This is to really clear some air around.
Alot of teachers place much emphasis on diaphram training, and yet
even more singers see a powerful diaphram as the pinnacle of vocal
skill.
You don't need to learn
to use your diaphram. In fact, forget about it when you
sing.
Every normal person uses his/her diaphram to breathe in and out. It
is a normal body function. This process get messed up when a person
'try' to use the diaphram artifically during singing, or the body
tense up so much that nothing is 'normal' anymore.
This is of course not saying that singing is totally unrelated to
the diaphram. As a student, you'll still need to understand the
function of it in various singing modes, e.g. sustian, cresendo
etc. After knowing this, and totally comfortable with how it feels
like, one should not be concern with diaphram breathing during the
act of singing. Knowledge, in this case, grants you freedom of
movement, not the power to control.
In teaching, their are various ways to introduce the functions of
the diaphram to students. It is impossible to describle those
drills here, and it is highly possible that someone can follow
those instructions and do otherwise. It's quite an abstract
feeling, cause' the muscle is hidden in the middle of your body,
not quite the 'pump' feeling you'll get when you flex your
biceps.
The most empirical way is to do some research readings, either
dedicated singing books(try Esplanade Library) or just your normal
Biology Textbook. All my former vocal instructors brushes through
this topic, and I really understand the diaphram through reading
myself.
If someone tells you do 'diaphram exercises'
to strengthen your diaphram so you can sing better, then ask them;
does a piano student have to do finger strengthening exercises to
improve his playing?
One little test; until this very moment, while you were reading my
post, you are breathing naturally with your diaphram. Your stomach
is going up and down right? Of course right now I mentioned it, you
tense up and notice yourself, and start to hold your breath into
your chest.
In this little experiment, you are unable to differentiate between
diaphram breathing and chest breathing. As a result, no matter how
hard you try, you always end up tense in the rib-cage. In fact,
trying longer just stress you up more, putting your entire body
into a breathing spasm.
The advise is, in a very Singaporean fashion, relax lah.