Maximum Vocal Art in Music Performance: Indispensability of Breathing and Breath Control

Abstract

Good vocal art music performances that appeal to the ear and soothes the soul are the burning desires of every audience from its performers especially the erudite ones amongst them. The foundation of vocal art music lies in the proper control of the breath. Investigations and observations have shown that over fifty percent of music undergraduates in Nigerian tertiary institutions can hardly render a vocal art music performance without producing disjointed and broken notes or cracks and non-flow of the words they vocalize. Until a performer knows how to control the breath and unite tones, only then is he equipped to convey every variety of expression expected of him in vocal art music performance, else, the art of singing would become a chimera. By means of applying the working principles of the larynx and pharynx which are part of the respiratory mechanisms in the process of sound production, this paper will explore; the act of breathing and breath control in vocal art music, show reasons why impressive breath control in vocal performers should be developed and exercises for developing control of escaping air in vocal performance. All these will in turn ground the undergraduates in maximum vocal art music performance if imbibed in them early enough by music educators.