Monday, October 13, 2008

Attention Singers: Learn About Posture

By Thomas.L. Smythe

Singers need to have the proper posture if they want to sing. Remember your body is the channel through which your voice comes from. So while you sing, be conscious of the way you breathe, how you hold your self, and be aware of how you look to the public by trying to connect to the audience.

Posture is basic to the development of a singer's skills. It is vital to have a relaxed upper body with the feet planted firmly on the ground. Make sure the knees are not stiff, but relaxed with one foot slightly forward. A singer should always be thinking about whether the posture is correct with muscles relaxed, and spine lengthened while standing.

Voice instructors habitually tell their students to hold their spine upright so that it feels lengthened. They should inhale deeply and exhale slowly, so that their muscles relax as they do this. While breathing, the chin should be held under so that there is more room for airflow.

Poor posture encourages back pain and tension and it could spread from the neck to the shoulders and to the back if the person is not completely relaxed. Keep in mind that the vocal cords are in the neck. So if the vocal cords are tense, it will hard to sing well with expression during a performance.

The spine is key to good posture and helps the diaphragm work while you sing. It works hand in hand with your posture and can help you project better if you hold yourself the right way. Remember that the audience notices how a person presents themselves to them, and if they have confidence and eye contact.

Stand securely with the feet on the ground. Balance should be satisfactory for the singer with no locking of the knees while standing. With one foot somewhat in front of the other and the shoulders relaxed, the voice should project into the audience.

When someone is standing with an upright spine with shoulders held back, they look as if they are in charge and very confident. If the singer locks the knees it could create some problems with muscle tension and even breath control. It might help a beginning singer to look into the mirror occasionally to check on the correct stance when preparing to sing.

Realize that when you sing, your voice is an expression of your body. Your body helps your voice if it is relaxed with no muscular tension and uninterrupted air flow while you breathe. So keep in mind that proper breathing and the way you hold your shoulders and spine operate in conjunction to help you become a good singer. - 2361

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