Breathing Exercises for Singing Tips to Strengthen Your Voice
Katherine Dvoskin, Co-Founder of K&M Music School
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Author: Katherine Dvoskin | Co-Founder of K&M Music School
Published December 2nd, 2024
Breathing exercises make your voice stronger. They help you control your diaphragm. Also, they improve your pitch and increase your range. Finally, learn these techniques in this guide.
This guide teaches breathing basics for singers. First, you will learn why breath training helps. Then, it gives exercises and tips to fix problems. Finally, with practice, you can improve your voice and habits.
| Breathing Exercise Type | Benefits | Key Techniques |
|---|---|---|
| Deep Breathing | Increases lung capacity, establishes core expansion | Belly breaths, 360-degree breathing, incentive spirometer |
| Counted Breathing | Builds vocal stamina, regulates exhalation | Counted exhales, siren counts |
| Staggered Breathing | Enhances breath capacity, maintains rib expansion | Visualize bubbles, roll breaths |
| Advanced Specialty | Improves vocal tone, coordinates breath with singing | Straw phonation, balloon resistance |
An Introduction to Breath Control for Singing
First, learn what breath control means. It is very important for singers. This helps you understand why you need it.
Breath control means managing your airflow while singing. To do this, you use your diaphragm and torso muscles. It also includes these skills:
- Inhaling correctly
- Suspending and controlling exhaled breath
- Maintaining support during long phrases
- Releasing stabilized airflow directed to produce a clear vocal tone
Many people rely on shallow chest breathing for everyday functions. However, chest breathing limits air intake and doesn’t allow for optimum breath support.
Proper alignment helps you breathe better. Stand or sit tall with your head level and shoulders back. This opens your rib cage. It also makes your diaphragm move easily.
Set your posture. Then, use your abdominal muscles to exhale steadily. This helps you sustain notes. It also gives you control over your voice.
This coordination is crucial for:
- Increasing lung capacity and efficiency
- Enhancing vocal power
- Developing consistent pitch and tone
- Improving vocal stamina
- Adding expressiveness with dynamic contrasts
Special breathing exercises train your muscles. They make your lungs stronger. Also, they help you build good habits.
Why Practice Breathing Exercises? What Are the Benefits?
Many singers understand the need for scales, warmups, and technique drills. So why dedicate extra time solely to breathing exercises? Here are 5 main benefits:
1. Strengthen Core Muscles
Breathing exercises work your diaphragm and the muscles around your ribs. When these muscles get stronger, you can hold more air. This gives more power to your voice.
2. Increase Lung Capacity
Breathing in more oxygen helps you sing longer phrases. It uses your full lung capacity. Therefore, you can hold notes longer without gasping for air.
3. Improve Breath Control
Controlled breathing and steady airflow help you control your singing voice. Also, mastering breath control makes your tone, pitch, and dynamics consistent.
4. Develop Muscle Memory
Repeating breathing exercises trains your body and mind. It helps you take full breaths naturally. Also, this muscle memory helps when you sing.
5. Prevent Vocal Strain
Lack of breath support is a main source of vocal strain. Strong intercostals and diaphragm take pressure off the throat, protecting vocal health.
Good breathing is the key to great singing. Also, even a little practice with breathing exercises helps a lot. Over time, it makes your voice much better.
4 Types of Effective Breathing Exercises for Singers
Many useful exercises exist to develop breath capacity and control. Let’s explore four categories ranging from basic to more advanced.
1. Deep Breathing Exercises
As the name suggests, deep breathing exercises focus on deep inhalations and exhalations. They help singers access fuller breaths while establishing core expansion.
Belly Breaths
- Stand or sit tall with a straight back.
- Place one hand on your chest, and the other on your stomach.
- Inhale slowly through your nose, feeling your stomach expand under your hand.
- Pause then exhale slowly through pursed lips, pressing out all air.
- Repeat for 5-10 deep belly breaths.
360 Degree Breathing
- Stand in good posture with hands on your lower ribs.
- Inhale slowly, feeling your ribs expand outwards in all directions – front, back, and sides.
- Suspend the breath briefly.
- Exhale slowly through the mouth.
- Repeat for 5 cycles, focusing on rib expansion.
Incentive Spirometer Breaths
- Obtain an incentive spirometer, used by singers, actors, and wind instrumentalists.
- Set the coaching indicator to your 50-70% lung capacity.
