Breathing for Singing- Where Does the Air Go?

When we breathe for singing, air is inhaled through abducted (open) vocal folds, traveling down the trachea to the lungs.

The muscles involved in respiration include:

• The neck muscles (sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles) that elevate the sternum and the first two ribs.
• The external intercostal muscles that move the ribcage up and out during inhalation.
• The pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi muscles that pull the ribcage outward during inhalation.
• The oblique, transversus abdominis, and rectus abdominis muscles that pull the ribcage back down during exhalation.

Other muscles used in respiration include the sternocleidomastoid, scalenes, serratus, pectoralis major & minor, upper trapezius, latissimus dorsi, erector spinae, iliocostalis lumborum, quadratus lumborum, levatores costarum, transversus thoracic, and subclavius muscles.

In the image below, notice that the vocal folds are abducted (open) for inhalation, forming a “V” shape. The space between the vocal folds is known as the glottis.

Note the position of the hard palate, soft palate, and uvula.

For singing, it is preferable to inhale air through both the nose and the mouth simultaneously and silently.  A noisy breath indicates throat tension.

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