Singing breathing

Hello! Often during my lessons I am asked what is the correct way to breathe when singing. In this article I will try to explain it in a clear and detailed way but remember that for a correct approach to singing it is always preferable to be followed by a serious and prepared teacher.

Contents:

• Singing breathing
• The diaphragm
• Exercises
• Conclusions

Singing breathing

Correct breathing in singing, It is the result of a physiological balance of the action of antagonistic muscles.

The purpose of supporting the voice is to learn to have control over the quality of air expelled from the lungs during the singing activity.

Imagine the lungs as two elastic bags that fill up due to the lowering of the diaphragm and the expansion of the ribcage, a vacuum effect is generated that makes the lungs fill.

This process occurs involuntarily, and even if you cannot teach to breathe but to manage the air in the outlet phase.

The diaphragm

The diaphragm is the most important respiratory muscle, and like any muscle it also needs to be trained.

Specifically, the diaphragm pulls the lungs downwards and increases their volume, causing inhalation due to the vacuum created. In singing, the action of the diaphragm is important during inhalation, learning to control the muscle during spillage and dosing it. By lowering the diaphragmatic muscle, the larynx will remain more stable as it is in turn attached to the esophagus.

Most people breathe using the upper lungs, excluding or reducing the benefits that proper breathing can bring, including:

Greater brain oxygenation, stress reduction, postural improvements, increased safety and therefore improved interpersonal relationships, clarity in making decisions, more restful sleep, greater physical and emotional control in anxious situations.          

Exercises

Now let’s go through the practice through two exercises:

Method 1: Lie on the floor on a mat and take two to five books resting on the abdomen. Now breathe making sure that with each inhalation books rise a few centimeters, then return to the initial position by exhaling. Be careful not to lift the rib cage during inspiration, keeping it immobile. Repeat the exercise 3-5 minutes a day for a few days until you master the technique.

Method 2: Fasten two belts tightly on the chest to inhibit chest breathing by promoting abdominal breathing and forcefully start using the diaphragm to draw air into the lungs. As in the previous exercise, practice until you master it.

Conclusions

In this article we have therefore seen how correct breathing is fundamental for the good use of the voice, both spoken and sung. In this video you can see a very good teacher who shows you how to do diaphragmatic breathing.

If you liked the article I invite you to share it on social media and if you have any questions or if you want to contact me to book your singing lesson you can write me on my Skype account by pressing the button below: 

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