How do I properly breathe while singing?!

How do I properly breathe while singing?

where do I start. Ive been singing for 5 years, but have never had formal training. I started recording an album, and at first I was great, but due to a break (6months since last real singing) I can't hit notes like I could. My vibrato is out of control, and I can't hold long notes. I think its my breathing, and Ive always never breathed correctly. How can I fix this? How do I know Im using my diaphram and all that good stuff?

First of all, you don't want to lose the vibrato, you want to learn how to CONTROL your vibrato. Any true voice teacher knows that "losing" the vibrato completely is DAMAGING to the voice. But, proper diaphragmatic breathing will dramatically help with controlling it. Some people have a bad interpretation of what vibrato means. If you are singing right, the vibrato is controlled and unwobbly. If the vibrato is without wobble, than the audience won't really be aware of it. That's what makes a GOOD singer stand out from the rest.

Most people don't know we use the diaphragm everyday for breathing purposes. The difference between "high" breathing (which is probably what you are doing) and diaphragmatic breathing is where you place the air and how you work the muscles with the diaphragm for it to work to your advantage. Let's try this exercise (as I repeat several times on Yahoo Answers).

Get in front of a mirror. Place your hands flat on your tummy (parallel to eachother) with only the tips of your middle fingers touching. Now on inhale DON'T move your shoulders up. In other words, concentrate on expansion of the abdomen verses expanding the upper chest area. Pretend like your tummy is a balloon as you inhale (as if you are filling it up with air). When you do this, your middle finger tips will part. Now exhale. Do NOT blow the air out. Exhale the air out SLOWLY. If you need to make a sound, make a hissing sound like a snake (SSSSSSSSS). This will teach you how to conserve the air as you sing. Now, begin to vocalize using this exercise (with any vowel, but if you are having problems with high notes, use the EEE vowel first). You will see a huge difference.

At first, this exercise will feel awkward, but the more you do it, the more you will get used to it, and the more natural it will become. Of course, finding a GOOD voice teacher will help you tremendously with breathing and tonality problems. Another thing that might be getting in your way is your posture or the fact that your body is not connected with your voice. Make sure you loosen yourself up before you sing by stretching, yoga, anything that can relax your body. Even a simple rolling of your shoulders and head will help out tremendously. If your body is relaxed, the voice is more free. If body is relaxed, diaphragmatic breathing is easier to feel. So relax yourself. Don't overwork your voice by pushing the body too hard. Often when we sing high notes or have problems holding notes are because of trying TOO hard. We get in our own way. If your relax and stay centered, you will find it doesn't take the BODY as much effort as you think once you get the concept ingrained in your mind. Try that breathing exercise, incorporate the concept in your songs, relax your body, and don't overwork yourself when you sing. I guarantee you if you practice this everyday, within a few weeks you will see a dramatic difference. You will one day go "OHHHHHH I GET IT!" If you have any more questions feel free to e-mail me. I bet the thought of you recording as gotten in your head so much that your natural ability to sing isn't shining though.Trust yourself more, breathe better, and relax. My best wishes to you!