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KINESTHESIA
AND THE VOICE
Kinesthesia: The sensation of bodily
position, presence, or movement resulting chiefly from
stimulation of sensory nerve endings in muscles, tendons,
and joints. "The American Heritage Dictionary."
Your body is a unique musical instrument! Everything you
do with your body as you sing, rehearse or perform is
important. Being attuned to what’s happening in
your body as you sing is one of the fastest ways to improve
as a vocalist. To help you learn about your instrument,
consider the BFRRPP check points on the path to becoming
a good vocalist.
Sing an exercise before you use any of these suggestions.
Then, sing the same exercise a second time, using the
suggested activity.
I. RELAXATION - Tension in the instrument
means tension in your sound. These are simple exercises
to release muscle tension and help you to relax those
muscles that could inhibit sound.
A. Shoulder Rolls: Roll each shoulder
three times in a circle, first backward and then forward.
Then roll both shoulders slowly backward then forward,
three times. Do this slowly in order to unwind,; doing
it quickly will wind you up instead of relaxing you.
B. Neck Rolls: Allow the head to fall
forward and then roll to one side, back to the center
and then roll to the other side. Repeat the same sequence
allowing the head to fall back. Use good judgment about
how quickly this is done. You will feel a stretch and
release inthe neck.
C. Releasing head and facial tension:
Stretch the face all directions-forward, back and side
to side. Silently count to ten and exaggerate the facial
muscles. Finally, circle the tip of the tongue over the
teeth in one direction and then reverse directions. Trill
the
tongue tip and then touch the teeth with the tip and flutter
the back of the tongue.
These exercises will invigorate you and prepare you to
sing.. Memorize how it feels to be relaxed.
The goal is to sing without tension.
II. POSTURE -
The way the instrument is held is one of the first things
a singer needs to learn. The body needs to be in an upright
position with the weight of the body centered over the
feet. The head should be centered over the body like a
bobble head doll. The body should feel buoyant and relaxed
not "held in place" but "floating in space".
A. Imagine being suspended like a puppet
with the main string through the center of your body up
through the top of your head.
B. Assume the position for a Rockettes
style kick line. Put your arms upon the shoulders of the
people on either side of you. This will lift the ribcage
and pull the body into the tall position best for singing.
(Another way to accomplish this position is to put your
hands behind the head in an old fashioned glamour girl
pose.)
C. Check your stance at the beginning
and end of a series of exercises--Do you remain in a good
posture throughout? Memorize how your body feels when
you stand in a correct singing position.
The goal is to stand as tall at the end of a song
as you do at the beginning.
III. BREATHING - Singers always need
more breath or think they do. These checkpoints will help
you understand where you need to improve.
A. Sit with your hands turned backwards
on your knees. Breathe in and feel your abdomen fill your
lap. You should also feel the air move into the spaces
in your back. Exhale and feel the abdomen move toward
the backbone, up and in. Are you using all this space
when you stand and breathe?
B. From a standing position lean over
a chair and breathe. This will engage gravity in the breathing
process. It will allow you to breathe properly with no
physical effort on your part. Memorize the feeling.
The goal is to breathe properly, automatically, with
no physical effort on your part.
IV. PHONATION Actually making a sound,
allowing the voice to be free and flow.
A. Initiate sound while moving the hand
in a vertical stroke. Then change the hand to moving in
a horizontal stroke. The initiation of
sound should have a smoother more artistic beginning.
B. To improve a choppy, over-dictionized
sound, try directing yourself, or pretend to pull a satin
ribbon through your fingers as you sing.
Finally, rub your tummy in a circle as you sing. The sound
will be smoother. Then memorize what it feels like to
sing smoothly.
The goal is to sing with artistry.
V. RESONATION - This is what makes your
sound truly unique. The more resonators you are able to
open and use, the less air it takes to make a truly rich
sound.
A. Stabilize the cheeks with the backs
of your hands. Thus stabilizing the mouth as a resonator
and enriching the sound.
B. Sing with your hands on the top of
your head, then move them to your chest and finally to
your abdomen. The sound will change with
each move. An outside ear may be needed to tell the difference
between the three positions.
C. To lighten a heavy sound, stroke upwards
with your thumbs on your cheeks as you sing. Try reversing
direction and feel the difference in the sound. Memorize
how it feels to use your resonators.
The goal is to sing with a rich and resonated sound.
VI. FREEDOM OF SOUND - A freely produced
sound should be the goal of every singer regardless of
what style of music they sing. Once again sing a part
of a song or an exercise to have a comparison before and
after each suggestion.
A. Make circles around your ears with
your hands. First make the circles spin forward--then
reverse the circle. What difference did you
sense? Most singers experience a darker or swallowed sound
when they reverse the direction of the circle and pull
it toward themselves
instead of spinning the sound out and away from the body.
B. Simply walk as you warm up or rehearse.
Involve other muscles and keep the energy moving.
C. Grandiose gestures pair well with
louder vocal exercises. Smaller gestures with softer exercises.
Apply good posture to all exercises.
Don’t be afraid to move as you sing. When you warm
up, develop your own choreography for the vocal exercises.
Let the movement be a reminder of what a buoyant instrument
feels like and how a freely produced sound comes from
an involved and energized instrument. In a choral setting
where you are asked to remain still, remember that is
simply a quiet body not a rigid one. Remain relaxed and
tall keeping your movement appropriate to the style of
the music performed.
The goal is to keep the energy moving and allow your
sound to be free.
Your body is a unique musical instrument! Learn how to
make the most of the gift of your voice by appreciating
it, protecting it, enjoying it, using it, nurturing it
and sharing it.- and .let BFRRPP become your vocal guide.
By:
Darlene Rogers
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