Quote Originally Posted by Reg View Post
Thomas J Hixon defines an elevated rib cage as one held in a higher position than that assumed during relaxation.
Reg.
Remaining with Thomas J Hixon, and referring again to page 124 of his Respiratory Function in Singing, I'd like to point out that here he is addressing various means by which the rib cage "may" be raised and the interaction with the diaphragm and the abdominal wall. It is with great humility and reticence that I must point out that TJ has over-looked an important function.

If you are fortunate enough to own this book, you will see his eleven interactions displayed in Table 9-1 on page 122. These two pages previous to the page 124 reference, represent his summary and the factors he will disassemble on pages 124 and on.

The interactions are listed as Inspiratory Forces // Expiratory Forces // and Inspiratory + Expiratory Forces. He lists +/- Rib-Cage functions, which means the ingress of air by expanding the chest-cage, or the egress of air by collapsing the rib-cage. These two possibilities make it quite obvious that Thomas has failed to mention the center position, a balance, or bracing.

It makes perfect sense that an elastic and dynamic chest cage would operate best in the middle of its elastic range where it may be used by some singers to help the breathing process, but I think we need to recognize that for others, bracing is just as valid.

However Thomas mixes up methods of raising the rib-cage with possible contributions from the diaphragm and the abdominal wall, the AB, which is only granted a PLUS designation on the basis that they only help with the expiration. Which is wrong of course. ## If the ABs don't get out of the way when the diaphragm is doing its inhaling, then the ABs are making a negative contribution.

Now to the diaphragm as a potential raiser of the rib-cage. That notoriety which has been heaped on a lethargic AB may equally be directed at a collapsed rib cage if the diaphragm is to have any hope of raising some of the puny lower ribs. Raise the upper ribs and the diaphragm finds it much easier to get a response from the lower ones. Once again pointing to the static bracing function of the main rib cage.

Read the two "notions" on page 123, that either the rib cage muscles themselves or the diaphragm are responsible for rib cage alignment but pay particular attention to the paragraph on the page turn from 123 to 124 where Leanderson, Sundberg and von Euler refer to continuing diaphragm activity through the sung phrase. If this happens with one singer it can happen with others, the question remaining is what would influence the brain such as to place the diaphragm in the inhale mode when a breath is not required?

Reg.