Breath Cycle

About Breath Cycle workshops

COVID-19 has affected us all in different ways. But if, like many, it has impacted your long-term physical health, we want to help.

Building on a ground breaking project we first developed in 2013, this new online project, developed with support from key NHS consultants, is designed to benefit those suffering from a range of conditions affecting lung health – in particular Long Covid.

According to the Covid Symptom Study App, the condition often described as Long Covid (or Acute Covid) affects up to 1 in 20 people who suffer symptoms for longer than 4 weeks. These persisting symptoms can include a cough, breathlessness and extreme fatigue, issues with memory & concentration (sometimes referred to as brain fog), sleeplessness, joint pain, depression and anxiety.

During a series of relaxed weekly singing sessions, our team of musicians will introduce you to fun, stimulating vocal exercises and breathing techniques, as well as teaching a range of songs chosen to help strengthen your core muscles, develop breath control and improve posture.

Singing is the perfect workout for your heart, lungs - and even your brain! According to the British Lung Foundation, regular singing can have similar benefits to physiotherapy by:

• Teaching you to breathe more slowly and deeply
• Improving your sense of control over your breathing - which in turn reduces anxiety and potential feelings of panic
• Improving posture to help you breathe more efficiently.

Not only that, but joining a group like this can also introduce you to a network of likeminded people facing similar challenges – all in one enjoyable, sociable and rewarding experience!

The Covid Composers Songbook

Always fancied yourself as a songwriter but don’t know where to start? Want your Covid experience to leave a positive legacy? In addition to our singing sessions, you can sign up for our new online song writing workshops led by composer Gareth Williams and performance poet Martin O’Connor. Whatever your musical or lyrical style, they will introduce the tools and methods that you need to get it out of your head, and down on paper. Who knows, maybe you’ll write a masterpiece! 

The songs that come out of these workshops, alongside those created by Gareth and Martin themselves, will be arranged and recorded by Scottish Opera to create a free digital resource for individuals, choirs and singing groups worldwide – The Covid Composers Songbook – as a positive musical legacy of the past 18 months.

Listen to some examples of the songs to come out of the sessions so far below: 

"Sharon’s Song"
Written by Sharon Miller, with Gareth Williams and Martin O’Connor. Performed here by Gareth Williams.

"This song was born after an exercise where we looked at our immediate surroundings. We had been in our own homes for a long time, and so I wanted to capture the essence and details of everyone’s world. Sharon mentioned a sign that a friend gave her that she kept above her sink and would read it while doing the dishes. But of course, small domestic chores can become mountains to scale when you are feeling unwell. Sharon spoke very openly about her own situation, and we used the metaphor of the dishes to tap into universal themes." – Martin O'Connor

"Keep It Up"
Written by Crawford Flint and Wendy Muzlanova, with Gareth Williams and Martin O’Connor. Performed here by Gareth Williams.

"This song emerged from an activity based on time. We looked at small periods of time such as a day or a week, then looked at larger periods – a year, a decade, or even youth into adulthood. We loved this repetitive mantra that Crawford created, and we paired it up with Wendy’s lines about pain. This is a good example of using different pieces of material to make a unique piece." – Martin O'Connor

"I Remember"
Written by Sharon Miller, Wendy Muzlanova, Linda Smith and Amanda, with Gareth Williams and Martin O’Connor. Performed here by Gareth Williams.

"This is another group piece, that is made up of a verse from each writer. We were looking at memories, and used 'A Coral Room' by Kate Bush as our inspiration. In the song, she sings about the room being trapped in time, with objects and people that spark her memories. We used a starting line of 'I Remember' and took it form there..." — Martin O'Connor

The following audio and video exercises were originally created in 2013 to help patients with cystic fibrosis, but they can be used by anyone who has breathing difficulties – particularly those suffering from the effects of COVID-19 – or just to give your mental health a boost. Simply follow the instructions below.

You can find out more about the original project on the Breath Cycle website.

The exercises consist of:

• Audio vocal exercises – to work your voice in a gentle way and improve musical ability, pitching and tuning

• Video lessons – to take you through the basics of some classical singing and breathing techniques

You can do the exercises as often or as little as you like – but the more often you can do them, the more benefits you will experience. You don't need any equipment and you can do them wherever you are. The exercises can also be practised alongside any physiotherapy you may be doing.

Vocal exercises

These vocal exercises work your entire vocal range in a gentle way, as well as improving your musical ability, pitching and tuning. Simply listen and repeat. The exercises become more challenging as you move through them, so make sure you take your time on each one. 

All exercises written by Gareth Williams.

Video lessons

These videos take you through the basics of some classical singing techniques. You will work on different aspects, from posture and breathing through to singing songs. 

Presented by Vocal Instructor Marie Claire Breen.