5 Secrets for How to Improve Breath Control for Singers

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5 Secrets for How to Improve Breath Control for Singers

Todays blog is dedicated to helping your improve your breath control and singing longer phrases, holding out notes and singing with more control and precision. 

I teach breath control inside of the Cole Vocal Method. Click here to: Learn more about the Cole Vocal Method

Here’s a quick outline of the topics covered in today’s blog:  

• Breathing Into the Lower Triangles of the Lungs
• Intercostal Rib Movement to Unlock the Diaphragm
• Chest Posture, Pectoral Support + Alignment
• Keeping Air Sub-Glottic 
• Managing Airflow at the Top of the Phrase

Let’s dive in!

1. Breathing Into the Lower Triangles of the Lungs

Has anyone ever explained to you how the diaphragmatically in a way you’ve understood? If not, you’re not alone! It is often so misunderstood by singers and vocal coaches.

The lungs are shaped like triangles with the wider portion at the bottom.The key is to get the breath into the lower triangles of the lungs. 

If you’ve been doing my Singers Gift Vocal Warmups for a while, you’re probably a bit ahead of the curve — because we get you started breathing diaphragmatically — I’ll tell you the secret. Learn more here: https://caricole.com/singers-gift-vocal-warmups. 

Access breath in the lower triangles of the lungs starts with moving the ribs. This is where it begins. 

Let’s do a quick exercise. 

Try this:  

• Put your hands on your ribs. 
• Exhale. 
• Now hold your ribs firmly with pressure and breathe slowly into your hands. 
• Do you feel the ribs slowly expand and swing outwards into your hands.
•  The trick is to breathe slowly and not too fast and you’ll feel the ribs move. This is the beginning of breathing diaphragmatically. 
• See my demonstration on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CgzS6mAFQ1p/
• Use this technique for future reference on a day you’re having trouble breathing. 

2. Intercostal Rib Movement to Unlock the Diaphragm

Did you know that there are 28 muscles that wrap around your ribs? These muscles that wrap the ribs are called the intercostal muscles. When these muscles are tight they constrict breathing and the movement of the diaphragm which pulls air into these lower portions of the lungs.

The exercise above (#1) is the start to opening up this area of the body. The more you practice opening up the lower 4-5 ribs, the more you make room for the diaphragm to descend and get that delicious voice affirming breath into the lungs.

Practice the Diaphragmatic Breathing exercise daily to open up your lung capacity.

3. Chest Posture, Pectoral Support + Alignment

Posture, alignment and the position of the chest and pectorals are big players in breath support. 

Let’s start with posture. When the body is aligned correctly with the head balanced over the spine (not forward), the pelvis slightly tucked and the neck long and relaxed, the singer is able to keep the breath in the lungs instead of escaping too soon. 

The position of the chest is vital in managing air flow. When the chest is slightly dropped (as it is on most people), the diaphragm never fully descends and the breath is incomplete. When the chest drops (even slightly) upon singing, the air comes rushing out too early and breath support is gone.

When the chest position stays high, breath support is easy. Breath stays in the lungs and supports the voice amply. 

Try this: 

• Take a deep breath into your chest (to attain a high position). 
• Keep that position throughout this singing. The key is to not let the chest drop at all during singing. 
• Once you can accomplish that, you have tapped the key to breath control. 
• Be sure not to arch your back to keep your chest lifted. 
• Try lifting your chest up towards your chin. 
• Then drop the shoulders and flatten out the back to hold the right position.
• Then practice singing without dropping the chest at all and watch the magic happen.

4. Keeping Air Sub-Glottic 

Sub-glottic means below the glottis. The glottis is the opening of the vocal folds. To manage breath control you want to keep air sub-glottic, below the vocal folds, 

The tendency most singers have is to push the air out, but this is the wrong direction.

When you follow the 3 steps above you are already setting yourself up more correctly. 

The next step is to not push the air out when singing. 

Think instead of letting the air resonate in the mouth and head cavity instead of out in front of you.

When the singer can resonate the air instead of pushing it out the air stays supporting your phrases.

5. Managing Airflow at the Top of the Phrase

The first moment of the phrase is key in managing airflow. Many singers will lose too much air on the first note in an attempt to “hit the note”. This motion tends to “squeeze” the voice and too much air releases on onset. 

As you sing the first note try this: 

• Sing “AHHHH”
• Keep the chest lifted on onset to help avoid too much air escaping. 
• Think of the air staying in the mouth as if it is coming towards you instead of pushing it out. 
• Open your mouth in a longer oval position. 
• Sing “AHHHH” again without dropping the chst. 
• Let the sound resonate in the mouth cavity. 

The more you practice, the more you learn to manage the airflow and the sound will resonate stronger while you sing longer phrases and higher notes with more success! 

I teach onset in Level II of the Cole Vocal Method. See more below.

Learn more about the Cole Vocal Method here.

1. Level I:
   • Level 1 of the Cole Vocal Method™ starts with the Singers Gift Vocal Warmups (Part 1). Click here to learn more. 
   • Learn all 4 parts of Level I of the Cole Vocal Method™, inside the Vocal Freedom Circle (VFC). To learn more about VFC – click here. 
2. Level II:
   • Level II of the Cole Vocal Method™ is taught inside the Vocal Mastery Program (VMP). This program is for singers interested in learning the next level of the method and for vocal coaches who want to get certified to teach the method. Learn more about VMP – click here.
3. Level III:
   • Level III of the Cole Vocal Method™ is taught inside the Vocal Mastery Year 2. This is for singers who want to learn the advanced level of the method. Level I and II are prerequisites for Level III. To learn more about Level III click here.

Join me on YouTube – where I discuss content on the blog, voice, and artist development. Feel free to leave a note or question in the comments that I can circle back to. 

This post helps you get started, but it’s only the beginning. What would it feel like to finally reach your vocal potential and feel an actual transformation in your voice in 8 weeks? Come join the thousands of singers who have already transformed their voice and vocal health with the Cole Vocal Method™. Set your voice free in only 20 minutes a day with these transformative vocal techniques found only here! Click here to find out more. 

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