The Best Physical Exercises for Singers
Your voice is not just a set of vocal cords—it’s an instrument that involves your whole body. Physical exercises can help build strength, improve posture, and enhance breath control, all of which contribute to better vocal performance. Below are some of the best physical exercises for singers to strengthen their voices and improve their technique.
Physical Exercises for Singers
1. Core Strengthening Exercises
A strong core is essential for good posture and breath control, both of which are critical for singers. Your diaphragm—the muscle that controls your breath—is located just beneath the rib cage, and engaging your core helps support the controlled, steady airflow needed for singing.
- Planks: Whether side or front planks, this exercise strengthens the core and improves posture. Holding a plank for 30-60 seconds several times can engage the abdominal muscles, which are vital for controlled breathing while singing.
- Crunches and Leg Raises: Focus on exercises that work the upper and lower abdominal muscles. This can help with diaphragm control, and stronger abs lead to better breath support. Aim for 3 sets of 15-20 repetitions.
2. Breathing Exercises
Controlled breathing is at the core of every great singer’s technique. Singers need to master diaphragmatic breathing, which allows them to control their airflow and sustain longer phrases.
- Deep Breathing: Begin by lying on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Place one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest. As you inhale deeply through your nose, try to expand your stomach, not your chest. Exhale slowly through your mouth, feeling the stomach fall. Practicing deep breathing regularly can help you engage your diaphragm more effectively when singing.
- Breath Holds: Another great exercise is to take a deep breath and hold it for a few seconds before exhaling slowly. This helps build lung capacity and control, which will enhance your ability to sing sustained notes with power and ease.
3. Posture and Alignment Work
Good posture is crucial for singers to ensure that the air flows freely through the lungs and that the vocal cords are not strained. Poor posture can lead to vocal tension, limited breath capacity, and unnecessary strain.
- Yoga or Pilates: Both yoga and Pilates are excellent practices for improving flexibility, balance, and posture. The deep stretching involved in these activities helps release tension in areas such as the neck, shoulders, and back—common areas where singers hold unnecessary tightness.
- Standing Tall Exercises: Stand with your feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent, and spine straight. Imagine a string pulling the top of your head toward the ceiling. This will help you achieve a neutral spine and open up the airways. Practice this position regularly while engaging the core.
4. Neck and Shoulder Relaxation
Tension in the neck and shoulders is one of the most common problems singers face. Tension here can restrict airflow and affect vocal resonance. To combat this, perform exercises to loosen these areas and improve flexibility.
- Neck Rolls: Slowly roll your neck in a circular motion, first clockwise and then counterclockwise. This releases tension in the cervical spine and helps you maintain a relaxed throat while singing.
- Shoulder Shrugs and Rolls: Raise your shoulders up toward your ears, hold for a few seconds, and then release. Follow this with shoulder rolls, first forwards, then backward. These exercises will help alleviate shoulder and upper back tension, allowing for greater freedom in your vocal production.
5. Jaw and Face Exercises
Singing requires freedom of movement in the face and jaw. Tension in these areas can lead to vocal strain or limited resonance. Incorporating facial exercises into your routine can help.
- Jaw Massage: Use your fingers to gently massage the muscles along your jawline and the area around your temples. This helps to release tension that may be impacting your vocal flexibility.
- Lip Trills: A favorite among singers, lip trills (or “lip bubbles”) involve blowing air through your lips, creating a vibrating sound. This is an excellent exercise for relaxing the face and engaging the diaphragm while warming up the voice. You can do this while singing scales or as a standalone exercise.
6. Full-Body Stretching
Singing is a full-body activity, and flexibility plays a key role in keeping your instrument in top shape. Stretching physical exercises can improve your range of motion and reduce tension throughout your body, particularly in areas like the chest, rib cage, and neck.
- Cat-Cow Stretch: This yoga pose stretches and strengthens the spine while improving flexibility in the back, neck, and shoulders. Start on your hands and knees, alternate arching your back towards the ceiling (cat) and then dipping it toward the floor while lifting your head (cow). This motion opens up the chest and improves mobility, which is essential for singers who need free, open vocal resonance.
- Chest Openers: Stretching the chest and shoulders improves posture and allows for deeper, fuller breaths. You can do this by clasping your hands behind your back, straightening your arms, and gently lifting your hands upwards to open the chest.
Singing is not just about technique and vocal ability—it’s about taking care of your body, which acts as the instrument.
Incorporating physical exercises like core strengthening, posture alignment, breathing techniques, and relaxation exercises will enhance your vocal performance and protect you from injury or strain. By strengthening the body, you’ll find that your breath support, vocal range, and overall ease in singing will improve. With these exercises, you’ll not only sing better, but you’ll also develop a stronger connection to your body and voice, allowing for more expressive, effortless performances.
HVS Conservatory is a music school dedicated to the artistic development of vocal performers. Based in Los Angeles, our faculty of music industry experts help to coach aspiring artists by passing on real-world training from their personal experiences alongside necessary musical training. Check out our schedule of masterclasses and free community events, including acoustic sessions, seasonal open house events, and artist showcases.