Exploring breathwork paradigms of South African singing education lecturers

Abstract

This study explored the breathwork paradigms of South African Singing Education Lecturers (SASingEdL) through the lens of a Life Skills educator. The current South African Curriculum and Assessment Policy (CAPS) requires Life Skills educators to teach the concepts of ‘breathing awareness’, ‘breath control’, and ‘breathing exercises’ in the school classroom. Within the Life Skills curriculum, these breathwork teaching and learning (BWTL) concepts are categorised under the ‘warm up and play’ topic of the Performing Arts category. More specifically, these concepts form part of ‘vocal warm-up’, i.e., singing. However, exactly why and how these concepts should find application in the classroom is poorly articulated in the CAPS. Subsequently, learner textbooks reflect a meagre effort towards BWTL. One specific leaner textbook series used in South African schools ignores the subject altogether.

There is compelling evidence from educational studies in the Americas (USA, Canada), Oceania (Australia, New Zealand), Europe (Germany), and the Far East (Japan, India, Singapore, Taiwan) that demonstrates how BWTL plays a beneficial role in learner well-being. Thus far, to my knowledge, no noteworthy study in this regard has been undertaken in South Africa. With the aid of breathwork, learners can address their anxiety levels, regulate their emotions, and attain mental focus. However, the benefits of well-being derived from breathwork require a fair degree of breathwork literacy. Therefore, it is vitally important for Life Skills educators to be well prepared in breathwork concepts to enable them to convey these to the learners.

This study envisioned an emergent singing education breathwork teaching and learning (SingEdBWTL) framework for use by Life Skills educators. Such a breathwork framework can guide lecturers at Higher Education Institutions to aid future educators, assist Life Skills educators to animate breathwork concepts in the school classroom and be a valuable tool for future BWTL research in South Africa.

Underpinning this qualitative interpretative study, the Russian Systema Method seven principles of breathing (RSMSPB) was employed as a theoretical framework. Besides extensive literary reviews on breathwork principles and the role of breathwork for well-being, data were gathered primarily through nine semi-structured interviews, supported by document analysis. The deductive data analysis approach culminated in a proposed Singing Education Breathwork Quotient (SingEdBWQ).