- Inhale slowly to raise the indicator to your set point.
- Hold your breath briefly, then exhale.
- Repeat with the indicator set progressively higher in 10% increments.
The above exercises help singers get more oxygen. They also start the core expansion needed for breath support. Make sure not to strain.
2. Counted Breathing Exercises
Counted breathing exercises regulate exhalation using counts to build breath control. This strengthens vocal stamina.
Counted Exhales
- Inhale deeply then exhale steadily through your mouth, counting numbers aloud.
- Focus on making exhalation last the full count.
- Start with shorter counts (5-10) and gradually increase.
- Record yourself to ensure the accuracy of counts.
Siren Counts
- Inhale fully.
- Exhale making a steady siren sound, sliding pitch from low to high.
- Hold the final pitch for a 2 count.
- Slide pitch back down over the same long exhale.
- Increase count duration weekly.
Counting creates mental markers so singers learn to dispense air steadily. Aim for smooth, unbroken exhales.
3. Staggered Breathing
Staggered breathing intersperses quick short inhales within a long exhale. This increases breath capacity while keeping rib expansion constant.
Visualize Bubbles
- Inhale fully.
- Exhale slowly for 8 counts, visualizing bubbles streaming steadily.
- On counts 3 & 6, quickly “sip” in air without collapsing ribs.
- Suspend the stream of bubbles during sips.
- Work up from 8 to 16 to 24 count exhales.
Roll Breaths
- Inhale actively, feeling ribs expand.
- Exhale for 5 counts on a “sss” sound.
- Take a quick, small inhale.
- Immediately continue “sss” exhale for 5 more counts.
- Repeat, linking breath cycles seamlessly.
Staggered breathing keeps oxygen flowing during long phrases, building flexibility. Rib expansion remains constant.
4. Advanced Specialty Exercises
First, learn the basics. Then, do advanced exercises that mix breathing with singing. This helps your vocal tone improve.
Straw Phonation
- Take a plastic straw and place it horizontally in a glass of water.
- Inhale normally.
- Exhale slowly through the straw, making tone vibrations to keep the water bubbling.
- Slide pitch and vary tone direction.
- Sustain the bubble stream for longer durations.
Balloon Resistance
- Inflate a balloon and pinch the neck closed.
- Exhale into the balloon using low, easy vocal tones.
- Pinch and release in intervals to create vocal resistance.
- Work up to sustaining 20 seconds of resistance.
Advanced exercises coordinate breath muscle contractions directly with your singing voice. This builds critical connections.
Sample Breathing Exercise Routines for Singers
First, start using breathing exercises for singing. Then, try these 15-minute routines. Choose routines based on your skill level.
Beginner Routine
- 2 minutes – Belly Breaths
- 3 minutes – Counted Exhales (count of 8)
- 5 minutes – Siren Counts (count of 10)
- 5 minutes – Visualize Bubbles (count of 12)
Intermediate Routine
- 3 minutes – Deep 360 Breathing
- 4 minutes – Incentive Spirometer (at 60% capacity)
- 4 minutes – Roll Breaths (8-count cycles)
- 4 minutes – Straw Phonation (30 second holds)
Advanced Routine
- 5 minutes – Deep Belly Breaths
- 3 minutes – Counted Exhales (count of 16)
- 4 minutes – Staggered Sip Breaths (20 count cycles)
- 3 minutes – Balloon Resistance (15 second holds)
Aim to practice a 15-minute routine daily to build breath expertise. Record sessions to track progress over weeks and months.
Tips to Overcome Common Breathing Challenges
Breathing exercises might seem easy, but they can be tough. Many singers feel tense. They also struggle with the techniques. Therefore, here are some tips to solve common problems:
Tension in Neck, Jaw, Shoulders
- Be aware of excess tension creeping in.
- Consciously relax muscles and soften your jaw before inhaling.
- Imagine your body is suspended by strings from the crown of your head.
Shortness of Breath, Lightheadedness
- Reduce the pace and depth of inhales/exhales.
- Focus on smooth, lower lung capacity with no strain.
- Check posture isn’t collapsed, restricting breath.
Unable to Complete Long Phrases
- Visualize energized breath flowing consistently to fuel tones.
- Anchor rib expansion so lungs don’t deflate.
- Use staggered breathing to integrate quick sips of air.
Lack of Observable Improvement
- Record sessions to monitor measurable progress.
