Finding Confidence Through Singing and Breathwork – Blog Post #24
Published on Thursday 4th September 2025 by guest contributor Vicky Harrison (Founder, Free Your Voice Hub)
I’m Vicky Harrison – an award-winning vocal coach and the founder of Free Your Voice Hub, which is featured on How Are You South Cambs, as I am based in Cambourne. For the past 15 years, I’ve helped singers, speakers, and anyone who feels ‘stuck’ with their voice discover the freedom and confidence that comes from truly connecting with their breath and sound.
I specialise in working with women and neuro-divergent clients, because so often these voices have been overlooked, quietened, or told to ‘fit in’. My passion is creating a safe and supportive space where people can be fully themselves, break through the labels or expectations that have held them back and uncover the confidence that’s been inside them all along. My own journey as a performer and coach has shown me that the voice isn’t just about technique – it’s about identity, presence, and how we meet the world.
So what is confidence? Confidence isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room or never feeling nervous. It’s about feeling safe in your own skin – trusting that your voice, your body, and your presence are enough. For many of us, that sense of confidence can get lost in the noise of everyday stress, self-doubt, or the pressure to ‘perform’ a certain way. At Free Your Voice Hub, I’ve spent the past 15 years helping people reconnect with their voice, and I can tell you this: confidence often starts with the breath.
Why Breathing Matters
Breathing might sound simple – we all do it, every day. But the way we breathe has a direct impact on our body and mind. Shallow breathing, which is common when we’re stressed, tells the nervous system to stay on high alert. Deep, conscious breathing, on the other hand, sends signals of calm and safety, slowing the heart rate and quieting that inner critic. Time and time again, my clients tell me that learning to breath properly is one of the top three most powerful tools they’ve taken away from sessions. It’s not just about singing or speaking; it’s about reclaiming balance and presence in their lives.
How Singing Reduces Stress
Singing is more than music – it’s medicine for the nervous system. When we sing, we naturally extend the breath, release built-up tension, and allow emotion to flow through the voice instead of being trapped in the body. Science backs this up: singing lowers cortisol levels, boosts endorphins, and even improves heart-rate variability (a marker of resilience to stress). Beyond the science, there’s the lived experience: the moment a client sighs after a long phrase and says “I feel lighter already.”
Finding Your Voice = Finding Your Confidence
So many people come to me saying they don’t like the sound of their voice – or that they’ve learned to keep it small, quiet, hidden. The truth is when you give yourself permission to breathe deeply and use your voice fully, something shifts. You begin to take up space, to feel heard, to reconnect with that inner strength you always had. Confidence grows not from ‘putting on’ a voice, but from uncovering the one that’s been there all along. Singing is a safe, playful way to practice that. And once you find your voice in the studio, you’ll find it’s much easier to speak up in life – at work, in relationships, on stage, or simply in front of yourself in the mirror.
Three Simple Practices to Start Building Confidence with Breath & Voice:
1. The 3-Count Breath
Place one hand on your belly and one on your chest. Breathe in for a count of 3, letting your belly rise as you inhale. Hold gently for 1, then breathe out for a count of 3. Repeat 5 times. This helps calm the nervous system and creates space in the body.
2. The Humming Reset
Take a gentle breath in, then hum on a comfortable pitch as you exhale. Notice the vibration in your face and chest. Humming is soothing for the nervous system and helps you connect breath with sound in a safe, easy way.
3. Speak Your Name with Power
Take a deep breath and say your own name out loud, letting it fill the space as if you’re introducing yourself to someone important. Repeat 3 times, each time standing a little taller. This simple practice builds ownership of your voice and presence.
There’s even more info about dealing with nerves and anxiety when speaking and singing on this YouTube video:
Your Next Step
If stress, nerves, or self-doubt have been holding you back, know this: your breath and your voice are already powerful tools for change. At Free Your Voice Hub, I help people just like you use singing and breathing to calm the body, release stress, and grow authentic confidence. If you’d like to experience it for yourself you can book a free introductory chat with me on this link: https://www.freeyourvoicehub.com/bookings/
You can find out more on Vicky’s website: https://www.freeyourvoicehub.com/
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