Proper breath control is essential for obtaining a strong and consistent vocal performance. Breath control can be improved through exercises designed to boost lung capacity and manage the steady release of breath while singing. A number of techniques are available for those who wish to develop better breathing habits.
Breath Assessment and Correction
For those who sing, some methods of breathing are more efficient and effective than others. It's helpful for a vocalist to first evaluate breathing technique to ensure he is getting the most out of each breath.
The website Vocalist.org encourages singers to check their breathing by placing a hand on their navel. When inhaling, this should be the first area to expand. As the inhalation continues, the breath begins to fill higher levels in the lungs, and the chest expansion moves upward. When taking a proper breath, the shoulders should stay relaxed, and the stomach should not be pushed outward.
If you are not breathing properly, you can improve the technique by lying on the floor, face up, and resting your hands on your waist with fingers pointed toward your navel. Breathing in slowly and deeply, you should feel your fingers move upward and to the sides as first your stomach, and then chest, expands with air. This expansion should affect the front, back and sides of the torso, not just the front. Exhale slowly, to the count of five, and repeat the exercise 10 times. The goal is to gain an awareness of proper breathing technique, and then to practice that technique throughout your daily activities.
Standing Breath Exercise
Tona de Brett, a London-based voice instructor, advises a student to stand with feet apart, and to bend at the waist with hands extended nearly to the floor. With shoulders and head relaxed, inhale through your nose while raising the torso slightly, then exhale through your mouth, letting the torso fall back downward. On the third breath, raise your torso until you are standing with your hands extended to the ceiling and rib cage raised high. Flop down again, while exhaling through the mouth. This exercise should be repeated three or four times.
Reflexive Breathing
Vocalist and voice coach Dede Wyland advocates a technique called "reflexive breathing" that aims to reduce physical tension and allow the singer to more effectively express the emotional nuances of a song. Stand, mindful to use proper posture and to distribute your weight evenly on both feet. Exhale through your mouth, with your hand resting on your abdomen, making a quiet "huh" sound. This should be done gently, without forcing the air out. Wait for the natural impulse to inhale, and let the air trail through the nose and mouth into the lungs, remaining relaxed the entire time. The idea is not to try to force or control the intake and expulsion of air, but to let the forces of the respiratory system perform naturally.
