Breathing for Vocalists!

Hi, I’m Greta Geist and I’m a vocal student of Nicole Marschall.  I’m starting this blog to expand other people’s knowledge on how the voice works.  Also, so I stay reminded of these important techniques as I continue to practice and take voice lessons.  Each post will be on different techniques and exercises you can do to become a better- educated singer.

            Breath support is the most important thing about singing, and takes a lot of practice.  I know this is probably a shock to most of you.  I’m guessing a lot of you are thinking breathing would be the easiest part!  Well it isn’t :) Breathing techniques and exercises are usually the very first thing a vocal teacher will teach their students!

            Correct breathing for a singer is to NOT BREATHE WITH YOUR SHOULDERS!  Breathe with you stomach and back.  Fill up your rib cage to create a full breath; shoulders should never come up.  Some fun and entertaining exercises to help beginning singers with their breathing are written below:

-Lie on the floor and put a book on your stomach.  Every time you breathe you should see the book and your stomach rise.

-Find a wall!  Put both your hands on it out in front of you, just like you would if you were doing a push-up, and breathe.  This exercise makes it impossible for you to breathe with your shoulders.

-Straw Breath (4 steps)

1) Inhale with mouth shaped like a straw

2) Exhale on S

3) When totally out of breath hold, hold for 3 seconds.

4) Inhale quickly.

This will cause your breath to last longer.

-Gas Gage

Stretch your hand out to the side of your body.  As you sing move your hand slowly, so it will end up straight in front of you.  As you watch your hand move slowly, your brain makes a connection, and in result your breath travels at the same rate as your hand.  This will help your breath to last longer.

- Don’t breath through your nose!  Sing parts of your song with your nose plugged. This will cause you to get that feeling of never letting air in or out of your nose. So when you sing without your nose being plugged this feeling will become more natural.

My sister Anna doing the "push-up" exercise.  It is impossible for her shoulders to move in this position.

My sister Anna doing the book exercise.  She will watch the book rise with her stomach as she breathes.