Anne Peckham - Singer's Handbook (2004)
Anne Peckham - Singer's Handbook (2004)
Anne Peckham - Singer's Handbook (2004)
5inger's
BreathManagement
Your voiceis a wind instrumentthat needsbreath
to producesound'Trainingyour body and unconsciusmind to managethe breathingprocesswill
giveyou the controlyou needto singlonger
noteswell' and to
ihrur.t, to singhigh and low
gain betterconffol overdYnamtcs'
C o l a P S e dc n e s l
Good alignment
FourStepsto Effe
Try this simPleexercisetha
the breathingProcess.
-_=_-
Breath
L\4anagement
IT
AbdominaJ
area (oul)
-';:t:$"
Diaphragm
ascends
FourStepsto EffectiveBreathing
Try this simple exercisethat
outlines fbur stepsof
the breathing process.
1. Stand with your body aligned,
your feet hip_
distance apaft, and your n.ri
comfbrtably
high.
'.
{
il
Handbook
5inger's
TheDiaphragm
The diaphragm is a flat muscle, curved in a
double-dome shape,separatingthe chest cavity
from the abdominal cavity. It connectsto the
bottom of your ribs and is the floor of your rib
cage.
RibsandLungs
Your rib cage is comprised of bone and cartllage.
During breathing, the attached musclesopen and
close your rlb cage,filling and emptying your
lungs. When you sing, steady flow of air to your
vocal cords is achievedby opening your ribs and
slightly contracting your abdominal muscles.
This exercisewill help increaseyour awarenessof
the expansion of your rib cage.
1. Place your fists on your sidesabove your waist.
2. Take a fuIl breath, and feel the expansion of
your rib cage.
I
J.
TheAbdomin
.-"..ifl
Breath
Managemeni
l Diaphragm
la: =us.-le.cun'ed rn a
rdla:atlng the chestcaviry
:a\':rv It connectsto the
rn.: rs the floor of your rib
nd Lungs
:scd ot bone and cartilage.
ana;hed musclesopen and
rne and emprying your
s{eadvflow of air to your
r t'r t'rpeningyour ribs and
r at"iominal muscles,
:nf:easevour awarenessof
nb cage.
r.r:: srdesaboveyour waist.
u:c ei rhe expansionof
;: ::b cagebecome narrow.
:. spreadrngyour ribs as
rn': iift r'our shoulders.
rt keep vour throat open.
: \laintain an open rib
:: brearh.You will feel the
::usclesof vour ribs
:
r::: ::b cageto become
TheAbdominal
Muscles
Thesepowerfulmusclescoverthe entire
abdom_
inal region,running verticallyand diagonally
acrossyour belly.your lower abdominal
muscles
relax outward during inhalation and
contract
inward slightly during exhalation.
D.ulinSsinging,your rib cageshould
stay open
while your abdominal-,rr.1., move
in shgirtty.
This is called support;it enablesyour
diaph rugm
to.ascendto its high positionat a slower
rate,
allowingyou to sustainlongerphrases
and main_
tain betterpitch control.If youi ribs
descend
immediately,air wiil rush olt too quickly
for good
phrasing,or abreathytone may r.*tr.
Collapling
your ribs and chesttightensyour
neckand throat
yuyle , preventingyour larynx from functioning
freely.This can causeyour singingto
soundand
feel constricted.Good abdo-ut"rrrpport
will
help you keepyour neckand throat
relaxed,
bringingyou a full and resonanttone.
(inopr'<
BreathinExercises
BreathObservation
Abdom
Releasing
3 . Take a slow,deepbreatt
toward the floor. A1lori'
musclesto drop.
7. Repeatsteps3-6,
Breathing
Exercises
:xerctses
fi Observation
Releasing
Abdominat
Muscles
This exercisewill help you releasethe lower
abdominal musclesto take a full breath.
:;^ :n encouragingproper
ani piacea small book
I I :nchesrhick under your
:.'.I1:1{ As r.ou inhale,your
'ft'.rr$
:-:
rour nb cagefiSe,
: ::cr :nove inward. Observe
r\tr: -'fs around your waist_
! : \ , . - : a b d o m e na n d
i ::c ::se and fall of your
:.t:.c
:hrsbreathingaction,
5inger's
Handbook
Extending
YourBreath
This exercisecan help coordinate and energize
your breath support. Practice Step One until you
can make it through comfortably, then add Step
Two, then Step Three. Take care not to inhale too
fast or raise your chest when you inhale. During
exhalation, maintain the opennessin your ribs for
the entire count. When all three stepscan be
performed consecutivelywithout stopping,
increasethe exhalation count to 25 or 30. put your
metronome on 80 b.o.m..
Step One
1. Inhale to a count of 10, taking in two tiny sips
of air per metronome beat, expanding your
lower abdominal musclesand ribs. Exhale for
20 beatsusing repeatedshort hisses,rwo hisses
per metronome beat. After 20 counts, begin the
next inhalation.
2. Inhale again to a count of 10, taking in two
tiny sips of air per metronome beat. Exhale for
20 beats using one long, sustainedhiss.
