Timed “sss” hiss

How to do it

1. Sit or stand tall. Breathe in low and slow, letting the belly and ribs expand.
2. Start the timer and begin an even “sss” at a moderate level, not loud.
3. Keep the hiss at the same loudness from first second to last. Watch the seconds climb.
4. Stop when the sound becomes ragged. Note your time and try to beat it next session.

Coach's tip: An even hiss from start to finish – not louder at the start. Ribs “open” as long as possible.

What to watch out for

The common mistake is a loud, forceful “sss” at the start that fades to a whisper. Start quiet and stay quiet; second two should sound like second twenty. Pulling the belly in hard at the start dumps the air; let the ribs stay wide and the belly come in slowly. Don't lock the throat to stretch the time. If you feel lightheaded, stop and breathe normally. A steady thirty beats a ragged forty.

Who it's for

A level 1 exercise for everyone, especially beginners who don't yet know how their breath behaves. Use it at the start of a session, before any singing, or between blocks as a reset. It leads naturally into Long note 6 s, which adds pitch to the same steady exhale. Hum on one note is another gentle follow-up. Listed in Breath and long phrases.

Part of programs: Breath and long phrases

Related exercises

• Long note 6 s ●○○Hold one note steadily for 6 seconds.
• Long note 10 s ●●○Ten seconds without wavering and without sagging.
• Stability: 3 long notes ●●○Three chord tones, 4 seconds each, with a breath between them.
• Messa di voce (soft → loud → soft) ●●○Crescendo to the middle, then decrescendo. The pitch stays put.