It goes without saying that singers and wind players must learn to master their breath control. But breathing is crucial to all musicians and performers in a number of ways, explains Shamistha de Soysa. In fact, breathing correctly plays an important role for all of us in supporting wellness.

Sydney Chamber Choir
Sam Allchurch with Sydney Chamber Choir. Photo © Pedro Greig

By the time you have read this paragraph, you will have done it perhaps a dozen times. It runs on automatic pilot and is ever-present, though you are barely aware of it. Yet it is the essence of what keeps you alive and functioning. Learn to ride it and it underpins extraordinary feats of human endeavour in sport and the performing arts.

It is your breath. 

This...