Breathing Exercises For Singing
Breathing is something we all do automatically and it's not really something we think about much until we start singing. Good breathing technique is essential to make the most of your vocals. It may sound amusing to many people but we need to learn to breathe all over again.
Air is the fuel of the singer. How that air moves is the determining factor of the final sound that we produce. With careful breathing control we can hold notes for longer and be in charge of the most appropriate time to take in the next breath.
Breath Control
The first stage is learning how to regulate the release of air from the lungs. The difference between breathing while talking compared with singing is that in the latter we need to ensure we don't run out of air, right in the middle of a phrase. It is here that breathing exercises can help with this control.
Let's focus on some abdominal exercises that work with the muscles in controlling how fast we release the air while exhaling.
Exercise One
- Stand upright with your feet roughly shoulder width apart
- Put your arms out, palms facing down straight in front of your body
- Breathe in taking 3 to 5 seconds
- Hold for 3 to 5 seconds
- Slowly breathe out for 3 to 5 seconds
Exercise Two
- Stand upright with your feet roughly shoulder width apart
- Take a deep breath
- Slowly exhale while making a hissing sound and keep going for as long as possible
These exercises, while seemingly very basic, teach you how to control the flow of air. With the exercise one you can work on gradually increasing the inhalation and expiration times. This increases lung capacity and teaches release control.
The second exercise teaches the steady release of air. The biggest problem people have is sudden release of too much air or gasping. This teaches good breathing technique and the desired slow, steady stream of air thereby producing a smooth sound. Think about those long notes that require perfect release so that sound naturally smooth. Any interruption makes them sound terrible.
Regular practice of these exercises is essential until you can do them without thinking. They have the wonderful advantage is that you can do them almost anywhere when you have a minute. Sticking with them will expand your lung capacity. Note: You should be careful to also work on avoiding any tension by not trying to exhale when there is really not any air left. You can hear this in the tone as the vocal chords strain as you go past that point. Stopping just prior to this is where you want to be aiming.
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