Breathing Exercises Every Singer Should Master

Understanding Diaphragmatic Breathing

The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle that separates your chest cavity from your abdominal cavity. When you breathe correctly, this muscle flattens downward, creating space for your lungs to expand fully. This is dramatically different from shallow chest breathing, which only uses the upper portion of your lungs.

Why Diaphragmatic Breathing Matters for Singers

Proper breathing technique provides:

• Sustained breath support: Longer phrases without running out of air
• Better pitch control: Steady airflow creates stable pitch
• Increased vocal power: More air pressure for projection
• Reduced tension: Less strain on your neck and throat
• Improved vocal health: Optimal vocal fold function

The Anatomy of Breath Support

Several muscle groups work together to create effective breath support:

• Diaphragm: The primary breathing muscle
• Intercostal muscles: Between your ribs, help expand your ribcage
• Abdominal muscles: Support and control exhalation
• Pelvic floor: Provides foundational support
• Back muscles: Help maintain posture and rib expansion

Assessing Your Current Breathing

Before diving into exercises, it's important to understand your current breathing habits. Many people develop shallow chest breathing due to stress, poor posture, or simply never learning proper technique.

Self-Assessment Exercise

1. Lie flat on your back with knees bent, feet flat on the floor
2. Place one hand on your chest, one on your stomach
3. Breathe normally and observe which hand moves more
4. Take note of:
   • Which hand moves first when you inhale
   • Which hand moves more dramatically
   • Whether you can breathe without moving your chest at all
   • How long you can sustain a comfortable exhale

The Breath Hold Test

This simple test helps gauge your breath control capacity:

1. Take a comfortable breath (not too deep)
2. Hold your breath for as long as comfortable
3. Note the time
4. Breathe normally for 1 minute
5. Repeat two more times and average the results

Typical results:

• Untrained singers: 20-40 seconds
• Moderately trained: 40-60 seconds
• Well-trained singers: 60+ seconds

Foundational Breathing Exercises

These exercises form the foundation of proper breathing technique. Master these before moving to more advanced work.

Exercise 1: Basic Diaphragmatic Breathing

Purpose: Establish the feeling of diaphragmatic breathing

Position: Lying down, knees bent

1. Place one hand on chest, one on stomach
2. Breathe in slowly through your nose for 4 counts
3. Focus on expanding your lower ribs and stomach
4. Keep your chest hand relatively still
5. Exhale slowly through pursed lips for 6 counts
6. Repeat 10 times

Exercise 2: Wall Breathing

Purpose: Feel back expansion during breathing

Position: Standing with back against wall

1. Stand with your back flat against a wall
2. Place hands on your lower ribs
3. Breathe in, focusing on pushing your back ribs against the wall
4. Feel your ribs expanding sideways and backward
5. Exhale slowly, maintaining the expanded feeling as long as possible
6. Repeat 8 times

Exercise 3: Book Breathing

Purpose: Strengthen diaphragmatic breathing against resistance

Position: Lying down

1. Lie flat with a moderately heavy book on your stomach
2. Breathe in, lifting the book with your diaphragm
3. Keep your chest still
4. Exhale slowly, lowering the book
5. Start with 5 repetitions, gradually increase to 15

Intermediate Breath Control

Once you've mastered basic diaphragmatic breathing, these exercises develop control and stamina for singing applications.

Exercise 4: The Sustained Hiss

Purpose: Develop steady, controlled airflow

1. Take a full diaphragmatic breath
2. Release air in a steady "sss" sound (like a snake)
3. Keep the volume and intensity consistent
4. Time yourself, aiming for gradual improvement
5. Goals:
   • Beginners: 15-20 seconds
   • Intermediate: 25-35 seconds
   • Advanced: 40+ seconds

Exercise 5: Pulsed Breathing

Purpose: Develop abdominal muscle control

1. Take a full breath
2. Release air in short pulses: "ha-ha-ha-ha"
3. Use your abdominal muscles to create each pulse
4. Keep pulses even and controlled
5. Start with 10 pulses per breath, work up to 20

Exercise 6: Breath Suspension

Purpose: Develop breath management for long phrases

1. Inhale for 4 counts
2. Hold (suspend) for 4 counts
3. Exhale for 8 counts
4. Gradually increase to 4-8-12, then 4-12-16
5. Focus on staying relaxed during the suspension

Exercise 7: Rib Expansion Hold

Purpose: Maintain rib expansion during exhalation

1. Place hands on your lower ribs
2. Breathe in, expanding ribs outward
3. Begin exhaling while trying to keep ribs expanded
4. Release rib expansion only in the last third of exhalation
5. This mimics what happens during singing

Advanced Techniques

These advanced exercises prepare you for the demands of professional singing, including rapid breath recovery and sustained support through long phrases.