- Celebrate small wins like 2 more counts or 5% lung capacity.
- Have patience. Core change happens gradually.
Troubleshooting challenges requires awareness, adjustment, and patience. Don’t get discouraged. Stick with the process.
Additional Tips and Techniques
Now that you know the basics, let’s try new exercises. Then, we will explore practice tips and other methods. These will help you improve even more.
Useful Imagery for Breath Visualization
Mental imagery can enhance physical outcomes with breath training. Here are two visualizations to try:
Imagine an Inflating Balloon
First, as you inhale, imagine air filling a big balloon in your torso. This makes your rib cage expand outward. Then, hold your breath to keep your ribs expanded. Finally, exhale slowly, letting out the air in a controlled stream.
Visualize Sending Breath Down a Laser Beam
Envision your breath funneling down a laser beam aimed directly at your vocal cords. Keep the beam narrow and consistent, fueling your voice with precise airflow. Adjust the power and thickness of the beam to alter dynamics.
Vowel Shapes for Added Resistance
Vowel sounds create differing levels of resistance during exhales. Cycle through vowel shapes during breathing exercises to increase difficulty:
- EE – High, thin resistance
- OH – Medium resistance
- AH – Low resistance
- OO – Round resistance
Notice how your breathing muscles work differently. This happens when you sing each vowel on the pitch.
Use Breath Attacks to Start Tones
Practice initiating vocal tones using various breath attacks:
- Hard glottal – Firm diaphragm strike
- Aspirate H – Softer onset
- Staccato huh – Quick, bouncing start
Explore different attacks so you have options tailoring to each phrase. Time attacks with precision on the exact note.
Supplement with Lip Trills
Lip trills train rapid, vibrating breath flow needed for fast vocal runs. Practice trills on a comfortable mid-range pitch:
- Trill lips steadily through 4-5 seconds exhale.
- Work up to 10-second trills without wavering pitch/speed.
- Add vowel sounds between trills, keeping everything fast and bouncy.
Record and Analyze Breath Cycles
Use recording devices to monitor the following breath cycle components:
- Inhalation duration
- Suspended breath holds
- Exhalation length/consistency
- Cycles per minute
- Audible tension
Analyze recordings weekly, setting measurable goals to extend durations and smoothness.
Coordinate Breath with Body Movements
Link prescribed body motions to different parts of the breath cycle:
Inhale – Shoulders roll up/forward Hold – Freeze in place Exhale – Roll down/back
The synchronization imprints the breath phases physically.
Practice Breath Anchoring
Anchor your torso muscles during long sustains. This keeps your ribs expanded. Therefore, your lungs don’t collapse.
- Inhale actively into your side and back rib cage.
- Anchor intercostals to keep ribs lifted while singing a long tone.
- Maintain consistent air pressure without torso deflation.
Alternate Nostril Breathing
This yogic technique balances breathing between the left/right nostrils. The concentration boosts breath awareness:
- Close right nostril, inhale through left.
- Close left nostril, exhale through right.
- Inhale right, exhale left. That’s 1 cycle.
- Repeat 5 cycles then reverse nostril order.
Modulate Workout Intensity by Breath
Use your breath as a guide for gauging appropriate workout intensity:
- Easy aerobic – Can speak full sentences
- Moderate – Can speak short phrases
- Intense – Gasping between breaths
Adjust pace/resistance so breathing isn’t severely compromised during exercise.
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We offer Piano, Violin, Cello, Saxophone, Bassoon, Harp, Voice, and Toddler group lessons for students of all ages and skill levels.
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- 🎶 Boosts focus and self-discipline
- 🎵 Strengthens cognitive skills
- 🎼 Enhances cultural understanding
- 🎤 Builds confidence through recitals and performances
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Book Your Free Lesson NowBuilding an Effective Breathing Exercise Routine
There are many breathing exercises to choose from. So, how do you pick the best ones? Follow these guidelines:
- Identify 1-2 exercises from each category (deep, counted, staggered, advanced specialty). This provides balanced breath training.
- First, do simple exercises to warm up. Then, move to more complex ones to increase the challenge.
- Tailor your practice to your skill level. First, beginners need more foundation work. Then, advanced singers require coordination.
- Allow time for meaningful repetition – 5 breath cycles minimum per exercise.
- Structure in periods of focused concentration – quality over quantity!
