Here are some tips relevant to all the exercises in the course:
We’ll be covering posture in more detail later, but for now when on the upright chair in your quiet space just aim to feel balanced and relaxed. So:
When practising elsewhere, sit or stand in a way that feels equally balanced and relaxed.
Breathing normally will give you all the breath you need for the exercises, just as it does when you speak.
Breathe through your nose if at all possible. First, it is healthier: it prevents your mouth and larynx drying out, nose hairs filter out airborne particles, and during its passage up the nose the air is warmed before reaching your mouth. It is also more helpful than mouth breathing for keeping the focus of your voice in your head.
Unless directed otherwise, start all the exercises on a note somewhere comfortably in the middle of your vocal range, and avoid any ‘breaks’ you are aware of between different areas of your voice. Once the technique is established you’ll be able to move into other vocal areas, but until that happens you’re wanting to make things as easy as possible.
You might like to use an app to identify and store suitable notes to use.
Note: If you’re not quite sure of the full extent of your range, go for a note a bit higher than you first thought: there’s a tendency to imagine the middle of the voice is lower than it actually is.
Do all the exercises quietly. If you turn the volume up too much early on you’re very likely to force your voice from your throat.
It’s good to avoid external distractions during your practice, but self-generated distractions can be helpful.
If you are someone who tends to ‘live in their head’, thinking a lot and possibly worrying quite a lot too, you may apply too much brain power to the voice exercises – which are really far more about feeling than thinking.
If that’s you, then you might find that keeping some of your brain busy with a simple, repetitive physical task such as bouncing a ball or tossing one from hand to hand, or even just moving your arms around, will free up your voice.
The next section introduces you to the first voice exercises.
Here are some tips relevant to all the exercises in the course:
We’ll be covering posture in more detail later, but for now when on the upright chair in your quiet space just aim to feel balanced and relaxed. So:
When practising elsewhere, sit or stand in a way that feels equally balanced and relaxed.
Breathing normally will give you all the breath you need for the exercises, just as it does when you speak.
Breathe through your nose if at all possible. First, it is healthier: it prevents your mouth and larynx drying out, nose hairs filter out airborne particles, and during its passage up the nose the air is warmed before reaching your mouth. It is also more helpful than mouth breathing for keeping the focus of your voice in your head.
Unless directed otherwise, start all the exercises on a note somewhere comfortably in the middle of your vocal range, and avoid any ‘breaks’ you are aware of between different areas of your voice. Once the technique is established you’ll be able to move into other vocal areas, but until that happens you’re wanting to make things as easy as possible.
You might like to use an app to identify and store suitable notes to use.
Note: If you’re not quite sure of the full extent of your range, go for a note a bit higher than you first thought: there’s a tendency to imagine the middle of the voice is lower than it actually is.
Do all the exercises quietly. If you turn the volume up too much early on you’re very likely to force your voice from your throat.
It’s good to avoid external distractions during your practice, but self-generated distractions can be helpful.
If you are someone who tends to ‘live in their head’, thinking a lot and possibly worrying quite a lot too, you may apply too much brain power to the voice exercises – which are really far more about feeling than thinking.
If that’s you, then you might find that keeping some of your brain busy with a simple, repetitive physical task such as bouncing a ball or tossing one from hand to hand, or even just moving your arms around, will free up your voice.
The next section introduces you to the first voice exercises.
