How do I use my diaphragm?

Question

I'm a teacher and I want to preserve my voice throughout the day.

Answer 1

Heehee - in my mind's eye you're an elementary school teacher who's really asking 'how can I yell all day and not hurt myself?!"

Seriously though, the answer above me is great.  I'll just add that if you really do have to raise your voice, the trick is to not yell from the throat, like you'd imagine a football player doing as he hits a running back.  Instead, relax the voice like you're going to make an ambulance siren, as high as possible. If you do it right, it will feel like it came from the top of your head somewhere. Yell in this voice, and it will be easier on you and carry further, then add the diaphragmatic support for serious volume :)

Answer 2

it's harder to tell than to show.

so feel the difference :)

say a line standing up the way you normally would.

then lie down flat back arms to the side, relax, face up good posture.

and say it again

you should be able to feel the difference.

Answer 3

You really need a teacher to show you how to do this. It's all about support. Try taking in a deep breath and seeing what parts of your body move. For most people, it will be their chest. You don't want this.

Try it again and, keeping your chest and shoulders stationary, push your stomach out. Do it a couple times to see how it feels. Now, this time take in a deep breath, push your stomach out and hold it there and say some lines. Your voice should be stronger.

This is also how singers support their voices when they sing (and why you will never see an opera singer in a corset - too constricting!).

So, basically in a nutshell, don't be afraid to let your stomach hang out.

You can also practice breathing exercises for breath control and putting the 2 together should help a lot in preserving your voice.

Again, though, this is really something you need a teacher for so they can see what your doing and fix anything they need to.

check local acting schools for voice classes.