Posture, Breathing & Speaking On-pitch
From: Your First Singing Lesson With Camilleby Camille van Niekerk
Description:
We start your first lesson with posture because as a singer, your body is your instrument! Good posture sets us up for effective breathing, less strain, and easier singing over all.
I encourage you to do some of your vocal exercises walking around the room or moving your arms if you start to feel stiff. Roll your shoulders down and back, with your arms relaxed at your sides. Seated singers: please be mindful of the tendency to roll your shoulders forward and collapse your chest. Finally, if it’s not already, lift your chest slightly, just to the point that you feel tall and proud (not sticking out or making you uncomfortable). This lifts our ribcage so it’s even easier to take nice, full breaths.
I encourage you to do some of your vocal exercises walking around the room or moving your arms if you start to feel stiff. Roll your shoulders down and back, with your arms relaxed at your sides. Seated singers: please be mindful of the tendency to roll your shoulders forward and collapse your chest. Finally, if it’s not already, lift your chest slightly, just to the point that you feel tall and proud (not sticking out or making you uncomfortable). This lifts our ribcage so it’s even easier to take nice, full breaths.
We also start this lesson with breathing because breath is what fuels our voice. You make sound - whether speaking or singing - by air passing through your vocal folds and out your throat. Of course, you know how to breathe. But the demands of singing are such that we often have limited time to breathe, and we then have to use that breath for a while. So our goal is to take in a good amount of air in a short time, and the best way to do that is by relaxing your belly muscles.
Exercises:
Hiss to hum
Hiss & HO: Hiss (12, 12, 123) - breathe - HO (12, 12, 12345) - breathe-
“GO”: 1-2-3-2-1
Great work, and get ready for more singing in the next lesson.
Great work, and get ready for more singing in the next lesson.
Lessons:
Instructor: Camille van Niekerk
Camille van Niekerk is a singer, writer and vocal instructor in Southern California. Camille began studying voice and performing in musicals at age seven. In 2010, Camille began working towards her BA in Music Education at Azusa Pacific University. She then earned her teaching credential from San Diego State University and taught classroom choral and instrumental music. Shortly after moving to LA county, Camille began her private vocal studio, providing vocal coaching, ear training, and recording for students of all ages. She is constantly refining her skills and methods for greater versatility and effectiveness. When she is not teaching, Camille enjoys singing with the L.A. Choral Lab and Ensoma Creative. She lives in San Diego with her husband and loves going to the beach, practicing yoga, reading, and cooking.