Inspire: Breathing and Breath for Singing and the Voice
Module no. 9 - Breathing for Songs
Module no. 9 - Breathing for Songs (the breakdown)
Here are some final, more advanced exercises that will help you prepare for singing songs.
While there are no “right” or “wrong” places in songs to breath, there are certainly better or worse. These are about creating capacity to make the breath last a little longer and taking up the appropriate space you need to breath. In addition, we will start to speed up the inhale, while still leaving tension and constriction out of the picture. Additionally we will still try to commit to nasal inhalations.
As always, feel free to modify these as you see fit.
Exercise no. 1 - Breath in 1, hold 1, hum 5
1 count in
1 count hold
5 counts “Ahhh”
Increase the last count accordingly.
Exercise no. 2 - Breath in 1, hold 1, “ah” 5
1 count in
1 count hold
5 counts “Ahhh”
Increase the last count accordingly.
Please use the practice track below to guide you through these exercises.
Reminder: Holding at the top of the inhalation is just a way to connect with that feeling of fullness of the air. You will be trying to sustain sensation as you sing, but of course you need not hold the breath each time when you sing songs etc.
Exercise no. 3 - Breath in, count to 5 on pitch
1 count in
Sing “1, 2, 3, 4, 5” on the same pitch
Increase the last count accordingly.
Exercise no. 4 - Breath in, country through numbers singing intervals
1 count in
Sing “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 1” on intervalic pitches, like major third and fifth as demonstrated on practice track
Increase the last count accordingly. (Also, increase the intervals accordingly, up to an octave as demonstrated on the practice track)
Phew! That’s a lot.
I hope you find these to be helpful and I hope you walk away from all of this feeling more knowledgeable, mindful and able to breath with freedom and ease. As a result, I hope that you are able to sing and make music that feels like a more honest, and authentic expression of your unique and wonderful voice.
Remember, honoring your body and honoring your breath, ultimately will guide you toward a fuller experience of singing which will then empower you to connect more fully with others in the music you create.