Breathing Exercises for Elementary Choirs

Lip Trill Exercise

Demonstrate the lip trill with your elementary choir. Have them place their index fingers on both ends of their cheeks. Demonstrate to them how to expand their tummies. To do this, you will have breathe; their tummies should expand when they take in a deep breath. To control their air supply with their diaphragm muscles, they will push their muscles inward which should automatically help them create "bubble" sounds with their mouths. This should help them to be in a relaxed state with their index fingers still at the sides of their cheeks. Have then to make sounds with their mouths that should have a "brbrbrbr" sound. This exercise helps to build up a strong diaphragm and proper breathing while singing. Once your choir successfully learns this exercise, demonstrate and play piano scales while they make accompanying bubbling sounds.

Demonstrate to the kids the snake exercise. The "S" exercise will help the kids expand their lung capacity and develop their diaphragm for proper breath control. To do this, have the choir students expand their tummies while taking in a deep breath. Then, like releasing air from a balloon, teach the kids to slowly release the air while making an "ssss" sound like a snake as they use their teeth and tongue to accomplish this. The tongue should be behind the two front teeth. Make sure your students produce a single 'S' sound, and not a 'shhh' sound. According to Your Personal Singing Guide website, a 'shhh' sound will release too much air.

Demonstrate to your elementary choir how to pant like a dog. This exercise teaches them how to breathe quickly as well as not fill their chest or lift their shoulders while breathing and singing. It also develops their diaphragm and vibrato. When dogs pant, their stomachs really move. Their throat and tongue should be relaxed. Have your students start with a slow pant and then, gradually, increase the panting to see how fast they can pant.

Allow the choir student members to put their hands on their stomach while breathing. This will show them the proper way to breathe while singing. As they breathe outward their hands should expand. When they exhale, their hands should lower as their stomach decreases in size. Perform a couple of exercises for them to develop proper breathing.