3. Inhale again to a counr of 10, taking in rwo
tiny sips of air per metronome beat. Sing ,,ah"
on a comfortable pitch for 20beats. Maintain
the opennessin your ribs. (Continue, without
stopping, to Step Two if you successfully
completethis with no problem.)
Step Two
1. Inhale to a count to 10, taking in one long,
continuous, slow breath. Exhale for 20 beats
using repeatedshort hisses,two hissesper
metronome beat.
2. Inhale again to a count of 10 in a slow, continuous sip. Exhale in a slow continuous hiss to a
count of 20.
3. Inhale again to a count of 10 in a slow, continuous sip. Sing "ah" on a comfortable pitch for
20 beats.Try to maintain the feeling of opennessin your ribs for the entire exhalation.
(Continue without stopping to Step Three if
you successfullycomplete the first two steps.)
to
Step Three
Breathing
Exercises
ng YourBreath
Step Three
:'l
tlEsilqqqee!
Routine
Practice
An organi zed practice routine helps you achieve
waste
more becauseyou stay mentally focused and
you will
less time. If you follow a routine daily,
time
practice
your
find that you look forward to
and gainthe benefits of daily vocal exercise'
Practice Routine
I. BeginningWarm-uP
(2-:
a.PhysicalStretches
b.Warm-uPVocalizatio
II. VocalTechnique(10-20
III. SongSrudY(15-20mint
Practice
TiPsfor Productive
not be
Location. Work where you can relax and
self-conscious.You need to feel free to make
mistakes,and not hold back for feat of disturbing
to
neighbors or family. If there is no place at home
of
pritice, inquire at a local school or house
worship to iee if there is a room that you could
use regularlY.
you
Keyboard /Guitat Wherever you practice'
for
wili need some kind of keyboard or guitar
checking Pitches.
on
Mirror. Practice in front of a mirror, focusing
your body, posfure, and expression'Observe
iension in the face, neck, and jaw, which indicates
a problem. Use the mirror to help correct
awkward or tense looking movements' The
musclesof your throat can become tight to
compensate for a collapsed chest posture' Align
yorribody in order to allow the musclesof your
throat to function freelY'
Tape Recorder. To hear a realistic (though imperfect) representationof your voice, use a cassette
You
,rrordt in practice and at your voice lessons'
Try
singing'
can learn a lot from hearing your own
to listen objectively,and don't be distractedfrom
your goals by being overly critical'
Metronome. A metronome wilt help you establish
and
and maintain tempos when working on songs
keep you from rushing when practicing scales'
l. Beginni
A. Physical Stretches(2-
It is imPortant to begtn s
freedom.We sing and Pe
bodies,which need to be
Notes on warm-ups:
3. A stretchedmuscle is
so don't stressit br. ti
4. Readthe directionst
oughlY before atteml
5. Choosea few of the
onlY what feels right
to Your bodY and us
6. ModifY stretchesto :
ical limitations.
t2
Practice
Routine
loutine
rrceroutlne helps you achieve
r stav mentally focusedand waste
ollori a routine daily,you will
: toni'ard to your practicetime
:l:s ot'Jailv vocai exercise.
,r hoductivehactice
r ic:c \ tru Drelax and not be
:: :cc: :o tel free to make
':ack
:o.;
for fear of disturbing
r I: :hereis no placeat home to
I a .txa. >.-hoolor houseof
ie:c :,i a room that you could
, \\':c':rver vou practice,you
:J ,.r: levboard or guitat for
: *t-t:: oi a mirror, focusing on
a:; e.rpression.
Observe
:e;i. and jaw, which indicates
:r::-o: ro help correct
ooi::g movements.The
'oa: can become
tight to
r..ased chestposture.Align
:,. :llorv the musclesof your
Practice Routine
I. BeginningWarm-up
a.PhysicalSrrerches(2-3 minutes)
b. Warm-up Vocalizations(3*5 minutes)
II. Vocal Technique(10-20 minutes)
III. SongStudy(15-20minutes)
IV Cool Down (2-5 minutes)
l. Beginning
Warm.up
You probably wouldn't run a couple of miles
before warming up and stretching.In the same
way, it is advisableto warm up vocally before
working on vocal technique or songs.The equiva_
lent of stretching your legs before yo, ,rrn,
vocal
warm-ups increasethe blood flow to your
muscles
and gradually releasetension to prepare your
body
for activity. The few minutes of pnyiical stretches
and warm-up vocalizationsrecommended
here are
intended to prepare your voice for more activity
and are generally not enough to completely
*ur_
up your instrument. For a more comprehensive
warm-up, complete the beginning warm_up
and
the vocal technique segmentof this recommended
practice routine.
A. Physical Stretches (2-3 minutes)
t2
t3
!.sq!'^9!99!
