Breathing Made Easy
Written by singerii // // Vocal Performance // 17 Comments
I want to start this post by mentioning that I have been a professional singer since the age of 15 and I am presently working full time as a vocal coach (and not to toot my own horn, but I’m pretty good too). That being said, what I’m about to say will shock everyone who knows absolutely anything about singing.
“The breath isn’t that important.”
…are you still reading? Good. Now let me explain my reasoning for saying such a blasphemous thing.
I know that everyone who thinks they know anything about singing knows that it’s all about breathing from the diaphragm. You’ll hear it everywhere from studio engineers, to choir directors, to your next door neighbor who’s been singing his whole life… occasionally even on stage. However, I can assure you that from my personal experience and the experience of many of my students, working too hard on the breath (aka making it a bigger deal than it is), especially with beginning singers, only creates bigger vocal issues.
If you try too hard to make something happen during the inhalation process, you’re ultimately going to create pressure underneath the larynx. This holds true whether you breathe too deeply or shallowly, whether you stick your stomach out or tuck it in. Now, that being said, we can’t ignore the breath.
If you are a high chest breather (aka your shoulders rise while you breathe), you have to address this immediately because by doing this, you’re raising the larynx and knocking your whole vocal mechanism out of wack. To fix this, bend over like you’re going to touch the floor and breathe naturally. While doing this, you’ll likely feel the breath filling the lower back and stomach area. This is where I want you to send the breath when you’re singing. Beyond that, forget about it. Make it effortless just like the whole singing process should be and I promise that especially for all you beginning singers out there, you’ll get better vocal results.
I hope you benefit from this tip as much as many others have and as always, happy singing!
17 Comments on "Breathing Made Easy"
good word! It is placement of that breath that counts, not about big breath, makes sense. thanks!
makes a lot of sense, breath is important, but placement of the breath even more important, yet should be a natural process, lest it go to waste! Thanks much.
KAHL9o Great tnhkinig! That really breaks the mold!
wow nice. keep up the blog. very nice insights.
I think you`re very smart. That is the best advice I have ever heard!
Your blog is very good and helpful! Keep it up!
The bending excercise you mention to get over the problems of high chest breathing sounds interesting. I’ll have to try that out. Thanks for the tip!!
>Response
No prob!
When i was first learning to breathe vocally, i found it extremely helpfull to ‘learn’how it actually felt to breathe. Lying on ones back forces you to breathe with your diaphragm. So practice singing whilst lying on ones back and then learn to duplicate the feeling while standing up… as most performances rely on standing rather than lying…lol
Enjoy and for more top tips drop by topvocalcoach.com
> Response
Looks like this lady has some tips posted on her website as well as a handful of performance videos too! Could be a good resource for you guys. Check it out!
Sarah
I think your advice may be good to hear for a young singer who thinks that if they simply “tank up”, then all their problems will be solved. However, really learning how to breath efficiently by taking Alexander Technique, or Body Mapping, or even Yoga can and does help. The difference is the commitment to learning. Basing your whole technique on one conductor’s comment to “fill a balloon in your belly” is bad. Seriously studying your instrument and its “bellows” is good.
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I agree. There is more to breathing than what I mentioned, but trying to describe and harp on it often times only ties up a singer with tension. And I agree, Alexander Technique can be a wonderful tool for finding proper alignment and breathing, but it’s whole purpose isn’t based on the breath at all, but releasing tension throughout the body which usually leads to a more natural breath. This only furthers my main point in the article that there are more important factors to think about when it comes to singing than the breath. However, studying and understanding the breath is VERY IMPORTANT, so as a disclaimer, this less than 750 word article is not a complete guide on breathing
thank u very much.
> Response
You’re welcome!
THANK YOU! I’ve been singing for 14 years and the day that I was taught and made to understand how it is more important to focus on your tongue and larynx placement and what your vocal folds are doing than thinking about breathing. Breathing is natural.
So often people think to sing higher needs more breath when in fact you need so very little. Just have to think of higher-toned musical instruments like a piccollo compared to lower-toned instrument like a tuba.
So yes it pleases me very much to see that someone else out there believes the same thing
Great post; great comment. Sounds like you have yourself some excellent training, now. Best of luck!
Amazing!!!
I have found the sections on breathing for singing, vocal warmup and ‘crossing the bridge’ from head voice to chest voice particularly valuable, not least because I’ve got a solo coming up in one month’s time.
You have provided me with an indispensable focus to help me deal with the inevitable associated nerves – wish me luck!
> Reply
Best of luck to ya, SanFran!
I need tip
Im really thankful for the bending breathing,I now knw tat It is abt da placement.I ws stressd by many hard breathing exercise but yours is a easy n a great one..
Thnk U
Fantastic article! Well said! I love your passion for dispelling myths and helping singers to experience true freedom with their voice! Great website. Keep up the good work! I’ll be checking in again to read more