What Is Correct Breathing Technique For Singing?



Posted: Friday, September 04, 2009

by Elisha Ewonchuk
Sing Like A Pro!

Here are a few tips to help you learn proper breathing techniques when singing. First, when you inhale, your breath should come from deep down in your stomach where your diaphragm is. Many people inhale from high up in their chests when singing and this is not correct; you don't get full lung capacity this way and this can cause you to run out of breath too quickly. The correct way is to inhale from low down in your stomach, not high up in your chest and throat. Your ribcage and sides should expand outwards naturally, and your shoulders should remain relaxed.

While you are singing your phrase, try to KEEP your ribcage expanded outwards as you sing. This will keep you from forcing the air out of your lungs too quickly. This is a partial reason why many singers run out of air before they're ready; because they let their ribcages collapse as they sing their phrases, and the air gets pushed out faster than they intend for it to.

Here's how you do it! Some people have trouble getting their ribcages to expand outwards, so here are a couple of breathing techniques to practice that can help you with that.

Breathing technique #1

Imagine your ribcage, front, sides and back with a deflated inner tube underneath it. When you inhale, imagine that inner tube inflating with air, pushing your ribcage outwards all around you. When you sing, the inner tube STAYS inflated and maintains that shape underneath your ribcage.

It's natural for it to fall back into place to a degree as you sing, but for the most part you should keep it "inflated" as much as you can comfortably, even though you're exhaling slowly as you sing. Keep your ribcage expanded even as you sing and are letting out breath. Just think back to the inner tube, and visualize it inflating each time you take a breath.

Breathing technique #2

Lift your arms up high above your head and reach for the ceiling. When they're up there, take a breath in. Now, without moving your midsection or letting your posture collapse, bring your arms down. Feel how your ribcage is expanded? Your sides, front and back have extended outwards to accommodate for your full lungs.

This is the exact posture you should be holding when you're singing! Just be careful not to exaggerate the posture too much, you don't want it to be rigid, uncomfortable or forced; just supported nicely so your lungs have room to expand fully. If you try it, you will notice that you CAN in fact exhale without letting your ribcage fall back down. This is the correct breathing posture you should be holding yourself in while you sing.

Elisha Rae is an internationally known vocal teacher. Her website, http://www.sing-like-a-pro.com has a wealth of singing information, tips, free articles and videos, to help you overcome all of your vocal challenges!

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