It seems to be the theme this week…. What’s going on with your jaw while you’re singing… I want to talk, or keep talking, about a specific thing that causes problems for every singer...
Tension in your jaw, neck and shoulders…
Sometimes you aren’t even aware that you are tensing those muscles… but if you are having trouble hitting high notes you might want to look at yourself in the mirror while you’re singing and look for tension particularly in your jaw and neck… If it’s there, I’ll almost guarantee that it’s also in your shoulders and back.
Here are a few obvious things you can do to help relieve this tension..
Deep breathing exercises
Massage
Neck and shoulder stretches
Physical exercise, and
Get enough sleep
Another exercise that we do specifically to combat this problem is to sing and let the jaw unhinge and flap while you’re singing… drop the jaw, open the mouth and don’t articulate anything.. The whole objective of this exercise is not to understand any of the words you are singing… This will sound REALLY FUNNY… trust me you will laugh at yourself while you’re doing this.. but if you learn to rehears songs this way it will help you get rid of the tension in your jaw. You can’t open your mouth as wide as you'll need to if you are holding tension in your jaw.
Another good test is to see if you are touching or clenching your back teeth together… never, never, never hold your back teeth together… the more you can keep your jaw in that unhinged position the better it will be for you singing…
I see singers all the time that miss notes largely because they are pushing to hard and tensing their jaw and neck, trying to force the note out… the part of the body you should be engaging while you’re singing is the core… ab’s, back, legs and glute’s…
Leave the neck and shoulders out of the act… and start flappin your jaw…
Showing posts with label Jilla Web. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jilla Web. Show all posts
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Snack ideas around 200 calories or less!
I know eating healthy can sometimes slip into … well … boring … And because great nutrition is so important to good health and good singing.. here are some ideas that are quick and easy to keep your snacking interesting, low calorie and yummy… There are a few in here I found for a particular client … (You know who you are…) The rest of you will be glad he asked…
Eat well, live well, and sing well...
Enjoy!
EGGLESS STUFFED BREAKFAST BURRITO
Serves: 1
Ingredients
1 La Tortilla Factory Smart & Delicious Low Carb High Fiber large tortilla
1 Slice extra-lean turkey bacon
2 Cups spinach leaves
1/3 cup diced mushrooms
¼ cup diced Roma tomatoes
¼ cup diced green bell pepper
2 tablespoons diced onion
1 wedge Laughing Cow Light Original Swiss cheese
2 tablespoons shredded fat-free cheddar cheese
Instructions
Cut bacon into small, bite-size pieces. Set aside. Spray a small pan with nonstick spray, and bring to medium-high heat. Add bacon pieces, mushrooms, pepper and onion to the pan. Stirring occasionally, cook until bacon begins to crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add spinach leaves, and cook and stir until the leaves have wilted. Add shredded cheese, and stir until just melted. Remove pan from heat and set aside.
Warm tortilla in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Lay tortilla flat and spread cheese wedge on top of it. Evenly layer spinach mixture over the cheese-topped tortilla. Place diced tomatoes on top of spinach mixture. Fold in the sides of the tortilla, and then slowly roll tortilla up from the bottom to top. Enjoy!
PIZZA
Here is a really simple suggestion to satisfy a pizza craving and it is an excellent snack size serving.
* whole wheat English muffins
* pizza sauce
* low-fat mozzarella shredded cheese
The English muffin you purchase should be whole wheat, because we are aiming for a healthy snack. Whole wheat bread has many more nutrients than white.
The pizza sauce can be any tomato based sauce, but it should NOT include cheese. Check the label - so many pasta sauces on the market now include a form of cheese. The problem, again, is the added calories, which almost none of us need.
Split the muffin, spread some sauce, and use 1/8 cup of cheese (that is one-half of 1/4 cup) and you got a 100 calorie snack. Put it in a toaster-oven or under the broiler for a few minutes and you are done. (Do not use the microwave - it will turn out yucky).
How did we get to 100 calories? 50 for the English muffin, 10 for the sauce, and 40 calories for the cheese
And now you have a chance to add some Pineapple or other fruit or vegetable to make it even more healthy!
MEXICAN SNACK PIZZAS
A low-fat, low-calorie pizza with a Mexican flavor. The beans and whole-wheat muffins give a fiber boost.
4 servings. Per pizza (1/2 English muffin) : Calories, 95; Total fat, 2 grams; Saturated fatty acids, 1 gram; Cholesterol, 4 milligrams; Sodium, 300 milligrams. 1/4 c. tomato puree 1/4 c. kidney beans (canned), drained and chopped 1 tbsp. onion, chopped 1 tbsp. green pepper, chopped 1/2 tsp. oregano leaves 1/4 c. Mozzarella cheese (part skim milk), shredded 1/4 c. lettuce, shredded
Split muffins; toast lightly. Mix puree, beans, onion, green pepper, and oregano. Spread on muffin halves. Sprinkle with cheese. Broil until cheese is bubbly, about 2 minutes. Garnish with shredded lettuce.
