Singing is anatomical: the brain thinks, and the body responds, any time and any place, that is, if lifestyle behaviors have not deformed the vocal instrument (i.e., excessive spicy foods, alcohol, smoking, screaming, et cetera). Singing begins with an exhalation of human vocal sounds (phonation) (NIDCD, 2015). At the point of phonation, two smooth adjacent muscle tissues in the thorax come into contact and vibrate to create resonating sound waves from the throat, mouth, and nose (NIDCD, 2015). As any vocal performer will confirm, singing is athletic, and to sing competently, older adults need to be physically fit to meet the challenges of creating beautiful sounds. Being physically fit means having good physical hearing (or amplified by hearing
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Vocal exercises and management of breath are requisite to sustain the center-of-the-note (Miller, 1996). Further to protecting the health of the speaking and singing voice, singers learn how to support and manage their breath by adjusting the sternum and rib cage. Miller explains that the support of breath begins by breathing deeply to raise the sternum and rib cage to its fullest and highest position. Then, holding the posture for the duration of a song while inhaling air and exhaling a melody and lyrics, the vocalist creates accurate sounds. The purpose of raising the rib cage is to manage the inhalation and exhalation of breath from the abdomen and diaphragm to avoid inhibiting air as it passes through the larynx versus manipulating sound using the thorax, which most unschooled vocalists do. Correct singing from the abdomen and diaphragm prevents damage to the vocal folds, which increases years of healthy singing beyond age 65. Mehrling (1980) reports the aging process slows down the collagen process in skin, tissues, and muscles that become thinner and stiffer, which causes the speaking and singing voice range to lower. Oftentimes common problems are easily corrected by proper posture, breathing and support, phonation, registration, resonation, articulation, and coordination of the anatomy (McKinney, 1994; Miller, 1996). …show more content…
Many people join community bands and orchestras such as the New Horizons International Music Association (NHIMA). NHIMA (2016) is open to NMs, and people musically educated from Kindergarten to twelfth grades as well as PMs. Music educator Roy Ernst founded NHIMA in 1991 (2016) to reach musicians throughout the United States of America (USA) and later internationally to perform in bands, orchestras, and choirs. Coffman (2009) conducted the first longitudinal study to explore health over time among 1,654 NHIMA musicians – 120 bands and orchestras from 28 USA states, two Canadian provinces, and Dublin, Ireland. Self-reporting surveys queried PMs’ concerning their music-making experiences and self-reported health to help build a base of knowledge in research literature. Coffman (2009) reported on average PMs were age 70, of average health, having average incomes, and practicing their musical instruments on average for one hour each day; 70% were experienced musicians, whereas 30% were beginners; more female PMs than male PMs, and after age 65 more males than females. Health surveys showed approximately 75% of PMs cited emotional well-being was the greatest benefit to playing instruments, whereas “24% reported physical well-being, 21% cognitive stimulation, and 20% socialization benefits” (p. 50). This would suggest that playing musical instruments
Vocal exercises and management of breath are requisite to sustain the center-of-the-note (Miller, 1996). Further to protecting the health of the speaking and singing voice, singers learn how to support and manage their breath by adjusting the sternum and rib cage. Miller explains that the support of breath begins by breathing deeply to raise the sternum and rib cage to its fullest and highest position. Then, holding the posture for the duration of a song while inhaling air and exhaling a melody and lyrics, the vocalist creates accurate sounds. The purpose of raising the rib cage is to manage the inhalation and exhalation of breath from the abdomen and diaphragm to avoid inhibiting air as it passes through the larynx versus manipulating sound using the thorax, which most unschooled vocalists do. Correct singing from the abdomen and diaphragm prevents damage to the vocal folds, which increases years of healthy singing beyond age 65. Mehrling (1980) reports the aging process slows down the collagen process in skin, tissues, and muscles that become thinner and stiffer, which causes the speaking and singing voice range to lower. Oftentimes common problems are easily corrected by proper posture, breathing and support, phonation, registration, resonation, articulation, and coordination of the anatomy (McKinney, 1994; Miller, 1996). …show more content…
Many people join community bands and orchestras such as the New Horizons International Music Association (NHIMA). NHIMA (2016) is open to NMs, and people musically educated from Kindergarten to twelfth grades as well as PMs. Music educator Roy Ernst founded NHIMA in 1991 (2016) to reach musicians throughout the United States of America (USA) and later internationally to perform in bands, orchestras, and choirs. Coffman (2009) conducted the first longitudinal study to explore health over time among 1,654 NHIMA musicians – 120 bands and orchestras from 28 USA states, two Canadian provinces, and Dublin, Ireland. Self-reporting surveys queried PMs’ concerning their music-making experiences and self-reported health to help build a base of knowledge in research literature. Coffman (2009) reported on average PMs were age 70, of average health, having average incomes, and practicing their musical instruments on average for one hour each day; 70% were experienced musicians, whereas 30% were beginners; more female PMs than male PMs, and after age 65 more males than females. Health surveys showed approximately 75% of PMs cited emotional well-being was the greatest benefit to playing instruments, whereas “24% reported physical well-being, 21% cognitive stimulation, and 20% socialization benefits” (p. 50). This would suggest that playing musical instruments