Gentle llead Rolls
the neck
Purpose:to stretchthe strongmusclesof
and to releasetension'
this
Let your jaw hanglooseand openthroughout
your head
stretch.Go at your own pace,circling
keepyour
in both directions.If you becomedizzy'
eyesopen.
closeto
1. Gently drop your headso your chin is
let the weight of your head
your hest,-and
Do
stretchthe strongmusclesof your neck'
not pushyour headdown-let it hang'
your
2. Startingfromthis position,slowlyroll
to
close
is
headaiound until your right ear
your right shoulder'
3. Continueroliing your headuntil you're
looking upward,elongatingyour spine'letting
yorr, orrth and jaw hang opel' Avoid dropthe way back' which would
pi.tg yo,r, head a-11
sffessYourneckmuscles'
4 .C o n ti n u e th e h e a d rollcir cleuntilyour |eftear
is nearyour left shoulder,pausingto stretch
your neck.
head
In a continuous,slow movement,roll your
ear
througheachof thesepositions:chin to chest'
If
to shoulder,eyes,rp*uid, and earto shoulder'
let
your feeltensionin a particularspot' pauseand
ihe weight of your headstretchit out before
continurng.Completefwo or three full rotations
and then reversedirection'
Neck TensionReleaser
that
Purpose:to releasetensionin neckmuscles
-uy inttiUit free laryngealfunction in singing'
Your neckmusclesare complexand canbe
to injury if you forceyour headinto
susceptible
use
any position'Be gentlewith this exercise'and
commonsense.
and
l. Leanyour right eafto your right shoulder
feel the weight of your head elongatethe
muscleson the sideof Yourneck'
2. Reachyour right arrn overthe top of your head
and restyont tight palm on your left ear'simply
letting the weight of yo"t arm increasethe stretch
in vour neckmuscles'Do not pull your head'
t4
Shoulder Rolls
Purpose:to releasetensiontn
shoulders.
Rib Stretch
Purpose:to stretchand deve
rib muscles,and imProvefu
Full Roll-Down
PurPose:to increasea\\'are
rib exPansionduring breat
back, leg, and Posruralmu
l5
Practice
Routine
:e-r..
c:rcleuntil your left ear
u,,jer.pausingto stretch
ro\ c:nent, roll your head
lrs:::ons:chin to chest,ear
;, and ear to shoulder.If
r-:.ular spot,pauseand let
i s::erchit out before
ro ,:r rhreefull rotations
t:
on rn neck musclesthat
al runction in singing.
onple.xand can be
(r- :orcevour head into
r::h :hrsexercise,
and use
J rp'.;1nght shoulder and
:: head elongatethe
i lrtur neCk.
t5
HaMbook
5inger's
your
When you are bent over at the waist' keep
as far
knees loose (not locked), and only bend over
palms to
as it feels comfortable. Do not force your
touch the floor.
1. Standing with feet hip-distance apart, slowly
drop your chin to your chest' Continue to ro11
down, leading with your head, proceeding one
at
vertebra at a time until you are bending over
the waist.
2. Inthis position, take a fullbreath that expands
your beily and ribs. (The belly expansionwill
make you rise from the floor slightly') Then
exhale. Check the back of your neck to make
sure you are not lifting your head, but rather
letting the top of your head drop to the floor'
3. Still in this rolled-down position, breathe
normally as you slightly bend and straighten
your knees a few times, feeling the stretch in
the back of Your legs.
are
4. Shift your weight back slightly, so your hips
ou., yorr feet. With slightly bent knees' take
one more breath, exhale, and slowly roll up
one vertebra at a time, sensingyour feet push
into the floor. This action will help you use
your legs to stand up again, instead of your
newlY stretchedback muscles'
Chewing
Purpose: to induce relaxation in the facial muscles
and free Your jaw.
and
Stand or sit in a comfortable, relaxed position
effortimagine the sensationof your head floating
lessly toward the ceiling.
1. Pretend you have two large piecesof bubble
gum in your mouth, one on each side' Chew
with exaggeratedmovements' with an open
mouth, saYing"mum-mum-mum' "
2. Chew for a few secondsand rest' Do three or
four repetitions of these exercises,then rest'
3. Sing or speak a line of text using the chewing
action with vigorous movement of the lips'
jaw, and cheeks'This exercisecan be done in
brief intervals throughout the day'
t6
Self-Massage
Purpose:to releasetenslon
muscles,and jaw.
1. Standingor sittrngcorr
head level, massagethc
neck with the Padsoi r
circular motion.
2. Work Your fingers uP t
your earsand along th
Sighs,humming, slidrng
getting the "cobwebs" ou
flow to Your vocal cords
nontraditional vocallzatr
suggestedhere allow vou
and prePateYour voice t
Slides
Practice
Routine
Self-Massage
Purpose: to releasetension in your neck,
facial
muscles,and jaw.
You can tatget your own specific muscle
tensions
in this self-massage
routine.
1. Standing or sitting comfortably and
with your
head level, massagethe back and sides your
of
neck with the pads of your fingers in a gentle
circular motion.
2. Work your fingers up the musclesin
front of
your ears and along the edge of your jaw.
3. Let your mouth drop open and massage
in the
soft spot directly under your ctrin withyour
thumbs.
4. Gently continue up the back of your
neck to
your head, place your fingers f,rrmly
on your
scalp, and move your entire scalp around.
Imagine air entering befween your skull
and
your scalp.
5. End your massageby tracinglong, firm
strokes
with your fingers along your eyebrows,
one at
a time, from the inside corner to the
outside
corner.
