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The Art of Breathing for Musicians

22nd September 2025

Breath is at the heart of music-making. Whatever your instrument, the way you breathe shapes your tone, stamina, and expression. It’s tempting to think that “more air equals more sound,” but in practice, the opposite is often true. In this blog, ‘The Art of Breathing for Musicians’ we offer a range of advice to get your diaphragm working and start improving your sound and stamina!

Young girl laughing, holding a flute looking at her music on the music stand.

Thom’s Advice: Less Is More

Pro player and multi-instrumentalist, Thom Conroy’s advice comes from the perspective of flute players, but it can be practiced by all musicians: don’t puff as hard as you can. If you do, you’ll quickly feel lightheaded, and the sound will lose its core. Instead, aim for a smaller, more focused stream of air – like aiming water through a hose nozzle rather than letting it spill everywhere.

Avoid puffing your cheeks out or straining to force lots of air. Not only does this waste energy, but it can also reduce resonance and clarity. A controlled, directed stream of air is far more efficient and produces a richer, more reliable sound.

Breathing Basics for All Musicians

  • Breathe low, not high – Instead of lifting your shoulders, let your ribs and belly expand. It feels calmer and gives you a bigger, steadier supply of air.
  • Stay relaxed and grounded – Good posture isn’t about standing stiffly – it’s about balance. Keep your spine long, knees soft, and shoulders loose so your body has space to work naturally.
  • Take sips, not gulps – Quick top-up breaths between phrases are often necessary and can keep you more stable than working through one giant inhale that leaves you tense – keep your air reservoir steady without leaving you tense. As you sip the air in, focus on filling the belly rather than lifting the shoulders.
Young musician playing the clarinet by the window.

Try These Simple Exercises

1. The “Sss” Challenge
Take a deep, low breath and release it slowly on a hiss (“ssss”). Time yourself. See if you can last longer each time without forcing. This trains control and air rationing.

2. Belly Breathing
Lie on your back with one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach (or place a book on your stomach!) Inhale slowly through your nose, letting the hand on your stomach rise while the hand on your chest stays as still as possible. Exhale slowly through pursed lips. This trains you to engage the diaphragm rather than shallow breathing in the chest.

3. Long Tones
Take a low, relaxed breath and play or sing one note as steadily as possible. Aim for a clear, even tone from start to finish, like slowly letting air out of a balloon. Rest, then repeat on different notes. For variation, try getting gradually louder and softer on a single breath.

Final Thoughts

Breathing isn’t just physical – it’s mental. When nerves kick in, we tend to blow harder or rush our air. A calmer, more measured breath almost always leads to a clearer, more beautiful sound.