Singing demands a lot of lung capacity, so breathing exercises are essential for the most experienced singers.If you want to protect your voice, make sure your technique is solid.Don't raise your shoulders or chest if you want to fill your lungs with air.If you can do it, try inhaling and exhaling.Aerobic exercise is a great way to increase lung capacity, so start walking, jogging, biking, or swimming at least 30 minutes a day.
Step 1: Stand upright with your shoulders back.
Your chin should be parallel with the floor and you should have your shoulders back.Instead of locked knees, keep your feet shoulder width apart.If you want your belly to expand, your chest should be naturally lifted.Proper posture will allow you to breathe.Most people fill up their lungs when they breathe.
Step 2: Take a deep breath and fill your belly with air.
As you count to 4, slowly breathe through your nose.To make sure your belly expands and fills with air, hold your hand on it.The muscles between your ribs and your lower back should be felt.Hold your breath for a 4 count after inhaling.
Step 3: As you exhale, keep your upper chest and shoulders still.
Your shoulders should not rise as you inhale.As your belly gets round and your lungs fill with air, your lower ribs should expand outward, but don't let your chest and shoulders rise into a shrug.
Step 4: Count to 4 as you exhale.
When you hold your breath, breathe out by flexing your abdominal muscles.For a 4 count, try to exhale evenly.Try to exhale in a steady stream instead of blowing out a lot of air.
Step 5: As you practice breathing, increase your counts.
Simply inhale, hold your breath, and exhale for a while.Work your way up to 10 by increasing your count to 5, 6 and then 10.For each count, do 3 or 4 sets of inhales, holds, and exhales.If you want to maintain the proper breathing techniques, fill your belly and keep your shoulders down.
Step 6: Increase your exhale counts and decrease your inhales.
Exhaling for a longer time is great for your body.Start with 6 count inhales and 8 count exhales.As you inhale and exhale, count to 5 and 10, then work your way up to inhaling for 2 counts and exhaling for 20 counts.Control your exhale to blow out in a steady stream for a longer amount of time by filling your lungs with air.
Step 7: If you were blowing through a thin straw, exhale slowly.
Imagine a candle in front of you.Your goal is to blow out slowly and gently, so that the candle doesn't flicker.After filling your lungs with air, exhale through your imaginary straw.This exercise is repeated 10 times.
Step 8: As you exhale, add letters and sounds
Add vocalizations to your breathing exercises.As you exhale, say B, F, S, and Sh.Say, "Beee-," or "Ess-" to extend the sound throughout your exhale.Inhale for a 4 count and exhale for 8.To mimic how you would have to breathe during a song, Randomize your counts.
Step 9: Humming as you exhale is how to introduce tone.
As you exhale, hum at a note in your middle register.As you exhale, use your breath to keep the tone and volume steady.For this exercise, try to switch up your inhale and exhale counts.
Step 10: Try walking, jogging, and biking outdoors.
Singers need aerobic exercise so get out there and do it.It is helpful to exercise on rehearsal days.Walking, jogging, and biking are the most affordable forms of aerobic exercise.
Step 11: You should start swimming laps.
If you have a pool or body of water, try to swim vigorously for 30 minutes.Swimming is the ideal form of exercise for singers because it requires less effort and money.Water has a density that makes your muscles work harder and improves your breath control.
Step 12: Go for a yoga or martial arts class.
Breath control, focus, and coordination are all improved by yoga.Tai Chi and other martial arts can help you understand the connections between breath, energy, and concentration.You can find yoga and Tai Chi videos on the internet.You can sign up for classes at a local studio.If you want to preserve your voice, ask your instructor if you can skip screaming.
Step 13: Stay hydrated, stay hydrated.
Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water a day.Dehydration can affect your vocal folds.Cool or warm water is better than ice cold water.Cold water makes it difficult to control your vocal folds.
Step 14: It's possible to stop smoking.
Smoking damages your vocal cords and decreases your lung capacity.Do your best to stop smoking.Don't be around secondhand smoke.