Breathing Exercises Every Singer Should Know

Breathing is the foundation of all great singing. Without proper breath support, even the most naturally gifted voice will struggle with power, endurance, and control. After twenty years of teaching vocal technique, I can confidently say that masteri proper breathing is the single most important skill a singer can develop. These exercises have transformed the voices of countless students, from nervous beginners to professional performers.

Understanding the Singer's Breath

Before diving into exercises, it's crucial to understand how breathing for singing differs from everyday breathing:

Everyday Breathing vs. Singing Breathing

• Everyday breathing: Shallow, unconscious, primarily chest-based
• Singing breathing: Deep, controlled, diaphragm-driven, with extended exhalation

The Anatomy of Breath Support

Key muscles and structures involved in proper breathing for singing:

• Diaphragm: The primary breathing muscle, dome-shaped and located below the lungs
• Intercostal muscles: Between the ribs, help expand the ribcage
• Abdominal muscles: Support controlled exhalation
• Pelvic floor: Provides foundational support
• Lower back muscles: Help maintain posture and breath support

Foundational Breathing Exercises

These exercises build the fundamental skills needed for all advanced vocal work:

Exercise 1: Basic Diaphragmatic Breathing

Purpose: Establish proper breathing mechanics and body awareness

Instructions:

1. Lie on your back with knees bent, feet flat on the floor
2. Place one hand on your chest, one on your stomach
3. Breathe in slowly through your nose, focusing on expanding your lower ribcage and belly
4. The hand on your stomach should rise while the chest hand remains relatively still
5. Exhale slowly through your mouth, controlling the release
6. Practice for 5-10 minutes daily

Tips: If you struggle with this position, try placing a book on your stomach to give you something to "lift" with your breath.

Exercise 2: Wall Breathing

Purpose: Learn proper breathing posture and back expansion

Instructions:

1. Stand with your back against a wall, feet about 6 inches away from the wall
2. Keep your lower back in contact with the wall
3. Place your hands on your lower ribs
4. Breathe in, focusing on expanding your ribs outward into your hands
5. Feel your back expanding against the wall
6. Exhale slowly, maintaining the expanded feeling as long as possible

Benefits: This exercise teaches 360-degree rib expansion and proper singing posture.

Exercise 3: Belly Breathing with Resistance

Purpose: Strengthen the diaphragm and improve breath control

Instructions:

1. Sit in a chair with good posture
2. Place a moderately heavy book (2-3 pounds) on your stomach
3. Breathe in slowly, lifting the book with your breath
4. Hold for 2-3 seconds
5. Exhale slowly, lowering the book in a controlled manner
6. Repeat 10-15 times

Progression: Gradually increase the weight or the hold time as you get stronger.

Breath Control and Endurance Exercises

Once you've mastered basic breathing mechanics, these exercises develop the control and stamina needed for sustained singing:

Exercise 4: Sustained Hissing

Purpose: Develop steady, controlled airflow

Instructions:

1. Take a deep, full breath using proper technique
2. Make a steady "ssss" sound (like a snake)
3. Keep the sound consistent in volume and pitch
4. Time yourself and try to extend the duration gradually
5. Goal: Work up to 30-45 seconds for beginners, 60+ seconds for advanced singers

Variations: Try "ffff," "shhh," or "zzz" sounds for different resistances.

Exercise 5: Pulsing Breath

Purpose: Develop rhythmic breath control and abdominal strength

Instructions:

1. Take a full breath
2. Make short, rhythmic "hah" sounds using your abdominal muscles
3. Keep the throat relaxed—all pulses should come from your core
4. Start with 4 pulses per breath, gradually increase
5. Maintain steady rhythm and equal pulse intensity

Advanced variation: Try different rhythmic patterns (long-short-short, triplets, etc.)

Exercise 6: Breath Management with Counting

Purpose: Combine breath control with speech-like vocal demands

Instructions:

1. Take a full breath
2. Count aloud in a clear, steady voice: "1, 2, 3, 4..."
3. Maintain consistent volume and clarity
4. Don't rush—use steady, comfortable tempo
5. See how high you can count on one breath
6. Goal: 30-50 for beginners, 60-100+ for advanced singers

Advanced Breathing Techniques

These exercises address specific challenges singers face in performance:

Exercise 7: Catch Breath Training

Purpose: Learn to take quick, efficient breaths during songs

Instructions:

1. Exhale most of your air (about 75%)
2. Take a quick, silent breath in just 1 second
3. Focus on low, wide expansion rather than lifting the chest
4. Immediately begin a sustained "ah" vowel
5. Practice until catch breaths are silent and efficient

Application: Use between phrases in songs where you have limited time to breathe.

