The Number One Breathing Exercise for Singers!

Breathing.  You've all heard about how important it is when it comes to singing, so what I am about to say may come as a big surprise to you.   But, oh well, here goes.  "Ah Hem. . .( throat clearing). . . PLEASE  stop concentrating on your breath so much!"
  There!  I said it!  Classical Bel Canto technique teachers often pummel their students with a barrage of, "support, support!" and "Breath deeply!" and "Push down with the stomach muscles!" and so on and so forth.  The truth is, many teachers resort to this kind of training because they don't know how to fix their student's vocal issue, so they just throw more breathing instruction at them hoping they will somehow fix themselves.  Many vocal instructors were born naturally talented, so when they hear a student with an issue they never had, they simply resort to what their teachers told them, which was mostly, "Breathe, breathe, breathe!!"
    I come from a school of technique that is founded in classical training ( see www.speechlevelsinging.com) but understands how to address every voice type.  Diaphragmatic breathing is actually quite simple.

    The following exercise is about the only exercise I use for my students when it comes to breathing.   If you find yourself running out of air after just 10 or 15 seconds, breath technique is something that may need to be addressed.  If you can make it to 25 or 30 seconds, good job.   With the vocal technique training, not breath technique training, you will eventually be able to make it to 60 seconds, like me.

  Enjoy!