B. Warm-Up Vocalizations (3_5 minutes)
tt
rrtulll.
l7
Handbogk
5inger's
Sliding Warm-UP
Combinesliding,which helPsi
relaxationand liP trills,to mar
airflow,for an effectivebeginn
Repeatthe PatternmovinguP r
steps.
.,=1o
-'
& -._--e*'LIl
lnll I
Humming
Purpose:to initiatetoneProd
ot' I
increasing
Yourawareness
Light humming can be an tde
the buzzingse
rzatronbecause
mouth, and nosehelPsensur
placement.
1. Takea relaxedbreathand
your iiPsbarelYtouching'
your liPs shouldbuzz u'rtl
2. As you continueto vocal
slides,then u'r
descending
pitchedat the keYboard/g
vibrationsin Your "mask'
C
;
*=.--.4
Hnr
l8
l9
practice
Routine
Sliding Warm-Up
Combinesliding,which helpsinduce laryngeal
relaxationand lip trills, to maintaina consistent
airflow, for an effectivebeginningwarm_up.
Repeatthe patern moving.rp oido*n by half
steps.
t8
Humming
Purpose: to initiate tone production
while
increasing your awarenessof forward
resonance.
I-ight humming can be an ideal beginning
vocal_
ization because thebuzztng sensatlon
in your iips,
mouth, and nose helps ensure correct
natural tone
placement.
1. Take a relaxedbreath and lightly hum
with
your lips barely touching. The inside
edgesof
your lips should buzz with vibrations.
2. As you continue to vocalize, first
with
descendingslides,then with descending
fifths
pitched at the keyboard,/gaitar,try
to feel the
vibrations in your ,,mask.,'
SingeHandbook
(10-20minutes)
ll. VocalTechnique
This part of practicing will complete your
warming up and help you work out vocally'
to
During iechttique work, identify what you need
improie in your singing (increasing-rarlge' aglbty'
brth control, improving tone quality)' Regular
in
vocal technique work will help keep your voice
The
shape, readyfor the demands of singing'
skills
new
prrrpor. of iechnical work is to develop
learn
and reinforce muscle memory' In singing, we
by
by intellectually understanding conceptsand
a
and
tiatntngmuscles. It is both an intellecfial
&r=,-
physical Process.
I
If you have skipped the beginning warm-up'
that you back up and complete 2-3
,..o--.td
minutes of light vocaliztng first' Though many
singers start practice by vocalizing scales,
pre"cedingvoial technique work with a beginning
easy
*ut--np that includes physical stretchesand
vocalizirtgon a descending slide pattern is much
fleximore effective.If you are working on vocal
that
find
bility and agl\ity, for example, you may
youi voice feels sluggish and resistantto quick'
If
light movements,if you have not warmed up'
yu complete the recommended beginning warmagile
,rp, you can work more directly toward free'
pionctio.t and avoid the frustration of trying to
is
sing before your voice is agile and your body
=:
:t
relaxed.
pracIdentify your goals for your vocal technique
tice. Have a pupose for every exerciseor scaie
you sing. You can adapt exercisesyou know to
suit your needsor make up your own exercises'
Repeat the patterns, moving up by half steps'
20
2l
Practice
Routine
que(l20 minutes)
u : . . c o m p l e t ey o u r
t'tlj \\ OIk Out vOCally.
:. :Jcnrrh'rvhatyou needto
E ( :ncreaslng range, agility,
rs ione qualiry). Regular
,':ll help keep your voice in
::ands of singing.The
::i rs to developnew skills
ctr)r\'. In singing,we learn
:anJ:ng conceptsandby
..:l an rnteliecfualand a
L1'+-:-!2"",
Ee
*'
"a)
;--ctt<&oo
]-n.oooe....
eh
ah
oh
Ec
ch
|
l
n
rJr
Lrlr
'r*g:nning
warm-up, I
;i up and complete2_3
::g irsr. Though many
\ rraa:lzlngscales,
..lc\\ t)rk rvith a beginning
'hr s:calstretches
and easy
:ng slrdepaftern is much
c' \\ r):klng on vocal flexi_
:r:.c. \ ou may find that
::; :esistantto quick,
l:r' ne1rvarmedup. If
:c': ied beginningwarm_
:::c.iir torvard free, agile
: :::;srrationof trying to
ag:.cand vour body is
c(ilc(;7(
+I--.--'-.-......-
erc:clsesyou know to
-:: \ r)ur OrVneXerCiSeS.
lng uF,bv half steps.
trlec
nch
mrh
mrh
nlo(,
2l
lgiflunqlgok
--
(15-20minutes)
StudY
lll. Song
It requiresflexibility to sing words-andmelody
,og..r, so after you havewarmed up and worked
o, yorr voiceshouldbe readyfor the more
.."u"ahg task of singingsongs'Setasidethis
to perfectnotesand
iitt yoir practiceroutine
itytttrnt, stuylyrics,add stylisticinterpretation'
and
and combineall thesedetailsinto a technical
musicalwhole.
