How to Practice Breathing as a Singer

Learn to hit those hard notes.

The breath serves as an important foundation for singing. As a singer, practicing proper breathing techniques will improve your singing capabilities, including singing with more powerful sound, sharper pitch and greater range. Avid singers should consciously practice breathing techniques often, especially at the start of their training. Remember to never force your voice -- this will only hurt your singing quality and may cause vocal nodes to form. These breathing exercises train your diaphragm, throat muscles and posture to improve breathing, so you can be an even better singer.

Instructions

Anatomy and Proper Posture

1. Understand the basic anatomy of the lungs. The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle that is attached to the ribs below the lungs. This powerful muscle functions with breathing. During inhalation, the muscle contracts to expand the thoracic cavity, which draws air into the lungs. During exhalation, the muscle relaxes, forcing air out of the lungs.

2. Stand and place one hand on your navel and another on your chest. Slowly take a deep breath through your nose and feel your chest and abdomen expand. Take a quick, short breath and notice that this type of breathing does not engage your lower abdomen, just your chest. Lower abdomen breathing uses more lung capacity, giving you greater control while singing.

3. Improve your posture to improve your breathing. Practice standing and sitting tall, without tensing your shoulders or neck so that your diaphragm and lower abdomen remain relaxed.

Breathing Exercises

1. Stand tall with good posture. Breathe normally for a few seconds.

2. Take a deep breath through your nose. Allow the air to be drawn into your lungs, filling them from the diaphragm up to your chest. Envision a tall glass being filled with water.

   Aim to fill your lungs to capacity without feeling forced to exhale. You want to be able to control your exhalation.

3. Slowly exhale, counting to three.

4. Pause for one second. Without inhaling, slowly exhale again for three counts.

5. Repeat this exercise for a few minutes. Take a break to breathe normally when needed.

Challenge Yourself & Track Improvements

1. Challenge yourself to improve your breathing control by repeating the breathing exercise by speaking or singing the number of counts when you exhale.

2. Gradually increase the number of pauses and three-count exhalations for one inhalation. Remember to always keep your throat open and relaxed. Track your improvement over a few months.

3. Change the exercise so that you sing at different volumes when exhaling. Control your breath so that each note you sing is well supported by your diaphragm.

4. Practice this exercise while sitting and lying on the floor.

Tips & Warnings

• Always take a break from breathing exercises when you need one. Do not push yourself and strain your voice.

References

• Vocalist.org
• Breath Support