It simply cannot be stressed enough how important breathing is in singing. It determines the volume, pitch, tone, how long a note can be held and prevents breathlessness so that there is sufficient air to reach the end of a song or set.
We will go over a few breathing exercises for singing better and for preventing damage to your vocal cords.
Posture And Diaphragm
Opera and choir singers are often seen clasping their hands in front of their midsection with the elbows splayed out. This is not for appearance sake but creates the correct posture for breathing correctly while singing.
It pushes the shoulders back, opening the lungs to increase breathing capacity. It also allows pushes the diaphragm up allowing singing to come from the “stomach” rather than from the upper part of the body.
The clasped hands are placed where the diaphragm is located and is a constant reminder to the singer to breathe correctly.
The diaphragm is the muscle that contracts and releases to inflate or deflate the lungs. Using the diaphragm to breathe can improve singing immensely.
Practice the following breathing exercises with your hands clasped in front of your diaphragm and remember to inflate and deflate the lungs entirely.
Hissing Exercise
- Place your hand on the midsection where the diaphragm is located.
- Take a deep breath, filling the lungs entirely – the diaphragm and stomach will flatten when the lungs are fully inflated.
- Release the air through gritted teeth which will create a hissing sound.
This allows for the slow release of air while extending the tension on the diaphragm and lungs for a longer period of time. The exercise strengthens the diaphragm and increases lung capacity.
This exercise can be performed while standing sitting or lying down. However, it is important to be as relaxed as possible and to choose a position that achieves this while allowing the lungs to be filled to capacity with every breath.
Panting Exercise
Place a hand on the stomach and take panting breaths. The diaphragm will move up and down in quick succession while panting or take quick short breaths.
This exercise will help strengthen the abdominal muscles as well as the diaphragm. Combining panting with slow breathing exercises or hissing will provide greater breath control and management.
Panting for extended periods can lead to hyperventilation which will result in feeling dizzy or light-headed. It is recommended to only perform this exercise for a short period of time and stop when dizziness sets in.
Slow Breathing
- Take a deep breath in while counting slowly to three and then release the breath once again counting to three.
- At the end of the exhale, the lungs should have expelled all air and this position should be held for another three counts before taking the next breath and repeating the process.
This exercise trains the lungs, diaphragm and abdominal muscles for deep breathing that is required to hold extended notes and to increase singing endurance.
Breathing is not only critical for enhancing singing performance but will also calm and relax the body and mind before performing. These breathing exercises for singing should be performed daily or more often for the best results.