The Role of Breathing in Better Singing.

The key to good breathing while singing is simple: don’t tense up!

Why Breathing Matters When You Sing

You don’t have to think much about your breathing while you speak: you take in enough breath to easily say your sentences. Singing requires greater breath control. Phrases tend to be longer and managing the flow of air allows you to stay in control. You can easily run out of breath too quickly by letting air out of your body too rapidly. You may also find it difficult to relax your body when you hold your breath, which makes it difficult to sing freely.
Think of your breathing as one part of the equation for singing. It should be coordinated with your vocal folds, the muscles in your body, your posture, and more.

Practice Slow Exhalation

Take a breath in and release it in a long “sss” sound. Try to keep the tone of the “sss” consistent for as long as you can. You can extend this exercise to see how steady you can keep the sound.
This simple exercise builds your awareness of controlling your exhale, which leads to more controlled singing.
Breathe in again and this time, make a comfortable, sustained note instead. Aim to stay in tune while releasing the breath. Do not push for a stronger note, but instead aim to keep your voice steady as you exhale.
Again, you do not need to focus on making this as loud or strong of a note as possible. You’re training yourself to control your exhale and keep it consistent, so try to relax as you sing.
As you exhale, your shoulders should not be lifted. There should be no tension in your neck, jaw, or anywhere else. Simply take a breath in and allow your body to expand as needed to accommodate it. Sing as your body exhales.

Connect Breathing With Vocal Exercises

Once you’ve got the hang of these basic breath control exercises, try using them in your scales or other vocal exercises. Sing short phrases, making sure that you plan how you’ll use your breath in the musical context.

Do Not Force More Air Into Your Voice

Pushing too much air into your voice does not result in stronger singing. In fact, it will result in tension and make it more difficult to control your voice.
Instead, learn to connect the amount of breath needed with the musical result you desire. Your breathing, along with the other elements of singing, needs to be coordinated. There is not one part that takes control.

Practice Breathing Within Musical Phrases

When you start singing more complicated songs, mark the places in songs that you plan to breathe. Think not just about what words you’ll breathe between, but also the musical phrasing. This is a musical choice you’ll have to make.
You can easily run out of breath in the middle of a song if you’re not careful. However, if you make a plan before beginning the song, you can make better use of your breath and avoid tension in your body from holding your breath too long.

Consistency Is More Important Than Complexity

These exercises are very simple for a reason. You should be able to practice them every day for a few minutes. Consistency is much more important than complexity, so stick with these simple breathing exercises to see results.
Over time, you will develop better breath control and the awareness will become a habit, rather than something you consciously think about every time you sing.

Build Your Voice From the Foundation

Good breathing habits form the foundation of your singing ability. Once you develop control and consistency in how you use your breath while singing, the notes will become more steady and the transitions between them smoother. It will become easier to sing freely while in control.