Breathing Warm-Ups

Breathing is probably one of the most important parts to singing, yet many times one of the most neglected. Here are some warm-ups you can do to increase lung capacity and strengthen muscles that support your breathing.

1. Stretches -

a. Clasp your hands with your fingers intertwined out in front of you. Turn your palms outwards. Stretch arms forward and take deep breaths. This should stretch out the intercostal muscles of your back and as you breathe you should feel your back "expand."

b. Clasp your hands with your fingers intertwined behind your back. Turn your palms to the floor. Stretch arms back and take deep breaths. This should stretch out the intercostal muscles of your chest and as you breathe you should feel your chest "expand."

2. Ab Toning -

a. Laying flat on the floor with your knees slightly bent and your hands cradling (NOT pulling) your head, crunch upwards. Ab crunches can truly strengthen and tone the muscles needed for support of your sound.

3. Breathing -

a. While sitting or standing in a tall position, take deep breaths in. The inhalation should make your lungs fill in the LONG, downward position which in turn will make the belly "pooch" outwards. (Note: Your shoulders should NOT move when inhaling.)

b. After taking a deep breath in, allow it out through a very small circular opening in your mouth while contracting your abs. (Hint: It feels like you're blowing up a balloon.)

c. After taking a deep breath in, "punch" it out through your mouth with a quick and strong contraction of your ab muscles. (Hint: It feels like someone punched you in the stomach.)

d. Count in your mind from 1 to 10 and back to 1. First count quickly and each time you start over count a bit more slowly. While ascending in the numbers (1-10), inhale. While descending in the numbers (10-1), exhale. Each time you arrive at 1, you should immediately start the next count. Beginning with quick numbers and slightly slowing down at each repetition means your lungs are being forced to fill with more air (in other words, it takes more time to inhale and exhale) which stretches your lungs and diaphragm.

e. After a few of these breathing exercises, feel free to repeated them while singing any given COMFORTABLE note. The note should be in your mid-range.

f. After becoming more comfortable with these exercises, try regular melodic warm-ups (such as going up and down, i.e. 123454321 or Do Re Mi Fa So Fa Mi Re Do) while singing the syllable "Ha" on each note. Make sure the "H" is a HARD "h" where you hear air escaping because of a quick contraction of the ab muscles. You can also substitute other vowel sounds, such as: "He, Hih, Hee, Hoh, Hoo."