Exercise 8: Quick Recovery Breathing

Purpose: Learn to breathe efficiently between phrases

1. Exhale completely
2. Take a quick, deep breath in just 1 second
3. Immediately begin a sustained hiss
4. Focus on filling completely with minimal time
5. Practice until this becomes automatic

Exercise 9: Breath Flow Dynamics

Purpose: Control airflow for different dynamic levels

1. Start with a sustained "sh" sound very quietly
2. Gradually increase volume over 8 counts
3. Decrease back to quiet over 8 counts
4. Maintain steady pitch and airflow throughout
5. Focus on using breath pressure, not throat tension

Exercise 10: Interrupted Breathing

Purpose: Maintain breath support through articulation

1. Begin a sustained hiss
2. Interrupt with "t-t-t-t" sounds
3. Immediately return to the hiss between each "t"
4. Keep breath flow constant except during interruptions
5. This simulates singing with consonants

Daily Practice Routine

Consistency is key to developing strong breathing technique. Here's a comprehensive daily routine that progresses with your skill level.

Beginner Routine (15 minutes daily)

• Warm-up: Basic diaphragmatic breathing (3 minutes)
• Exercise 1: Wall breathing (3 minutes)
• Exercise 2: Book breathing (3 minutes)
• Exercise 3: Sustained hiss (3 minutes)
• Cool-down: Relaxed natural breathing (3 minutes)

Intermediate Routine (20 minutes daily)

• Warm-up: Basic diaphragmatic breathing (3 minutes)
• Exercise 1: Sustained hiss with timing (5 minutes)
• Exercise 2: Pulsed breathing (4 minutes)
• Exercise 3: Breath suspension (4 minutes)
• Exercise 4: Rib expansion hold (4 minutes)

Advanced Routine (25 minutes daily)

• Warm-up: Foundation review (5 minutes)
• Exercise 1: Quick recovery breathing (5 minutes)
• Exercise 2: Breath flow dynamics (5 minutes)
• Exercise 3: Interrupted breathing (5 minutes)
• Application: Practice with simple songs (5 minutes)

Weekly Schedule Recommendations

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Full routine
• Tuesday, Thursday: Shortened routine (10 minutes)
• Saturday: Full routine plus song application
• Sunday: Rest day (light relaxation breathing only)

Common Problems and Solutions

Even with proper instruction, most singers encounter challenges when developing breathing technique. Here are the most common issues and how to address them.

Problem 1: Chest Still Moves Too Much

Solution:

• Practice breathing while lying down more frequently
• Place a light weight on your chest to increase awareness
• Try breathing through a straw to slow down the process
• Focus on initiating breath from your back ribs

Problem 2: Getting Dizzy During Exercises

Solution:

• You're likely over-breathing or breathing too deeply
• Take breaks between repetitions
• Focus on comfortable, not maximum, breathing
• Practice in shorter sessions more frequently

Problem 3: Can't Maintain Steady Airflow

Solution:

• Start with shorter durations and gradually increase
• Practice breath suspension exercises more frequently
• Work on abdominal muscle strength with pulsed breathing
• Check that you're not holding tension in your throat

Problem 4: Breathing Feels Forced or Unnatural

Solution:

• Reduce the intensity of your practice
• Focus on relaxation before each exercise
• Remember that this will feel different initially
• Practice during calm, stress-free times

Problem 5: No Improvement After Several Weeks

Solution:

• Record yourself practicing to check technique
• Consider working with a qualified vocal coach
• Ensure you're practicing daily, not just occasionally
• Review and repeat foundational exercises