PURPOSE: to analyze the definition of breath support, as well as the strategies used to achieve it and their benefits according to both singing teachers and Speech Language Pathologists (SLP). METHODS: six professionals experienced in singing voice answered an interview on issues pertaining to singing breath support. The answers were submitted to content analysis from where four categories were derived: definition of breathing support, type of support, strategies and benefits. RESULTS: the aspects that were most often reported by the professionals are: the definition of breath support is related to the participation of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles; the most adequate type of support is intercostal and diaphragmatic; among the strategies used to improve breathing support, the most commonly mentioned were body perception, awareness of the muscles involved in the process, air flow balance, tension relief and posture alignment. There are discrepancies as for the abdominal contraction, use of different objects as guidelines, mental imagery, and use of singing exercises - vocalizes. According to the interviewed subjects, the greatest benefit of breath support lies in the relief of laryngeal tensions and improvement of respiratory coordination. There was a low level of agreement about the benefits of support, especially with regards to the improvement of the singing voice. CONCLUSION: the results point out to a convergence of opinions as for most of the interviewed subjects when considering the definition, approach strategies and benefits of breathing support, however, still with no consensus on the subject.
Voice; Breathing Exercises; Diaphragm; Vocal Training; Voice Quality