- Finally, do a fun drill. Use straw phonation or balloon resistance. This helps connect breath work with singing success.
- Total time: 10-15 minutes. Consistency matters most. Short daily sessions yield compounding results.
Sample 15 Minute Regimen:
- Deep Belly Breaths – 3 minutes
- Counted Exhales – 4 minutes
- Staggered Sips – 3 minutes
- Lip Trills – 2 minutes
- Balloon Resistance – 3 minutes
The perfect routine balances breath development with application. But remember, any investment is better than nothing at all!
Integrating Breath Training Into Vocal Warmups
In addition to dedicated breath sessions, regularly incorporate breathing exercises into vocal warmups.
Breath training helps you control your voice better. It also builds coordination where you need it most. Next, here’s an example of how to practice:
- Belly Breaths – 1 minute
- Descending-Ascending 5 Note Scale on OO vowel
Repeat 3 times, focusing on steady airflow.
- Deep Staggered Breathing – 2 minutes
- Ascending-Descending 8-Note Scale on AY vowel
Repeat 3 times, smooth transitions.
- Balloon Resistance – 30 seconds
- Triad Arpeggios on EH vowel – C-E-G-E-C
Repeat 3 times, even tone.
- Counted Exhales 16 counts
- Ascending-Descending Octave Scale on AH vowel
Repeat 3 times, fluidity.
This intermixing keeps muscles actively engaged throughout the full vocal range. The breath training targets directly support your warmup scales.
Breath and Posture: Developing Good Habits
Breathing exercises are important. Also, good posture matters. It helps you build vocal stamina.
Consciously correcting poor posture cultivates beneficial improvements in breath capacity and vocal ease.
Here are 5 top posture tips to complement your breathing practice:
- Reduce Slouching
Slumped shoulders and rounded backs inhibit full rib cage expansion for breath support. Make a point to sit and stand taller.
- Improve Neck Alignment
Aim for a straight line from your earlobe to your shoulders. Then, keep your head balanced on your spine. This helps your head stay from jutting forward.
- Strengthen Core Engagement
Draw lower abdominals inward and up for greater diaphragm support. Yoga bridges and planks build endurance.
- Stretch Chest and Shoulders
Open tight chest muscles with corner stretches, doorway pec releases, and foam rolling. Enhance mobility.
Conclusion
Breathing exercises are a vital part of building a strong and versatile singing voice. By developing proper breath support, you can improve your tone, expand your range, and sing with power and control. Regular practice will not only enhance your vocal abilities but also protect your voice from strain and fatigue.
Music Lessons in San Diego with K&M Music School
Expert Music Lessons
We offer Piano, Violin, Cello, Saxophone, Bassoon, Harp, Voice, and Toddler group lessons for students of all ages and skill levels.
Why Choose Us?
- 🎶 Boosts focus and self-discipline
- 🎵 Strengthens cognitive skills
- 🎼 Enhances cultural understanding
- 🎤 Builds confidence through recitals and performances
We Welcome Adults Too!
Book Your Free Lesson NowCall to Action
Start incorporating breathing exercises into your daily routine today. Begin with simple techniques like diaphragmatic breathing, and gradually challenge yourself with advanced drills as your skills improve. Consistency is key—set aside time each day to focus on your breath control. For tailored advice and faster progress, consider working with a vocal coach. Take control of your voice and elevate your singing to the next level! Sign up for a free trial lesson!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of breath training?
Breath training makes your muscles strong. It also helps your lungs hold more air. This improves your pitch and adds more notes. Finally, it keeps your voice from getting tired.
How long should singers practice breathing exercises?
Aim for 10-15 minutes daily. This allows enough time for sufficient repetition without overworking.
Which muscles do breathing exercises target?
These exercises work your diaphragm and rib muscles. They also help expand your lung capacity.
What happens if I don’t do breathing exercises?
Without breath support, you can strain your voice. It also makes your pitch inconsistent. Additionally, your range is limited. Finally, you have poor stamina.
How long before I see improvements?
Consistency is key. Improvements happen gradually over 4-6 weeks. Record sessions to gauge concrete progress.
Can I practice breathing exercises on my own?
Yes! The exercises provided in this guide can be done independently without equipment. Focus on proper technique.
How can I make the exercises more challenging over time?
Instead, singers use diaphragmatic breathing to get more oxygen. First, the diaphragm moves downward. Then, the torso expands on all sides. This helps you take a full breath.
