When singers come to me they are usually struggling with breathlessness and the quality of their sound. While all serious singers should study with voice teachers, there needs to be a mindful approach to eliciting the support system of the whole body while vocalizing.
The vocal mechanism is only a part of the conditioning that is vital to the proper functioning of the larynx, glottis, and vocal folds. It is therefore important to establish the foundations of the coordinated use of the entire skeletal-muscular system, chiefly the head, neck and spine.The head (about 12-14 lbs.) is designed to poise on top of the spine and not contract, position or stabilize through neck muscle tension leading to compression of the larynx.
Another crucial part of this overall support is to recondition our breathing to a reflexive, uninterfered with process. It is, to quiet ourselves enough to invite the breath to flow freely so that the inhale and exhale happens out of need and not habit.
As I work with singers, the goal is to bring the nervous system to a quieter place where vocalization is clear, free, active, and not bound by harmful habits.
