If you’re in voice lessons, you’ve probably had your teacher lead you through some stretches, tell you to keep your knees relaxed, etc. Ever wonder why? Body positioning plays a significant role in producing a strain-free, natural sound.
Over the course of the day – especially if we’re spending long hours sitting at a desk! – the shoulders and neck tend to hold tension and the breath tends to be shallow. Releasing unnecessary tension and relaxing the breath are paramount to developing a richer sound. Here are a few specific posture-related pointers to focus on:
- Feet should be around shoulder-length apart, ideally with one foot a bit further forward than the other – this helps "root" you to the ground. Avoid slouching. Keep weight evenly distributed.
- Knees should be loose, not locked!
- Hands ought to rest at your sides – avoid crossing arms, putting hands on hips, etc.
- Shoulders should be relaxed and back — think of standing tall with chest open, but not in a forced, strained manner.
- Keep chin roughly parallel to ground – don’t raise your chin to hit high notes, it creates strain!
It’s worthwhile to take a few minutes before singing to check your posture — it will make a difference!
~ Jennifer Iovanne
Singing lessons is Seattle | Voice Lessons in Portland | Voice Teacher in Bellingham
