The process of learning vocal music for a beginner begins with imitating the singing style of a trusted teacher.
However, there are probably many students who are troubled by the fact that the teacher's breathing and singing techniques do not suit their own bodies.
There is no debate that steadily improving vocal technique requires the student's own talent and effort, as well as the teacher's teaching ability and human qualities. However, in the field of vocal music, isn't it also important to first consider whether all people have the same breathing techniques?

Breathing techniques
This is because it is so important for a singer that they will feel like "grabbing at any straw to learn a breathing technique that suits their body!"
I moved to Germany in 2006 and for six years until 2012, I took vocal lessons twice a week as a student of my mentor, Marietta Zumbült.
I still vividly remember that my first year of lessons was a nightmare. It wasn't because I was scared of the teacher (laughs). I would get very nauseous when I was singing hard, and after 30 minutes I often couldn't sing any more.
One day, Professor Zumbuert told me, "Miki's breathing method may not suit my breathing method. From today on, we will try a different way."
What was going on in my head? The conversation was in German, which I'm not used to, so I thought I must have misheard something again.
Anyway, from that day on, I began taking lessons using a breathing technique that was completely opposite to what I had been doing up until then.
However, it didn't take long for me to instinctively understand that this is what it means for something to naturally fit into my body!
Since then, I never felt sick during lessons, my breathing became smoother, and my voice became more flexible. I remember vividly that day, feeling as happy as a fish in water.
In other words, Professor Zumbuerth and I had different breathing techniques.
Now, I am grateful for the detour-like experience of the past year and for my mentor's bold decision-making.
Because when trying to understand one world, looking at it from the other side can lead to new discoveries and a deeper understanding.
And this bold change of direction was backed by a sincere desire to somehow improve my singing!
Needless to say, that experience is now of great help to me in teaching students who have different breathing techniques than I do.
If a teacher and student happen to have the same type of breathing technique, the teacher can easily convey its essence to the student because he or she feels it in his or her own body, and can also choose the words necessary to help the student master it relatively smoothly.
And needless to say, the students who receive it can feel it smoothly in their own bodies.
However, if this is not the case, that is, if the teacher and student have different types of breathing techniques, if the instructors share knowledge about these different types of breathing techniques and teach lessons together, the teacher can teach the student in a breathing technique that suits their body.
This is also extremely important in maintaining the trust between teacher and student, which is essential in vocal lessons.
I believe that it will be extremely meaningful for the development of vocal education if more singers in Japan become aware of the existence of these different types of breathing techniques and if further research into them progresses.