Step-by-Step Instructions on How Singers Should Breathe

Whether you want to be a pop singer like Lady Gaga or an opera singer like Maria Callas, you must first learn to properly breathe. Breathing not only allows you to control the quality and length of the notes, but it is also an important safety measure in protecting your voice. Without the proper breathing technique, you can do a lot of damage to you vocal chords. Learning basic breath control is an important place to start for any aspiring singer.

Instructions

1. • 1

     Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and with your weight evenly distributed.

   • 2

     Take a breath. Notice how your chest rises and falls.

   • 3

     Place your hands on your lower abdomen. Deeply inhale into your hands and make them move while keeping your chest still. This is called breathing into your diaphragm. Your diaphragm is a strong muscle located at the base of your lungs.

   • 4

     Exhale and notice your hands move back to their original position.

   • 5

     Inhale deeply again and notice how your hands move with the breath. This time make a hissing sound as you exhale. Hiss for as long as you can. Practicing hissing improves your breath control and lung capacity.

   • 6

     Inhale deeply into your hands again and this time sing an "ah" sound as you exhale. You will notice you can hold the note for longer and it will feel more supported when breathing from your diaphragm.