Your voice is an instrument, and to use it most effectively, you need excellent breathing technique. Perfect technique takes years of training, but it's based on the simple concept of "supporting" your voice by using the diaphragm muscle in your stomach to compress your lungs upward. This makes your voice louder and more powerful, and gives you improved control over your sound. You can start practicing good breathing technique right away, and continue to work on it for as long as you continue to sing.
Practicing Breathing Technique
Step 1
Stand with your back straight, your shoulders relaxed and down, and your chest open.
Step 2
Relax your stomach muscles and inhale through your nose. Pretend you are filling your stomach with air. Keep your shoulders down and the chest open, and let your abdomen expand in all directions as your ribs and belly move upward and outward.
Step 3
Hold your finger in front of your lips and exhale slowly through your mouth. Your breath should feel warm on your finger. Notice the feeling of a muscle band in your stomach working to control your breath --- that muscle is your diaphragm.
Step 4
Repeat this process five times, working to breathe more deeply each time and expand your lung capacity. On each inhale, practice controlling your exhalation to make it smooth and even.
Step 5
Add a tone by humming or singing "ooh" as you exhale. Maintain the same note, with a steady volume, as long as you can. Repeat this five times, concentrating on keeping your throat relaxed and your diaphragm strong.
Step 6
Repeat singing the same tone for five more breaths, but this time, sing each note at a different volume. Pay attention to how much air you use for different levels of volume, and how long you can sustain each note without inhaling.
Applying Breathing Technique
Step 1
Hum a song, using the same breathing technique and posture. Try to maintain the same pressure and support in your diaphragm even as you change notes.
Step 2
Sing an entire song. Concentrate on keeping your throat relaxed while your diaphragm stays strong. Feel that you are "singing from your stomach."
Step 3
Maintain good posture, and inhale through your nose whenever possible. Your voice will be stronger, louder and more in control.
