Breath management: Gender-based differences in classical singers

Fifty-five subjects (38 female, 17 male), consisting of professional operatic singers, singing teachers and advanced classical voice students, were surveyed to explore gender-based differences in breath management strategies for singing. Respondents evaluated extent and significance of thoracic and abdominal movement for inhalation and for control of singing extended phrases. Females were found to concentrate breath efforts lower in the body than did men (hypogastric vs. epigastric regions). Both groups relied heavily on low thoracic activity to provide an antagonistic mechanism for control. Results corroborated a review of standard pedagogical literature, which showed variations in recommended breathing methods that strongly correlate to the gender of the author.