The “I” in Choir: Long Phrases and Breath Control
Many singers feel intimidated when approaching long phrases, and breath control can be a source of great insecurity.
How can we gain confidence when encountering long phrases?
The good news is that breath control and stamina can strengthen over time through practice and attention. Here are a few exercises to help you gain awareness of your breath usage and to develop your breath control:
A Solid Foundation
Engaged, flowing, and sustained breath for singing always starts with a solid foundation: a good inhale. The goal of an inhale is not to fill our lungs completely full with air or to gasp for air. Rather, we want to take in an easy, round, and full breath.
One way to feel this sensation is by completely exhaling your air and then allowing air to enter your body again.
The Exercise: While standing or sitting in a comfortable, tall position, completely exhale all of your air. Hold this “empty” feeling for a few seconds. Then, open your mouth and throat. Allow the air to naturally draw into your body (rather than sucking or pulling air in). Notice how your body fills to the sides, front to back, and up and down with air. We aim for this same sensation when we take a breath for singing.
Hiss
Practicing hissing sounds is great for building up breath stamina and for managing your breath over a long period of time.
The Exercise: Practice sustaining an energetic “hiss” for a certain number of beats. Begin by inhaling for 2 counts and exhaling on a “hiss” for 8 counts. Gradually increase the length of your exhale. Try exhaling for 10, 12, 14, or 16 counts. Aim to use all of your breath by the end of each phrase.
Try this exercise with Brittany in our guided video!
The Application: Apply the same exercise by singing on an “Ah” vowel at a comfortable pitch over a controlled number of beats.
Lip Buzz
Buzzing through your lips is great for energizing your breath and developing your stamina.
The Exercise: Sing a familiar tune or a simple scale while buzzing your lips (or blowing a raspberry). Try “Mary Had A Little Lamb” or Sol-Fa-Mi-Re-Do. Move your starting pitch up and down to explore your voice.
The Application: Practice music on a Lip Buzz by singing one of your favorite songs while humming and buzzing your lips.
This exercise can be challenging for some singers. Be gentle with yourself and breathe when you need to. Practicing this exercise builds stamina over time, so be patient and generous with yourself. Trouble buzzing your lips? Try holding each pointer finger at the corners of your mouth.
Written by Brittany Martin