Singing

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…

Vocal and singing breathing exercises hold the key to effective sound quality and proper pitching, along with developing the correct singing posture. When we breathe, we tend to take in air and release it in a burst, as quickly as possible. This holds true for 99% people but singing requires you to breathe in a different manner. As you move up the learning curve, you will also begin understanding how important it is to control your breath especially while singing soprano or tenor. Proper…

For the third day in a row, I wake up to a clogged nose, a throbbing head, and a sore throat. It’s 6:00 in the morning, and I can barely open my eyes, let alone sing. I quickly drink a cup of strong, fragrant tea, which warms my throat and temporary clears my sinuses, preparing me for the long hour of singing ahead. Once a week, in the quiet, early hours of the morning, my a cappella group assembles to practice and perfect our songs. In a cappella music, the voices have no instrumental…

proper training or certain techniques prevent vocal cords deteriorating with age, and if surgery or some sort of special gel could correct such problems Voice experts believe that one should think of singers as athletes, using muscles in what is, after all a very physical activity. Professional singer, as well as acting as voice instructor at the Minneapolis MacPhail Centre for Music, Andrea Leap tells that all depends on the amount of use. Like anything else, you have to use it or risk losing…

Singing in front of people for the first time can be a scary experience for anyone, especially in front of peers. You feel vulnerable and scared as you await their feedback; you listen to their critiques and (if they feel like it) their compliments. You’re alone on stage, heart pumping, blood rising, face tinting. All ears are listening for strong vocal control, good tone, clear enunciation, strong support (attained by having good posture and the proper breathing technique), suitable volume, a…

billions of dollars are made off of streaming services and contracts each year. However, for the majority of American’s, the extent of their own singing exposure is serenading the soap bubbles in the shower or crooning to their favorite artist on the commute to work. Many may think they are just not good enough singers to share these secret moments with others, however, that is simply not true. “... if you really apply good technique, just about anyone can sing well” (Dovey). What these “closet…

choral singing The importance of singing is very interesting to me. I have sang my whole life and find it absolutely fascinating and i would like to show you the importance. When you sing, musical vibrations move through you, altering your physical and emotional landscape. Group singing, for those who have done it, is the most exhilarating and transformative of all. It takes something incredibly intimate, a sound that begins inside you, shares it with a roomful of people and it comes back as…

Music is a huge part of my life, singing especially. It plays into my emotions and the way I look at the world around me. I know that music will continue to be a necessary and amazing piece of me. I started singing in my elementary school choir. At the time, I disliked it, because I was not very good a sitting still for long periods of time. Now I am thankful for my music teacher, who brought me into the magical world of music and singing. Singing is something I care about because I can express…

I believe in singing in the shower. Using different colored bottles of shampoo as my mic, I sing until my throat is raw and my voice is nearly gone. Dancing around, having the time of my life in a three walled room I won't be judged in. Attempting to sing high soprano notes and belting out low alto notes. Singing in the shower leaves me able to express myself, like I am preforming at my own personal concert. The only things in the shower besides me are shampoo bottles, so I never feel…

America’s First Singing Competition Over the many centuries past, our ancestors have taken experiences and occurrences from long ago and transformed them into ongoing customs that have helped form the culture of our country. One of the most popular, widespread events in our current generation was inspired by a battle of two opposing choir groups in early New England. Due to our ever growing competitive spirits, Americans have maintained the tradition of singing contests and expanded its…