(Video) How to Breathe for Singing

Breathing is the foundation to singing. We hear this alllll the (freakin’) time.

And yet, it continues to stump us. In fact, among the 700 student clients I’ve worked with, almost all of them struggled with connecting a supported breath with their voice.

It’s kind of crazy to think about. The one thing that we both have control over is the same thing we often DON’T know how to control. And better yet, when we try to control it, we end up adding more tension than necessary. (At least when we sing.)

There’s a difference between controlling and manipulating. We don’t want to tense, constrict, or do anything bizarre with our bodies in order to “control our breath.” So when it comes to breathing — whether it’s conscious breathwork or breathing for a musical phrase — the control happens in the steadiness of the supported breath. (Supported meaning low & expanded.)

But…how do I do this while singing?

Two words, my friend.

Muscle. Memory.

And it all starts with practicing (and repeating!) a very simple exercise called the breath to sound cycle.

Here’s how you do it:

Practice this exercise with any song or vocal warm up.

You’ll notice your breath needing to work faster in between phrases of a song. Don’t sweat! Simply practice this exercise and gradually get faster with your inhalations. Don’t let the speed of the breath interfere with its depth. The more often you can tap into the cycle between your breath and your sound, the more automated and supported your breath will become!