There are so many things to think about when you’re singing, but one of the most important is breath – or, more specifically, breath control.
Sound is created by the flow of air past the vocal folds, which are muscular bands inside your throat. Your breath – the inhalation and exhalation of air from your lungs – is what creates that air flow, which is why being able to support and control your breath is integral for singing well.
How does learning how to breathe properly help enhance your singing voice? Breath control for singers is crucial for “sustaining long phrases and managing vocal power,” widening your vocal range, emotional expression, and avoiding straining the voice (which may lead to singer’s throat), according to Hollywood Vocal Studios Conservatory.
But the meaning of breath support can be misunderstood. Vocal coach and opera tenor Vasili Karpiak, who runs the singing website the Vocal Coach London, explains that it’s sometimes misinterpreted as “taking a very large breath or pushing more air through the voice.”
In reality, good support is about “managing the air efficiently once you have inhaled,” Karpiak says. “When we breathe well for voice, the diaphragm descends and the lower rib cage expands, creating space for the lungs to fill.” That is called diaphragmatic breathing. (The diaphragm is a large, dome-shaped muscle located beneath the lungs.)
The term “diaphragmatic breathing” can be used interchangeably with “belly breathing,” but Karpiak cautions against that term because “efficient breathing is not simply a matter of deliberately pushing your stomach out.”
“I prefer performers to think of the breath as three-dimensional,” he says. “You should be able to sense expansion around the lower ribs, sides, and back, as well as some movement in the abdominal area.”
In contrast, small, higher breaths taken primarily into the chest area – which may be referred to as shallow chest breathing – give the respiratory system less freedom, Karpiak says.
According to VocoLab, chest breathing “creates tension in the neck and throat,” which could make the voice more prone to strain.
That may all sound quite abstract if you’re early in your professional singing journey, but luckily there are several breathing exercises you can try to develop better breath support and control.
1. Mindful lip trills
Karpiak suggests starting with a simple exercise, which will help you to become aware of your breath and teach you how to control a steady airflow.
“Stand comfortably and place your hands around the lower ribs,” he says. “Take a quiet breath and feel the ribs expand sideways and slightly into the back, without lifting the shoulders or deliberately pushing the abdomen out.”
Next, Karpiak explains, release the air slowly and gently.
Once that feels natural, start connecting the breath to sound by making a gentle lip trill on a pitch that feels comfortable.
“The trill should feel easy and continuous,” Karpiak says. “If the airflow becomes irregular, the trill will often become irregular, too, so it gives you immediate feedback about how steadily you are managing the breath.”
2. Panting
This exercise is “amazing at strengthening that all-important diaphragm,” according to London Singing Institute. Begin by placing your hand on your lowest rib bone, and stretch it out to your belly button.
“Take short sharp breaths and feel your stomach muscles relax as your skin moves out,” advises the London Singing Institute. “Vary the speed of the breaths to gain proper control over your diaphragm and breath.” You can take this exercise to another level by making a “ha” sound or even by singing scales as you pant.
3. Slow breaths
This exercise helps you to pace your airflow, which can help you to sustain long notes or phrases in a song.
“A trained singer learns what I would call ‘breath economy’: using enough air to sustain the sound without wasting it,” Karpiak says. “This is what allows a singer to complete a long phrase without either running out of breath or forcing the final notes.”
To practise slow breaths, School of Rock advises inhaling through your mouth or nose for four seconds, holding your breath for eight seconds, and exhaling for a further eight seconds. Try to keep all your muscles relaxed during this exercise, and repeat it four times.
4. Use a straw
Straw exercises – also known as straw phonation – are a type of semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercise. SOVT exercises involve partially narrowing the lips or mouth while making sound.
According to School of Rock, straw exercises reduce vocal tension, improve breath control, and help maintain vocal health. “Take a straw and hum through it,” School of Rock says. “Start at the bottom of your range and slide up to the top slowly and evenly. Then hum your favourite song through the straw.”
Narrower straws “create more resistance, which helps you focus on breath control, vocal fold coordination, and ease of sound production,” says vocal coach Louise Young. Wider straws “allow for a larger volume of air to pass through, which might help you focus more on maintaining steady airflow and consistent breath support.”
