Creighton University

What is in most aspects of life a natural, instinctive, involuntary function of the body can be a frustrating and distracting exercise for the singer! Inefficient breath control can be a detriment to almost every aspect of vocal musicianship. Typically, the way most people breathe when asked to do so voluntarily doesn't serve the singing voice well at all.

Try this: take in a "deep breath" and hold it in for about five seconds. Where do you feel the bulk of the physical tension in your body? If you said "the shoulders" or "my upper chest," you have some adjusting to do; tension in your upper torso puts direct pressure on your larynx, and singing like that is tantamount to running laps with your knees locked.

The "singers' breath" is primarily accomplished using your stomach muscles, which push down and out, allowing your diaphragm (and, coincidentally, most of your digestive tract) to get out of the way of your expanding lungs. A secondary expansion occurs in your chest as your rib cage makes way, but this should be a reactive motion; the stomach is really in charge here. The other very important component of this is that your shoulders are in no way involved with the breath; they should be back and down, relaxed and pretty much at peace with the whole business.

Here's an exercise to try at home (don't try this right after lunch!):
1. Place both hands flat on your stomach, one over another, right above the navel.

2. Exhale as much air from your lungs as you can without straining (or blacking out).

3. Take in a deep slow breath, pushing your stomach out against your hands as you do so. You should feel your hands moving out with your stomach. Hold it for a moment to gauge the tensions and muscle movement you've created.

4. Exhale and allow your stomach to collapse evenly; this should push air out of you in a steady, controlled stream. Repeat Step 3 and 4 as necessary.

5. Once you get the feel of it, try it in front of a mirror. Are your shoulders moving? If so, take a moment to relax them before continuing (just don't "try" to force them down.... that's just as bad for you as raising them up).

6. Now, take your hands and apply GENTLE pressure to your stomach, then try this breath again, moving your stomach muscles against the GENTLE resistance of your hands. This is as good a "workout" for the muscles involved as anything.

7. One final assessment as you work on building the singers' breath: can you hear yourself inhaling? A loud inhalation is a near-certain sign that air is being forced into the body rather than drawn in.

if you'd like more information about this or further help in developing vocal technique, let me know.