SevenStePsto Learning a New Song
l. Rhythm
first'
Learnthe notesand rhythms of your songs
Take the time to read through the songrhythmically,and clap or say"tah" on the.written
rnyittms.Use a metronometo maintaina steady
bet. though you may take libertieswith written
purposes'you
notesand rhythms,for expressive
needto know the original written notesand
Then
rtrytttmsto seewhat the composerintended'
yol, .un developyour own interpretation'
2. MelodY
After learning the rhythms,plunk out the melody
on a keybourdot guitar'Learn the shapeof the
tune and review any tricky intervals'How does
the melodylie in your voice?You shouldbe able
the
to sing through the songwithout straining' If
songieelsto ttigtt or too low, experimentwith
diffJrent keys.Once you havedecidedon a key'
you needwritten musicor alead sheetin that key'
bo .rot askan accompanistto transposeon sight
during an audition or performance'
3. Rhythm and Melody'Without Lyrics
and
Standup, awayfrom the pitched instrument'
,irrg yo.tt ,ottg itt rhythm on a favorablevowel
,orin, but without the iyrics' Make the melody
flow from note to note, observedynamic markings, and checktricky rhythms and intervals'Plan
where you will breathe,and work out your
phrasingby marking(') in your music' If you've
ptutttt.Jyur phrasingwell, you won't run out of
air at the wrong times'
22
6. Listen to Recordings
Listen to recordingsbY other a
observationsthat helP vou det
(
a song. You can learn a great
by observingthe Phrastng'ten
and interPretation. Hori' does
the melodY,rhYthm, and harn
the song higher or lorver than
singing?Notice the singer'sr.c
like it? Is the rhYthmrc feel or
accompanimentwhat vou im;
'
like? How is it different tiom
What is the stYlethe song (ba
jazz,Latin, etc')?Answenng I
you listen will helP You hne-r
a song.
23
Practice
Routine
(1120minutes)
4. Add,Basic Accompaniment
a \ew Song
ithout Lyrics
:chedinstrument,and
'l a tr'orable
vowel
s \lake the melody
::'.c ..ivnamicmarkn':sand intervals.plan
sork out vour
rr;..r:
muslC.If yOU,Ve
\ r)U \\'OD't rUn OUt Of
23
:l
lnopr'
. - . . -Handbook
---
lV.CoolDown(2-5minutes)
vocally' ?ft" !:::--^
It is as important to cool down
back to a lessactlve
tice,to bring your vocal cords
doesn'tfeelunstable'
r;; ; t;ir'speaking voice
cool down if vou are
iiLtp..ially importtt to
weather'or if vou havebeen
colud
;;;iint
ii"gi""g high notesfor a while'
and voicework of
To cool down, repeatthebody
the.firstpart of your
the beginningwarm-upfrom
parts
Are your shouldersor other
r^rrirr.r,io"'
out physiof your bodv sore uf'L' p'urrit:?,Tl:"h
in your body'
lutiy, rurgrtingthe tension spots
can be combinedwith light
;i;i;t tit.t.ht'
also,111eat
ft r*ng or sighs,and you-should
exercrses'
;;;; oritte lessintensetechnical
Mental Practicing
without usingyour
Mental practicingis rehearsing
you arevocallytired'
voice.It canbe usedwhen
but are not mentally
i11,or when yo" u" healthy
at hand Mental pracfocusedenoughn tne tasks
but alsocanbring
tice not only restsyour voice'
mentalalertnessbacktoapracticesessionandcan
problemsolving'It can
be an effectivemethodof
from regularvocal
alsobe usedto tak'eabreak
volce'
Practiceto conserveYour
intensity'you
If you mentally practrce,asgns.with *: -t:1t1t
can learn witrror'lfactual$ singing'.At
musclecontractlons
practice,we actuallyproduce
atesimilar to the
(so smalltrreycannoiUt fttt; that
perform' Try this guided
oneswe proOtt* *ht" *t
your mentalfocus'
i-"g*V ete'ciseto improve
Guided ImagerYExercise
Relaxinacomfortablechair'andnoticeyour
relaxed'Imagine
breathing.tt sirutabe deepand
practiceor
yourselfin the placewhereyou 1suallV the
peaceful
perform.tmaginehow quietand
details:the floor'
the
surrounding'u"' No* imagine
of the room' the
the heightof tire ceiting'the 56s11 place'
of the
i.-6o*te, the soundand feel
where you
room
Mentally go to the placein this
feelasyou prepareto
,irrg.Noti.e how yur muscles
of your body positionin this
sing.Take-*ory
24
d
imagined space,and ieel
performance.Imaglne vou
and beginning Your song'
phraseflawlesslY'In I'our
;
breathe in the nght sPots
Proceedthrough l-our Per
not skiPPing,but singing
through in Your mind Sr
ance,feelingthat vou har
Repeatthis exercise'em
r
of iound and feel' It is
succeed.Imagine vour:
accomPlishmentat the
tice. Sensethe feel' sou
audience.Imaginea Po
and Your feeling of acc
Strongemotionsare in
tice of correctvocal sk
imagerY,if negative tht
into Your thinktng' sto
a videotaPein Your mr
agaitin slow motlon'
yourself executethe tr
anY catches'Work thr'
and turn them lnto Po
Breathing for Relaxa
Breath is essentialto t
Concentratingon dee
and Performancervill
focus Your mind' Wit
relaxedbodY,You rr'r
don t take the time tc
is much harder work
residualtensionand
mus
Preventefficient
Take a deePbreath'
uP the bottom of vo
abdomenrelax and r
mout
Your nose and
relaxed. Your diaPh
and Your abdomen :
Your lungs to exPan
exhale all of Your a
musclesin to comP
Practice
Routine
Down(2-5 minutes)
, ;ool dorvn vocally,
after prac_
Lrcalcords back to a lessactive
:ng rorce doesn'tfeel unstable.
