The importance of Breath Control

Strong breath control is essential for reaching your vocals potential!

This may seem easy but being able to control your breathing while singing is a lot harder than most people realise. It is important to have a strong structure for your vocals before diving in to learning how to belt and other techniques.

Today we will be speaking on creating this structure on the importance of breathing through exercises and debunking a myth.

When I was young I was taught taking in as much breath as you can was important when it came to singing, this was to limit the amount of breaths taken in a performance as well as prevent breathing mid note and ruining the performance.

It wasn't until a few months ago when I spoke to a vocal teacher that they suggested unlearning this unnecessary technique.

Originally I was confused, the one way I had been taught my entire life now being considered incorrect didn't feel right especially since I was taught by other professionals. But after they explained it made a lot more sense.

Your body knows how to naturally breath so why fight your body when it knows best? taking in only as much breath as you need without filling your lungs makes the process of singing more comfortable and easier in the long run.

I gave it a go at home and I was shocked at how easy it was to sing without making my lungs feel uncomfortable from taking in too much air.

Following your body's naturally breathing pattern is better for you and your singing as it takes more weight off your shoulders in regards to remembering everything else you need to do when performing as well prevent becoming uncomfortable when performing.

However this does not mean you are now an expert in breathing and you can go perform 'Whitney Houstons - I will always love you' you still need to strengthen your techniques, by all means prevent taking in too much breath but also learn how to strengthen your breathing.

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Strengthening your breathing might sound odd to say after everything I have said regarding following your natural breathing pattern however learning on how much air you take in and strengthening your breath is different.

You may be able to breath much more comfortably however how long can you hold your breath for? Now as singers we don't need to hold for too long when singing but when you need to hold a note for more than 5 seconds it won't help you knowing just to breathe.

Down below I have set up some exercises through an infographic to try at home, this will help you create that foundation for extending your breath and help you reach your full singing potential.