{"id":10916,"date":"2025-01-28T09:20:01","date_gmt":"2025-01-28T09:20:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/institutdemusiquedeparis.com\/?p=10916"},"modified":"2025-02-04T06:50:28","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T06:50:28","slug":"i-dont-know-how-to-breathe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/institutdemusiquedeparis.com\/en\/i-dont-know-how-to-breathe\/","title":{"rendered":"S.O.S. I don\u2019t know how to breathe"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the most common questions I hear from my students is: How should I breathe when singing? <\/p>\n

And you? Do you know how to breathe when singing?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure each of you has a different explanation of this concept.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve taken numerous voice training courses, and breathing seems to be the topic where every vocal professional has their own take.<\/p>\n

Singers often panic, thinking they don\u2019t know how to breathe properly.<\/p>\n

In classical vocal technique, breathing plays such a central role that we often forget many other factors contribute to sound production, such as vocal cord closure, larynx positioning, relaxation, muscular energy, and much more. <\/p>\n

You\u2019ve probably heard that you should sing with your diaphragm, breathe with your belly, support your voice, press, and so on. <\/p>\n

The world of singing seems obsessed with the \"right\" way to breathe, as if breathing alone is what makes us great singers.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s think about it: Trumpet players have great breath control. Does that mean all trumpet players are amazing singers?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s time to demystify breathing and talk a bit about the science behind it. <\/p>\n

\"Breathing<\/p>\n

The science of breathing<\/h2>\n

You breathe every day, and quite well, I assume\u2014otherwise, you wouldn\u2019t be able to read this article. <\/p>\n

Your body already knows the basics: the lungs expand to let air in and contract to push air out. And if you want to see exactly how it works, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The diaphragm you see in the image is an inspiratory muscle, whereas phonation (speaking or singing) happens on the breath, meaning during exhalation. <\/p>\n

Once you realise this, you\u2019ll understand that \u201csinging with the diaphragm\u201d doesn\u2019t actually mean anything. The diaphragm contracts during inhalation and relaxes during exhalation. <\/p>\n

You can\u2019t feel it or control it\u2014you simply have to let it do its job.<\/p>\n

\"Woman<\/p>\n

Mastering exhalation for singing<\/h2>\n

What about belly breathing? <\/p>\n

If anyone has ever felt their lungs in their belly, call me\u2014or better yet, call emergency services\u2014because I think there\u2019s a problem!<\/p>\n

In reality, teachers who tell you to \u201cbreathe with your belly\u201d are making a huge simplification that can lead you in the wrong direction, such as trying to push or inflate your belly. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what actually happens: when you inhale, your belly\u2014or more precisely, your abdominal muscles\u2014relax. <\/p>\n

At the same time, the ribs expand, and so does the back. You can feel inhalation as a 360-degree expansion of the body. <\/p>\n

This will help you avoid tension and stiffness.<\/p>\n

Logically, natural exhalation is simply the same process in reverse. In everyday life, exhalation happens very quickly. <\/p>\n

However, when we sing or even speak, we need more time to articulate or sustain phrases without taking a breath every two seconds. <\/p>\n

Normal exhalation isn\u2019t enough in these cases, so we need to adjust something. <\/p>\n

Our job as vocalists is to slow down exhalation and delay the moment of release. <\/p>\n

To do this, we resist the lowering of the ribs and keep them expanded for as long as possible. <\/p>\n

When that\u2019s no longer enough, we engage the abdominal muscles to increase resistance and extend the duration of exhalation.<\/p>\n

\"Teacher<\/p>\n

Practical breathing exercises<\/h2>\n

Now, let\u2019s move on to practice. If you're here, it's because you're looking for tips to improve your breathing for singing. There\u2019s no magic formula that works for everyone, as every body is different. But I still suggest you try the following exercise:<\/p>\n