How to Sing Better - Singing Lesson 2 - Breathing

You can sing better today by changing one simple thing, your breath. Correct breathing supports the tone, controls expressiveness and gives the voice power. You will be able to sing higher notes and longer phrases when you develop good breathing. There are a couple of very simple exercises you can do to develop this important tool to help you sing better.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

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   Sing Better

   UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF BREATHING - The most important thing to understand about breathing is that it HAS to come from you diaphragm. This is the muscle that lies between your lungs and your stomach. To locate it and feel it working correctly, bend over at the waist, while standing up. Let your arms hang down loose. Take a deep breath. Feel your lungs expanding all the way down to your belly? In this position, you will always breathe correctly.

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   Sing Better

   FEEL THE BREATH - Once you think you have the feeling down, stand up straight and try to breathe that way again. You should feel your lungs expanding all the way down to your belly. Your shoulders should be still. If they are moving up and down when you breathe, you aren't doing it right. In the following exercises you place your hand on your diaphragm. Your hand is only there to help you feel what your diaphragm is doing. You don't push with your hand at all.

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   Sing Better

   EXERCISE YOUR DIAPHRAM 1 - First exercise - FLAT TIRE - Standing straight, place your hand on your stomach, just under your rib cage. Take a deep breath from your diaphragm (your hand will move outward if you are doing it right). Make a hissing sound with the letter 's'. Let the air our very slowly, hissing all the while. Take a breath when you run out of air. Relax and repeat the hiss. Do this a few times each day and you will soon be able to hold it longer. This develops control over your breath, which will promote longer phrasing and greater expressiveness.

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   Sing Better

   EXERCISE YOUR DIAPHRAM 2 - Second Exercise - HOOK - Standing straight, place your hand on your diaphragm as before. Take a deep breath from your diaphragm and forcefully blow the air out. When you get to the end of your breath, forcefully push the last bit of air out saying "K" at the same time. At the end of your "K" your diaphragm should pop back out automatically filling your lungs with air. This is a great exercise for the muscle. It promotes the complete filling of the lungs with air, VERY QUICKLY! If you are singing a song that is very fast, with lots of words, this skill is invaluable. You won't get breathless while singing.

Tips & Warnings

• Just do these exercises a few times every few days. You will see a difference.

Resources

• How to Sing Better - Pitch Training
• How to Sing Better - Smoothing a Vocal Break
• How to Sing Better - Singing Lesson 4 - Cure Stage Fright

[e-Rambler]

on 12/6/2008 Excellent instructions. Thanks.

[ibooks]

on 12/5/2008 Great pictures and article