::anr ro cool down if you are
\\c'arher.or if you have been
,r: a u hile.
r: :hc'body and voice work of
-ra :rom the first part
of your
' \ ur shoulders
or other parts
:c': pracrice?Stretchout physi_
':,i:on spots
in your body.
rc eombinedwith lighi
:J \ ou should also repeat
:sc :cchnicalexercises.
'ehearsrng
without using your
r\ ncn vou are vocally tired,
ealrhvbut are not mentally
c' iasksat hand. Mental prac_
r: \r)lce,but also can bring
i,-)a prctice session and.can
r tri problem solving.It can
::cak from regular vocal
lu: r'oice.
:e a song with intensiry you
ailr singing.As wc mentally
ircuce musclecontractions
c rlt) rhar are similar to the
n.c perform. Try this guided
t:o\ c' \'our mental fOCUS.
:ise
:har:.and notice your
een and relaxed.Imagine
re vou usuallypracticeor
u:c'tand peacefulthe
magrnethe details:the floor,
:he smellof the room, the
::; relof the place.
::l :hrs room where you
'..r,...ies
tel as you prepare to
t.ru:bodv position rn this
24
I
Handbook
Singer's
relaxation'
Remernberto inhale and think of
this exerexhaleand releaseany tension' Rep-eat
of the day to
ciseseveraltimes over the course
body and
releasetensionand invigoateyour
for releasing
;i;J. This exerciseis specifically
is similar
tensionand improvingmentalfocus'-It
but in rerax;;;h. breath aition uied in singing'
your rib musclesdon't resistthe
ation exercises,
of your di aphragmduring exhalation'
;;;il
yourself
Think when you practice'Then allow
just sing'
,i-. ,o turn off your mind and
to remember
n p.tltio" will teachyour muscles
practicing' Then
fro* ro do the things yo""ot been
let go.
Your\l
Maintaining
s'hl
If singerswere to slng onlv
completelYhealthr, and stress
would neverbe ableto make a
That is whY it is imPortant to
\
knowing Yourself,Your volce'
how to take care of Yourseli'
If singing hurts, don't sing'
26
27
-f*f
yourVocalHealth
Maintaining
d rhink of relaxation,
:ensron.Repeatthis exer_
re courseof the day to
lorare vour body and
rcrtrcally for releasing
nenral focus.It is similar
i rn singing,but in relax_
nuscies don't resistthe
n during exhalation.
: Then allow yourself
:rd and jusr sing.
l: rrusclesto remember
:'r'ebeenpracticing.Then
Maintaining
YourVocalHeatth
If singerswere to sing only when
they feel
completely healthy, and stress_free,
many of us
would never be able to make a living
p..fo.._.rg.
That is why it is important ro prevent
problems by
knowing yourself, your voice, yorrr
limits, and
how to take care of yourself.
If singing hurts, don,t sing.
Disregard for your vocar health
and rong rehearsars,
combined with pressurefrom a
muslc director or
bandleader to rehearsesongs repeatedly,can
tire or
strain your voice.
Pain in your larynx can be a slgn
of a problem.
singers experiencingpain, husfiness,
or hoarseness
and loss of high rangeshould see
a throat specialist
(aryngologist) experiencedin
worti.rg with singers.
Performing arts venues,music colieges,
conservato_
ries, and other singerscan usually
refer you to such a
doctor. Often, general ,,ear,nose,
and.tltroat,doctors
(otolaryngologists)do not have
the specialized
expertisein performing_artsmedicin
to optimally
help vocalists.
Singersshould watch for signs
of vocal cord
swelling, charucterjzed by ,tigt
t hoarsenessor
raspiness,a speakingvoice that
feetshigher and
huskier than norm aI, and a vocal
qualiry that
sounds coarseand less than clean.
Frequently,
there is a loss of high range,
and you need more
breath support than normal because
of inefficient
vocal cord vibrations. A virus
can causethis type
of problem, as can overuseof your
voice.
If you have what seems to be
more than asimple
cold, consult a qualified specialist
for advice and
treatment.
Don't delay! Go to a laryngologist
who works with
singers'A sk'red specialistw'lle
more sensitiveto
your personal feelings-aboutyour
singing. They
can offer advice regardingany
upcom"ingsinging
engagements.
Handbook
5inger's
Performing environments.
and bars, are often dust1..s
things to be avoidedbv sin
burnout:
'Avoid smoky areas.
