RUNNING OUT OF BREATH SINGING?:

Running Out Of Breath Singing?.

Are you running out of breath when you sing or speak? Do you get to the ends of your phrases and have to barely squeeze them out? Is your inhale inadequate to allow control of tone and pitch all the way to the last word? It's highly unlikely that your lungs aren't big or healthy enough. More likely it's one of the following:

You either don't take a breath (or inadequately top off your tank when gasping a small high inhale) 

Use too much breath to accomplish your phrase or need to find or create a breath mark in the phrase.

What to do about it?
Remember you have to inhale, So give yourself permission and create the habit of inhaling adequately for what you will be singing or saying. Learn to take this breath low, fill the bottom of the glass of air first.

Learn to focus tone like a rich, controlled laser beam instead of a leaky, breathy uncontrolled flashlight beam. It doesn't take much air to vibrate your vocal folds if you focus tone properly.

As I mentioned above it matters more WHERE you take your breath-LOW- than how much air you get in. Use imagery such as "don't leave a breath mark on an imaginary glass plane in front of your mouth".

Learn the art of "pulling" instead of "pushing" breath.
Plan your breaths for particularly long or wordy phrases. Make it make sense with the thought and breathe.

Know that you must master all three cornerstones (breath, open throat and communication) for your best voice. Inhale and control that breath properly and you will also help open your throat and avoid being distracted when you try to communicate.
What is your experience with running out of breath?