Inspire: Breathing and Breath for Singing and the Voice
Module no. 5 - Breath Management
Module no. 5 - Breath Management (the breakdown)
Breath management requires mindful awareness of the different elements of your breath.
How it is when you breath in, when you’re expanded and full of air and when you exhale and/or make a sound.
I’d like to introduce you to box breathing as a way of developing this mindful awareness of the various components of your breathing.
Exercise no. 1 - Box breathing on three counts
3 counts in
3 counts hold
3 counts out
3 counts rest
Exercise no. 2 - Box breathing on four or five counts
4/5 counts in
4/5 counts hold
4/5 counts out
4/5 counts rest
Begin by finding your posture with your hands above your head, stretching toward the sky. Then, letting the hands come down by your side, keeping your chest up tall.
Find your coordinated breath first in your body, breathing in through your nose, allowing your belly to expand. Hold the breath, feeling the ribs and belly as expanded. Then, exhale, doing your best to stay expanded.
You can use the attached practice tracks to continue this work with box breathing. Practice increasing the count and also add on additional resistance with the “hiss” as noted below.
Exercise no. 3 - Box breathing with a hiss
Use any count, like 3
3 counts in
3 counts hold
3 counts hiss
3 counts rest
This helps create strength and ability to manage breath in terms of expansion and resistance.