'Keep quiet on breaks.
28
In cars,airplanes,trains.a
ground noise forcesyou to
normal, which can be detr
29
Marntaining
YourVocalHealth
Singer's
Handbook
30
Drink water.
Yullqll JourVocal
Heatth
norsemakesyou have to
r ourself. your posture is
e car seat,so you are not as
ur roice adequately.It is
tractlce in a place where
vourself and concentrate
rng
:ng spasmscausedby
ic\-ror. You might benefit
rirols coughing,thereby
'our r-ocal
cords.A
i-.ornr.olveantibiotics,
rs-rhrnningmedications.
ihe-counterdecongestants
out vour vocal cords.
habits.
.:saisu'ill help you avoid
:arsai.take breaks,drink
r rr cll-positionedmonitor
's:ns
w'ith an amplified
r)ng rehearsalthe
of. a performance;this
oI VOUrvolce.
Drink water.
Drink six to eight g oz. glasses
of water perd,ay.
This can help your voicefunction
betterbecause
your vocalcordsmust be well
lubricatedto uifrut.
without too much friction. The
wateryou drink
doesnot go immediatelyto your
vocalcords.
Although you feel the immeiate
relief of warerin
your throat, water goesto your
stomachand
passesthrough.yo_ur
entiresystembeforehyrating
your vocalcords.It takestime
for rhis to h;pp;;,-'
so be sure to drink water beforeyou
feel rh;st
Drinks with alcoholand caffeine
may containwater
but shouldnot be countedtoward
your daily water
intakebecauseof their drying.ffd
on your body.
Eat well-balancedmeals.
Eat lightly and well in advance
of a performance.
Largeamountsof food and liquia
iute ,rp spacein
your body and may interfere
with breathmanage_
ment. Milk productscan cause
excessive
mucus
productionand shouldbe avoided
beforesinging,
if they affectyou adversely.
Reflux occurswhen the contents
of your stomach
migratebackinto the esophagr,
*a throat,
causinginflammation.singe
serrsltive
to reflux
reactto a numberof foodsand
drinksthat can
impact their vocalcondition
u"Jrirrgirrg Uy
causingreflux laryngitis. Singers
arieparticularly
proneto reflux dueto the high
abdominalpr.rrrrr.
that is usedin breathrrrppori
Dr. StevenZeitels,director of
the Division of
Laryngology at theMassachusets;;
and Ear
Infirmary in Boston,notestfru,
_oj individuals
with laryngealreflux do not have
heartburn,as is
commonlythought.Reflux increases
the mucus
productionoften associated
with rh.tut clearing,
producesan ill-defnedfeeling
of fullnessin the
throat,and can causehoa.seriess,
at .orria
coughing,and difficulty in swallowing.
Consumingsoda,citrus,spicyfoods,
caffeine,
alcoholcan precipitateand a.ggravat'ereflux.and
mgersshouldconsultwith a laryngologist
if this
is suspected
to be a problem.
Singer'
s Handbook
32
Stick to a moderate ex
Wash your hands with
frequently.
'r
\lairfeir.tig
Y'our
VocalHealth
'h as
!.eg! r..9!99!_
You only have one voice.
Somesingersseemto be ableto screamconstantly
careerin rock music.
and still sustaina successful
Otherscan havea singleincidentof voiceabuse
and end up with vocalcord nodules.
The limits of safevocal usevary greatly from
personto person.Learn what it takesfor your
voiceto be in peakshapeand readyto sing.Learn
what triggersstressfor you; it can sapyour energy
to illness.Know your
and makeyou susceptible
tendenciesfor talking too much, drinking,and
is one of the keys
Self-knowledge
other excesses.
to maintainingyour voice.
Somesingerspurposelytry to add huskinessto
their voicesby screaming,smoking,or drinking.
Suchsingerscan end up with no voiceat aII.
Tearingdown your voice is not the way to add
character.Instead,build it by learninghow to sing
and exploringall the possibilitiesof your instrument. Gain performanceexperienceand interpret
your songswith sincereemotion,ratherthan
manipuiatingyour voice in a way that can permanently damageand limit your vocalpossibilities'
of
Causes
Possible
ar
Shouting,screaming'
cheerleading'
Poor sPeakinghabits.
straining,asr
RePeated
drYnessof tt
Excessive
causedbY Your envrro
hYdration,medication
alcohol and/or caffein
Singing Factors
Not warming uP-
OverusingYour voice
34
'f
Maintaining
YowVoctHealth
roice.
o be abie to scream constantlv
;ccssfulcareerin rock music.
rgie incident of voice abuse
ai cord nodules.
cal use vary greatly from
r:n u'hat it takesfor your
:ate and readyto sing. Learn
)r.)ou: lt can sap your energy
t:t'le ro iilness.Know your
:oo much, drinking, and
rou'ledgeis one of the keys
lr' trv ro add huskinessto
:ng. smoking, or drinking.
j3 rr:lh no VoiCe
at all.
:cc':s not the way to add
-: ::.ly learninghow to sing
rcss:b:liries
of your instru_
.e c.\penenceand interpret
e enorlon, ratherthan
:e :n a \\'aYthat can perma:: \our vocal possibilities.
