Cardio and singing rarely get mentioned together. It is more a buzzword for physical fitness buffs. But when you sit to consider the general benefits of good cardio health, you'll also come to realize that it's important to a singer. A strong singer like Adele will no doubt have improved her cardio
Cardio is short for cardiovascular, which refers your heart, lungs, and a network of arteries that pump blood, nutrients, and oxygen to your body’s vital organs. So, generally, when we speak of cardio we are referring to anything that helps the cardiovascular system work optimally.
Clearly, cardio exercises are good for your health. But for a singer, the benefits are more pointed. Cardio is important for your singing because it helps with voice control, breathing techniques, and other benefits.
How Cardio Benefits You as a Singer
Any form of physical exercise that quickens your heart rate is good cardio. It could be jogging, cycling, football, or swimming. How much cardio exercise a singer need will ultimately differ from one person to another. Cardio improves your endurance and elevates your lung capacity.
What is more important is to try and make it part of your practice routine whenever possible. Most music teachers will encourage you to precede your practice with a good cardio session.
Is endurance necessary for a singer?
Loosely explained, endurance is the ability to do more with less effort, especially when faced with physical stress. To perform for longer and keep your composure is important for every singer.
Singing puts considerable physical demands on the body. You need to see your performance through before signs of fatigue start to show And remember, dieting and cardio are not the same. You should make regular physical exercise a part of your practice regimen.
Better Cardio Boosts Lung Capacity
Many famous singers make it seem so easy. Their singing does not seem labored. They can hold a note for insanely long periods of time.
You can try and mimic their styles but you may not succeed. You may also realize how far away you are when you get to the longer phrases marked by fluctuations in both pitch and volume. You shouldn't be surprised when you realize that their cardio is very good.
Cardio elevates your lung capacity to take deeper breaths naturally. This helps you prolong your breaths, which is important for holding a vocal note for longer. Deeper breaths also give your voice greater support for the complicated phrases you will need to execute.
Full Bodied Singing
Your whole torso works to make you a better singer. All the muscles, including the diaphragm, rib cage, and abdomen, work together to give your vocal chords the support they need to produce sound.
If the muscles are stronger and flexible, your vocal chords have greater support. Knowing this, its clear to see that cardio is essential for being a great singer.
So if you want to be a better singer, you should definitely start doing some cardio at least 3 times a week to see some very noticeable benefits to your breathing. Better cardio will give you more stamina and make you a more powerful singer.
About the Author: Julie Adams
I am a mom, a music lover and teacher from Tampa, FL. After completing a Bachelor of Music in Performance Arts, I traveled for several years before returning home where I started offering private piano and singing lessons as extra income. I met my husband in 2009 and 2 years later moved to Dallas where we settled down and I started focusing on vocal training to aspiring singers and performance artists of all age groups. I still enjoy playing the piano very much, and in my spare time you will catch doing some horse riding, drawing, doing some light reading, or just spending quality time with my family.