Middle Voice Singing Secret | Mixed Voice Singing Lessons » Voicebox

Your True Singing Voice Shines in 4 Basic Steps

nisa — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:45:40 +0000

The Basics: Step1

Good Posture releases your Singing Voice

Proper posture is vital while singing because your body is your instrument
Your posture effects the position of your larynx (your larynx is your voicebox; your larynx houses your vocal folds/chords; sound is generated in your larynx, and it is also where pitch and volume are manipulated – strength of expiration from your lungs also contributes to loudness)
Your posture also effects your body’s breathing mechanisms and your supporting muscles
The best posture position for singing is standing so that you are sure that your diaphragm, which is the muscle for breathing, is free to function properly
Stand with your feet flat on the floor, place your feet shoulder width apart and slightly turned out; balance your weight evenly over both feet and allow it to be somewhat forward toward the balls of your feet rather than your heels

Avoid…

Shifting your weight to one side by ’sitting’ into one hip
Do not lock your knees
Do not over-tense your thighs
Do not lift your chin so that the back of your neck shortens

Do…

Relax, be at ease yet, alert not collapsed
Relax your shoulders back and down
Lift your chest off your waist without straining (again – free your diaphragm)
Lengthen the back of your neck and be sure that your neck and head can move freely and your throat feels open
If you are in a situation where you will be seated while singing:
Sit with your hips higher than your knees so that your abdominal muscles can support your voice
Maintaining a good posture makes you feel good about yourself; in turn this gives you confidence to be able to give a good performance

Next post I’ll cover Breathing for your Singing Voice…

How To Avoid Being Pitchy and Learn To Sing In Key – part II

nisa — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:26:45 +0000

Have you ever noticed that a person who is out of tune actually has a warm, beautiful, free, effortless, confident, resonant voice?

No – of course you haven’t, because the person who consistently sings off key also sings with a restricted sound. It may be forced, held-back, pressured, tense, wobbling or restricted in some other way – in all cases the sound is restricted and is not free!

Imagine a properly tuned guitar with strings that are somehow restricted from vibrating freely. Here it is easy to see and understand why it does not generate a pleasant sound. Just as a guitar string is able to vibrate freely when there is nothing hindering it, your voicebox is able to generate pleasant sounds when there is nothing restricting it (like all that trying and worrying about singing in key which happens to use the wrong side of your brain for singing).

In this light a very effective approach to singing in key is to discover your true voice so that you can release the sound and sing with freedom and confidence. You can do this on your own through trial and error; in your exploration you will eventually discover that singing on key is more a muscle concern than your ability to hear musically. Unfortunately doing this on your own means that the price you pay in terms of time and the risk of more problems is quite high.

Thus finding a good vocal technique teacher who understands your problem and situation, and, one who can teach you to release your sound through proper technique, would be the most beneficial way to discover and develop your true voice. This is by far the most efficient and therefore best approach for you to be able to truly sing with the freedom you want – and naturally be in key!