Possible
Causes
of VocalMaladies
Many factors can contribute to the development
of
vocal cord nodules, polyps, and chronic
laryngitis.
The list below shows some of the possible
causes
of and contributing factors to thes
seriousvocal
maladies.
Non-singingFactors
Shouting,screaming,
andyelling,including
cheerleading.
Poor speakinghabits.
Repeatedskaining, as when tifting heavy
objects.
Talking over backgroundnoiseat concerts
and
clubs,or in airplanesand cars.
Making odd noiseswith your voice.
Reflux.
Smoking.
Excessivecoughingand habitual throat
clearing.
Excessiyedrynessof the vocal mechanism
causedby your environment,lack of
adequate
hydration,medications,or over_consption
of
alcohol and/ or caffeine.
Singing Factors
Not warming up.
Singingat the exffemesof your range
for long
periods.
Imitating other singersto the exclusion
of developlng your own voice.
Singingwithout adequateamplification.
Insufficientbre atb,supporr.
Pushingyour voice when overtired
or sick.
Overusingyour voice.
Handbook
5inger's
Conseruation
Marki forVoice
Marking is a way of singing that helps you save
your voice during rehearsals.To mark a melody,
sing just the first few notes of a phrase,and
mentally sing the other notes. Raise the lowest and
lower the highest notes in your song by an octave
(octave displacement)to avoid the extremesof
your range.Men can use falsetto to approach high
notes. All singing should be light when you are
marking.
Marking savesyour voice by minimizing its use. It
should be used when you are not feeling well, or
during rehearsalsscheduledjust before a performance. Too much practicing before a performance
can take the freshnessout of your voice. In theater
music, singersmark during lighting and technical
rehearsals,when it is not important for them to
sing at full volume.
Singersoften have strong emotions when
performing and become carried away by the
moment, losing self-control and singing full voice
when they should be resting, so listen to your
body.
Whatto Do
2. Maintain energettc
3. Sing only the first ti
singing the rest mer
4. Displacenotes at th
your range by an oc
Plan this in advanc
5. Men can sing high
marking.
6. Always sing lightlr.
Whatto Avo
Conservation
Yqltng forVoice
oiceConseruation
:grng rhat helps you save
rrsals.To mark a melody,
rtes of a phrase,and
nores.Raisethe lowest and
:n \our song by an octave
r avordthe extremesof
e ialseno ro approachhigh
C be light when you are
'n'
:e
minimizing its use.It
u are nor feelingwell, or
rle,l tust before a perform_
ng beiore a performance
:: i vour r.oice.In theater
:g .:ghringand technical
::iportanr for them to
e:notlonsrvhen
:ar::ed aw'avby the
'o. and
singingfull voice
lng. so iistento your
IUhatto DoWhenMarking
1. Warm up tightly first.
2. Maintain energeticbreathsupporr.
3. Singonly the first few words of a phrase,
singingthe restmentally.
4' Displacenotesat the high and row
extremesof
your rangeby an octaveto avoidstraining.
Plan this in advance.
5. Men can singhigh notesin falsetto
when
marking.
6. Always sing iightly when marking.
Whatto AvoidWhenMarking
1. Don't sing everything down an
ocrave.
2. Don't whisper or withhold breath
support.
3. Don't lose concentration.
4. Don't succumb to pressurefrom
peers or direc_
tors and sing full voice against th
advice of
your doctor.
5. Don't mark all of the time. you
should sing a
concert, recital, or other long performance
using your fulI voice severalii-.,
over a
period of severalweeks or longer
to make sure
you are familiar with phrasing
and breath
pacrng,and to help you develp
sramina.
(inopr'rHandbook
'
J l l 16!'
.r
Aboutthe Author
and
Anne Peckhamis a singer,voiceteacher'
at
urr,frot.A professorin the VoiceDepartment
private
;;;.. cilege of Music, Anne teaches
Theater
uol.. lessons,directsBerkiee'sMusical
for
Wotltftop, and has developedcurriculum
a requiredcourse
"Elementsof VocalTechnique"'
vocal students'Anne is the
f- uUof Berklee's
'tlteCotentporrtrt
a book/CD
Singer'
authorof
'[he Conternpornrl
test'
i"i.trriitr-,ed bv Bertlee
released in lrJ:rpanescSirlszrt'has recentlv been
translation.
of Teachers
A member of the National Association
president of the
of Singing, Anne served as vice
Boston
board of dir..tots of the association's
annuai Song
,ipnr,and co-chaired the chapter's
as a clinician and
Festival. She frequently appearc
festivaisin the U'S''
u:,rai.u,or for choraltt-tottg
EuroPe,and Canada'
Festival Chorus
Anne sang with the Tanglewood
fwo recordingswith
for four years,performing on
solo in their
the Boston Pops, inciuding afeatued
televisedGilbertandSullivanplesentationthat
ui'edonPBs.Shehasperformedwithregional
section leader
companies,*u' the principal
,t *.t
of Needham for
at the Congregational Church
in recital
eleven years' and performs frequently
atd cabaretvenues'
t
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38