September 2026
Loose Body, Free Sound!
Air flow starts vibrations, so it behooves us to prevent interference with that air flow to be better singers. To prove it to yourself, try this standing-up experiment:
1) Tighten your knees (Yes, we all know choir directors say not to do that…this will show you why.) with your knees locked, take the deepest nose breath you can. Notice how it feels to breathe. Now release your knees and take the deepest nose breath you can. Notice the difference?
2) With knees loose, tighten just your buttocks, breathe deeply. Release your buttocks and breathe.
3) Tighten just your abdomen and try to breathe. Release and breathe.
4) With everything else loose, just lift your shoulders. Try to breathe. Release and breathe.
5) Make it smaller by just slumping and sticking your chin out (like you do in front of computer screens). Try to breathe. Release and breathe.
6)Finally make it really small just by frowning. Try to breathe. Release and breathe.
Figured it out, yet? Yes, tension in the body prevents you from breathing well and deeply, and will ultimately affect your singing. So sing LOOSE!
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