Breath Control for Singing: A Beginner’s Guide

Aim of the Lesson

To introduce beginners to basic breath control by developing awareness of breathing, learning how to release air steadily and using the breath to support clear and comfortable speech or singing.

Breath control is the ability to manage how your breath flows while you speak or sing.

What Is Breath Control?

For beginners, this simply means learning how to breathe calmly and use the breath without tension or effort. Good breath control helps you:

• • Avoid running out of breath

• • Speak or sing more clearly

• • Feel more relaxed and confident

At this stage, breath control should feel gentle and natural, not forced.

Understanding the Breath

When breathing correctly, the air moves into the lungs and causes the stomach area to gently expand. The shoulders should stay relaxed and still. This type of breathing helps support the voice and reduces strain.

The goal is not to take in a large amount of air, but to release the breath slowly and evenly.

Exercise 1: Breathing Awareness

Purpose: To notice how you currently breathe.

1. 1. Sit or stand comfortably.

1. 1. Place one hand on your chest and one hand on your stomach.

1. 1. Breathe in gently through your pursed lips. (Figure 1)

1. 1. Allow your ribs to move upwards and outward.

1. 1. Notice which hand moves more.

Try not to change anything yet. This exercise is only about awareness.

Exercise 2: Gentle Inhale and Exhale

Purpose: To practise relaxed breathing.

1. 1. Breathe in through your pursed lips for 3 counts. (Figure 1)

1. 1. Allow your stomach to gently expand when your bring your ribs upward and outwards.

1. 1. Exhale and allow your abdomen area, from your stomach downwards, to contract down and inwards.

1. 1. Do this for 4 counts.

1. 1. Keep the shoulders and your chest relaxed and relatively still.

Repeat this exercise 5 times. Relaxing in between each one.

Exercise 3: Controlling the Breath Out

Purpose: To learn how to release air steadily.

1. 1. Take a gentle breath in.

1. 1. Breathe out while making a soft ‘Haaaaa’ sound.

1. 1. Keep the sound even and quiet, as if relieved.

1. 1. Stop if you feel tense.

Repeat 3–4 times.

Exercise 4: Breath and Simple Phrases

Purpose: To use breath when vocalising.

1. 1. Choose one line of a song.

1. 1. Take one gentle breath.

1. 1. Sing the verse smoothly from start to finish.

1. 1. Make sure that while singing your have air before the sound by swirling the air in your mouth.

1. 1. Rest, then repeat.

Focus on finishing the sentence clearly.

Common Beginner Points to Remember

• • Do not lift the shoulders when breathing in

• • Do not hold the breath before speaking

• • Keep the body relaxed

• • Stop and reset if you feel tense

Practice Guidance

Practise for 5–10 minutes at a time. Short, regular practice is best for beginners.

Lesson Recap

In this lesson, you learned that breath control begins with calm, relaxed breathing. By becoming aware of your breath and practising steady airflow, you are building the foundation for clear speech and healthy voice use. These skills will support all future vocal lessons.