Exercise 8: Breath Connection Scales

Purpose: Integrate breath support with actual singing

Instructions:

1. Take a full breath using proper technique
2. Sing a simple scale (do-re-mi-fa-sol-fa-mi-re-do) on one breath
3. Focus on maintaining consistent airflow throughout
4. Keep breath support steady—don't let it collapse on higher notes
5. Start slow, gradually increase tempo

Variations: Try different vowels (ah, eh, ee, oh, oo) and scale patterns.

Exercise 9: Phrase Length Building

Purpose: Develop ability to sing longer phrases comfortably

Instructions:

1. Choose a simple song phrase you know well
2. Sing it comfortably on one breath
3. Add one more word or note to the phrase
4. Gradually extend the phrase length while maintaining good technique
5. Never sacrifice vocal quality for length

Breathing Exercises for Specific Vocal Challenges

For High Notes: Support Breathing

Exercise: Bend and Breathe

1. Stand with feet hip-width apart
2. Bend forward at the waist (45 degrees)
3. Let your arms hang loosely
4. Take deep breaths in this position
5. Feel the expansion in your back and sides
6. Slowly return to standing while maintaining the breath support feeling

For Performance Anxiety: Calming Breath

Exercise: 4-7-8 Breathing

1. Inhale through your nose for 4 counts
2. Hold your breath for 7 counts
3. Exhale through your mouth for 8 counts
4. Repeat 3-4 times
5. This activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting calm

For Vocal Fatigue: Recovery Breathing

Exercise: Silent Breath Reset

1. Stop singing immediately when you feel fatigue
2. Take several slow, deep breaths without phonation
3. Focus on releasing tension in your throat and jaw
4. Massage your neck and shoulder muscles gently
5. Resume singing only when tension is released

Daily Breathing Routine

Consistency is key to developing strong breath support. Here's a 15-minute daily routine:

Warm-up (5 minutes):

• 2 minutes: Basic diaphragmatic breathing
• 2 minutes: Wall breathing
• 1 minute: Gentle stretching and posture alignment

Skill Building (8 minutes):

• 2 minutes: Sustained hissing
• 2 minutes: Pulsing breath
• 2 minutes: Counting exercise
• 2 minutes: Catch breath training

Integration (2 minutes):

• 2 minutes: Breath connection scales or phrase work

Common Breathing Mistakes and Solutions

Mistake 1: Chest Breathing

Signs: Shoulders rise when breathing, shallow breaths, quick fatigue

Solution: Practice exercises lying down first, then gradually work to standing

Mistake 2: Over-breathing

Signs: Taking too much air, feeling dizzy, tension in shoulders

Solution: Focus on efficient, not maximal, breath intake

Mistake 3: Breath Holding

Signs: Stopping airflow during singing, choppy phrasing

Solution: Practice continuous airflow exercises, focus on steady stream

Mistake 4: Collapse on Exhalation

Signs: Posture sinking during long phrases, voice weakening

Solution: Maintain expanded feeling throughout exhalation

Troubleshooting Your Breathing

If you're struggling with diaphragmatic breathing:

• Try breathing exercises while lying on your stomach
• Practice with a physical therapist or experienced teacher
• Use visualization: imagine filling a balloon in your belly
• Be patient—it can take weeks to retrain breathing patterns

If you feel tension while doing exercises:

• Reduce the intensity or duration
• Check your posture—tension often starts there
• Do gentle neck and shoulder stretches between exercises
• Remember to breathe naturally between repetitions

If you're not seeing progress:

• Record yourself doing exercises to check technique
• Work with a qualified vocal instructor
• Consider if physical issues (allergies, posture problems) are interfering
• Be consistent—progress takes time and regular practice

Integrating Breathing into Your Singing

The ultimate goal is to make proper breathing automatic in your singing:

Start Simple:

• Apply breath support to simple scales and vocalises
• Focus on one song at a time
• Mark breath spots in your sheet music
• Practice songs slowly to establish good habits

Gradually Increase Complexity:

• Work on longer phrases
• Add dynamics (loud/soft variations)
• Practice different styles and tempos
• Simulate performance conditions

Remember, proper breathing technique is a skill that develops over time. Some students see improvements within weeks, while others take months to fully integrate these techniques. The key is consistent, mindful practice. Don't get discouraged if it feels unnatural at first—you're literally retraining your body's most fundamental function.

These breathing exercises form the foundation of all great singing. Master them, and you'll notice improvements in your vocal power, endurance, tone quality, and overall confidence as a performer. Your voice will thank you for giving it the support it needs to truly shine.