Why Are Breathing Exercises Important For Singers?

hy are breathing exercises important for singing

In this lesson, we will explore why breathing exercises are important for singing. Breathing exercises for singing are one of the key skills that all singers should learn.

A skilled singer will soon discover that breathing is really the key to great singing. Breathing exercises help singers to:

Improve vocal tone.
Develop flexibility and agility of the breathing muscles.
Take quick snatches of air while singing.
Control and support the escape of air from the lungs
Develop sustained singing (sing without “running out of breath”).
Eliminate unpleasant vocal problems such as nasal tones, harsh sounds, nasal sounds.
Develop a natural and beautiful singing.

breathing exercises for singing

How can I improve my breathing for singing?

There are many techniques and exercises to improve singing. Here is a very simple principle that really works. This means that a singer can perform any kind of exercise in keeping with this principle and achieve great results in a quick time:

“the most efficient way to train the breathing apparatus is to breathe in then concentrate on breathing out in a coordinated and rhythmic manner.” (Murdock, 2007).

What exercises can I do to sing better for singing?

First off, we do not recommend a technique called diaphragmatic breathing as it causes the singer to work too hard and also creates breathing difficulties in singing.

The techniques recommended on this site surround the principle that breathing in singing should be as natural and easy as when you are breathing.

Here is a simple breathing exercise to train the breathing apparatus and develop a great voice:

Breathe in deeply through the nose.
Fill the lungs (chest) with air.
Hold the breath for a minimum of three counts.
Purse the lips.
Breathe out slowly through the lips while counting mentally.
Maintain a slow, steady flow of air when breathing out. This means that you should not force the air out.
You will attain greater breath control when you can breathe out while counting to a minimum of twenty beats.
Some people can breathe out to a count of forty beats.


Murdock, R. (2007). Born to sing. Retrieved from http://www.alexandercenter.com/pa/voice.html

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