Breathing

I don't want to get overly technical or into anatomy. I want to say that breathing for singing is much easier than we make it out to be. If you can imagine sitting back in a relaxed position, watching your favorite movie or t.v. show, now think about the type of breathing you are doing when you are relaxed. Where does that relaxed breathing come from? The answer is low. We see the abdomen rise and fall as we are in this relaxed state of breathing. It does not involve the shoulders or the chest rising. So why is it when we take in air for singing we tense up and suck in air from in front of us? Is it a fear of singing? A fear of failing? A fear of not making a good sound? Try some relaxed breathing and sighing, then try relaxed breathing and sighing on pitch. The key here is to relax and breath as you would normally breath when having a nice relaxing conversation.