal muscles, and intercostal muscles.
The vocal cords are controlled by two muscle groups: the Thyroid muscle group, which controls your Chest Voice (low notes), and the Cricoarytenoid muscle group, which controls your Head Voice (high notes).
Improving your singing muscles involves understanding the mechanics of breathing and how it relates to muscle engagement. A teacher can help guide you toward a greater understanding of breath control and how it relates to your performance.
Muscle fatigue is common among new vocal students who have not yet built up strength in their intercostal and abdominal muscles. Additionally, many people try to "push" their high notes by tensing up and pushing their voice out, which can lead to a vicious cycle of liking the results less and less.
