"Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes..."
OK, so I have been spending too much time with toddlers, but this is an excellent way to remember to check yourself on posture. Here is the checklist that goes with the Posture 101 video (on the side):
- Head
- Neck
- Shoulders
- Torso (arms and hands)
- Hips
- Knees
- Feet
The main idea is to keep in mind a straight core. This will directly affect your breathing and ability to perform vocally and physically.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Warm-Up Videos and CDs
I will be uploading some videos from some of my students lessons here on this site. We will begin with warm-ups. I am curious to know how many (if any) of you would be interested in purchasing a warm-up cd. I have been thinking for sometime of creating a simple to follow warm-up cd that you can use at any time - before a performance, in the car, at home, etc. If this might be something you would be interested in, please comment and let me know what would work best for you. If you have specific ideas, feel free to let me know.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Warm-Up Examples
A lot of you want to know specific examples of warm ups to be able to use on your own. Warm ups are as varied as given names nowadays. Generally, I give my beginner singers a lot of the same warm ups because they are the most easy to remember when you are at home. So, keep in mind these are just a few out of MANY, but here you go:
1. STRETCHES (DEEP BREATHING THROUGHOUT)
head roll (for relieving tension in the lower head and general neck muscles areas): While breathing deeply, roll your head all the way around from leaning backwards (looking at the ceiling) to bowing forwards (looking at the ground). Notice I said ROLL and NOT BEND - do not just thrash your head from side to side as this can actually hurt you. Roll 3-4 times in one direction, then repeat in the opposite direction.
shoulder roll (for relieving tension from the lower neck and shoulder muscles): While breathing deeply, extend your arms fully with arms and hands perpendicular to your body - circle arms forward in small circles until you feel the tips of your fingers getting heavy or tingly. Then circle backwards - again until fingertips feel heavy or tingly.
front intercostal stretch (for stretching the muscles between the front ribs for best results in lung capacity for breathing): While breathing deeply, cross fingers of one hand with the other behind your back - push palms in a downward motion while taking deep breaths. You should feel your chest open up as you breathe. Take 5-6 deep breaths, then release.
back intercostal stretch (for stretching the muscles between the back ribs for best results in lung capacity for breathing): While breathing deeply, cross fingers of one hand with the other in front of you - push palms in an outward motion (away from your body) creating an arch or curve with your spine while taking 5-6 deep breaths, then release. You should feel your back expand with each breath.
waist roll (for releasing any left over tension which might have made its way down to the lower back during stretching session): Exact replica of the head roll except entire torso moves in a circular motion. While breathing deeply, roll to one side 3-4 times, then repeat to the other side 3-4 times.
2. RHYTHMIC WARM UPS (for students who can read timing)
Choose either a vocalise book or any piece of music you are not familiar with. If using a vocalise book, go to end of each small section. If using a piece of music, work in 8-15 measure sections.
clapping: Give yourself a simple count based on the meter (ex. 4/4 - count "1, 2, 3, 4") - then clap the rhythm in time.
"ta"-ing: Give yourself a simple count based on the meter, then speak "ta" or the rhythm. (ex. in 4/4 meter: whole note=ta-a-a-a, half note=ta-a, quarter note=ta, eighth note=ta-te, sixteenth=ta-ti-te-ti, 32nd=ti-ti...)
3. MELODIC WARM UPS
For pitches, feel free to use numbers (123), note names (CDE) or solfege (DO RE MI). I will give examples for each. Also, I feel it is usually best to do melodic warm ups in a major key: (note 1 - whole step - note 2 - whole step - note 3 - half step - note 4 - whole step - note 5 - whole step - note 6 - whole step - note 7 - half step - note 8 (repeated note)).
stepwise:
123454321 - CDEFGFEDC - do re mi fa sol fa mi re do
skips:
13531 - CEGEC - do mi sol mi do
runs:
123, 234, 54321 - CDE, DEF, GFEDC - do re mi, re mi fa, sol fa mi re do
13, 24, 35, 421 - CE, DF, EG, FDC - do mi, re fa, mi sol, fa re do
octaves (8va):
135, 1 (hold), 531 - CEG, C(hold), GEC - do mi sol, DO (hold), sol mi do
1 (low) 1 (8va up), 7654321 - C(low) C(8va up) BAGFEDC - do (low) DO (8va) ti la sol fa mi re do
siren: Start on a low note, sing "ooh" as you slide up as far as you can go, then back down. On sequential sirens, try to start lower and sing higher.
*Note: You can actually sing the numbers, the note names or the solfege, but most coaches will give you a syllable or syllables to sing. Here is a short guide of some you can choose from:
SYLLABLES (for beginners)
"AH" - as in the word "vanilla." Most common because it tends to be the easiest to get out. "Ah" automatically makes you open your mouth for the sound to resonate, but don't be fooled - just saying "ah" however you want to does not mean you have your mouth open correctly. "Ah" should be pronounced with your jaw completely dropped, your tongue relaxed on the bottom of your mouth and your mouth resembling an oval shape.
"Ooh" - as in the word "loose." Good syllable to get a very focused sound. Also a good syllable for sliding between notes. Downside of "ooh" is that it is prohibits a "big" or "loud" sound. Lips should be tight and slightly puckered.
"OH" - as in the word "oval." Good syllable for a round tone. Mouth should resemble an oval with the jaw lowered, but lips should be more formatted to the letter "O" than the relaxed form of "la."
Putting a "T," "M," "L," or "B" in front of any of these syllables when doing a quicker note-to-note movements is excellent practice and warm up for the articulators (lips, teeth, tongue and jaw).
Remember to vote in the poll in the left hand column and leave your comments or questions by clicking the orange "comments" link below.
1. STRETCHES (DEEP BREATHING THROUGHOUT)
head roll (for relieving tension in the lower head and general neck muscles areas): While breathing deeply, roll your head all the way around from leaning backwards (looking at the ceiling) to bowing forwards (looking at the ground). Notice I said ROLL and NOT BEND - do not just thrash your head from side to side as this can actually hurt you. Roll 3-4 times in one direction, then repeat in the opposite direction.
shoulder roll (for relieving tension from the lower neck and shoulder muscles): While breathing deeply, extend your arms fully with arms and hands perpendicular to your body - circle arms forward in small circles until you feel the tips of your fingers getting heavy or tingly. Then circle backwards - again until fingertips feel heavy or tingly.
front intercostal stretch (for stretching the muscles between the front ribs for best results in lung capacity for breathing): While breathing deeply, cross fingers of one hand with the other behind your back - push palms in a downward motion while taking deep breaths. You should feel your chest open up as you breathe. Take 5-6 deep breaths, then release.
back intercostal stretch (for stretching the muscles between the back ribs for best results in lung capacity for breathing): While breathing deeply, cross fingers of one hand with the other in front of you - push palms in an outward motion (away from your body) creating an arch or curve with your spine while taking 5-6 deep breaths, then release. You should feel your back expand with each breath.
waist roll (for releasing any left over tension which might have made its way down to the lower back during stretching session): Exact replica of the head roll except entire torso moves in a circular motion. While breathing deeply, roll to one side 3-4 times, then repeat to the other side 3-4 times.
2. RHYTHMIC WARM UPS (for students who can read timing)
Choose either a vocalise book or any piece of music you are not familiar with. If using a vocalise book, go to end of each small section. If using a piece of music, work in 8-15 measure sections.
clapping: Give yourself a simple count based on the meter (ex. 4/4 - count "1, 2, 3, 4") - then clap the rhythm in time.
"ta"-ing: Give yourself a simple count based on the meter, then speak "ta" or the rhythm. (ex. in 4/4 meter: whole note=ta-a-a-a, half note=ta-a, quarter note=ta, eighth note=ta-te, sixteenth=ta-ti-te-ti, 32nd=ti-ti...)
3. MELODIC WARM UPS
For pitches, feel free to use numbers (123), note names (CDE) or solfege (DO RE MI). I will give examples for each. Also, I feel it is usually best to do melodic warm ups in a major key: (note 1 - whole step - note 2 - whole step - note 3 - half step - note 4 - whole step - note 5 - whole step - note 6 - whole step - note 7 - half step - note 8 (repeated note)).
stepwise:
123454321 - CDEFGFEDC - do re mi fa sol fa mi re do
skips:
13531 - CEGEC - do mi sol mi do
runs:
123, 234, 54321 - CDE, DEF, GFEDC - do re mi, re mi fa, sol fa mi re do
13, 24, 35, 421 - CE, DF, EG, FDC - do mi, re fa, mi sol, fa re do
octaves (8va):
135, 1 (hold), 531 - CEG, C(hold), GEC - do mi sol, DO (hold), sol mi do
1 (low) 1 (8va up), 7654321 - C(low) C(8va up) BAGFEDC - do (low) DO (8va) ti la sol fa mi re do
siren: Start on a low note, sing "ooh" as you slide up as far as you can go, then back down. On sequential sirens, try to start lower and sing higher.
*Note: You can actually sing the numbers, the note names or the solfege, but most coaches will give you a syllable or syllables to sing. Here is a short guide of some you can choose from:
SYLLABLES (for beginners)
"AH" - as in the word "vanilla." Most common because it tends to be the easiest to get out. "Ah" automatically makes you open your mouth for the sound to resonate, but don't be fooled - just saying "ah" however you want to does not mean you have your mouth open correctly. "Ah" should be pronounced with your jaw completely dropped, your tongue relaxed on the bottom of your mouth and your mouth resembling an oval shape.
"Ooh" - as in the word "loose." Good syllable to get a very focused sound. Also a good syllable for sliding between notes. Downside of "ooh" is that it is prohibits a "big" or "loud" sound. Lips should be tight and slightly puckered.
"OH" - as in the word "oval." Good syllable for a round tone. Mouth should resemble an oval with the jaw lowered, but lips should be more formatted to the letter "O" than the relaxed form of "la."
Putting a "T," "M," "L," or "B" in front of any of these syllables when doing a quicker note-to-note movements is excellent practice and warm up for the articulators (lips, teeth, tongue and jaw).
Remember to vote in the poll in the left hand column and leave your comments or questions by clicking the orange "comments" link below.
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