BETTER-FOR-YOU BUFFALO WINGS
Ingredients:
* 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
* 2 teaspoons chili powder
* 2 teaspoons garlic powder
* 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
* 2 tablespoons flour
* 2 1/2 pounds (about 28) wing drumettes (look for skinless drumettes if available)
* 1/4 cup nonalcoholic or light beer (chicken broth or wine can also be used)
* light blue cheese dressing (optional)
Preparation:
1. In a small mixing bowl, stir together the seasoned salt, chili powder, garlic powder, pepper, and flour. Remove and discard the skin from the wings (if you weren't able to find skinless drumettes). Dip each wing into the seasoning mixture, pressing the mixture onto the chicken to coat well.
2. Generously coat a large nonstick skillet with canola cooking spray and place over medium-high heat. Add the chicken wings (cooking in batches if necessary) and cook for about 4 minutes, or until the bottoms are browned.
3. Flip with prongs and cook for about 4 minutes more.
4. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the beer. Cover the pan and cook for about 5 minutes. If the wings aren't cooked through, turn them over and cook for a few minutes more.
5. Remove from the heat and serve hot with light blue cheese dressing if desired (not included in nutrition information below).
Yield:
Makes 7 servings (4 wing drumettes per serving)
Nutritional Information
per serving: 174 calories, 29 g protein, 2 g carbohydrate, 4.5 g fat, 1.2 g saturated fat, 73 mg cholesterol, 539 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 23 percent.
NO-BACK PEANUT BUTTER POWER BARS
Ingredients:
* Canola cooking spray
* 1 tablespoon butter or canola margarine
* 1/3 cup reduced-fat smooth peanut butter
* 2 cups miniature marshmallows, lightly packed
* 1 cup low-fat granola
* 1 cup Rice Krispies cereal (or other puffed rice cereal)
* 1/3 cup ground golden flaxseed (golden flax works better in this recipe)
Preparation:
1. Coat an 8x8-inch baking pan with canola cooking spray. Put the butter, peanut butter, and marshmallows into a medium-sized microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds, or until mixture is just melted. Stir to blend.
2. Microwave again briefly if the mixture isn't melted or smooth. Then stir in granola, puffed rice and flaxseed.
3. Spread the mixture in the prepared pan, flattening it evenly with a sheet of waxed paper. Let it cool completely before cutting into 8 equal-sized bars.
Yield:
8 bars
Nutritional Information:
Per serving: 207 calories, 5.5 g protein, 31 g carbohydrate, 8 g of fat ( 2 g saturated fat, 1 g monounsaturated fat, 1.8 g polyunsaturated fat) , 4mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 174 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 35%. Omega 3 fatty acids = 1 g, Omega 6 fatty acids = 0.7 g.
SPICE-ROASTED ALMONDS
These almonds are given a treatment of spices and a short baking time for amazing rich flavor and intense crunch.
Ingredients:
* 1 tablespoon chili powder
* 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 2 cups whole almonds
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine chili powder, olive oil, kosher salt, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and pepper; add almonds and toss to coat. Transfer mixture to a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan.
2. Bake about 10 minutes or until almonds are toasted, stirring twice. Cool almonds completely before serving. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Yield:
32 (1-tablespoon) servings
Nutritional Information:
Per serving: 62 calories, 5 g total fat (0 g saturated fat), 0 mg cholesterol, 33 mg sodium, 2 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein.
SMOOTHIE
Smoothie blended with 6 ounces skim milk, 3/4 cup diced strawberries and banana, 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup and 1 cup ice
ANY WHOLE FRUIT
1 medium pear with 1 ounce Brie
2 ounces smoked salmon with 1 tablespoon nonfat cream cheese on 1/2 small whole wheat bagel
Larger than a tea sandwich, this snack is almost a mini meal in itself. It's low on calories and high on protein and whole grains, which means you're really getting the most out of those calories
TURKEY HERB CHEESE ROLL UPS
These are easy and make a slightly fancy, hit-the-spot snack.
Ingredients:
* 2 ounces sliced turkey breast
* 4 teaspoons light herb cheese spread (like Alouette® brand) or use light cream cheese and sprinkle it lightly with a Mrs. Dash® Herb seasoning blend
* 1/2 carrot, cut into about 4 thin sticks (thin celery sticks can also be used)
Preparation:
1. Lay out your turkey breast slices (about 4).
2. Spread about 1 teaspoon of the herb cheese spread over each turkey slice (if using light cream cheese, spread it over the turkey slices then sprinkle the an herb blend lightly over the top of the cream cheese).
3. Set a carrot or celery stick on one end of the turkey slice and roll up.
Yield:
1 snack serving
Nutritional Information:
Per serving: 214 calories, 21 g protein, 16 g carbohydrate, 7 g fat (3.5 g saturated fat, 2.2 g monounsaturated fat, 0.1 g polyunsaturated fat), 40 mg cholesterol, 2 g fiber, 260 mg sodium (not including the sodium from the turkey). Calories from fat: 29%.
Eat well, live well, and sing well...
Enjoy!
EGGLESS STUFFED BREAKFAST BURRITO
Serves: 1
Ingredients
1 La Tortilla Factory Smart & Delicious Low Carb High Fiber large tortilla
1 Slice extra-lean turkey bacon
2 Cups spinach leaves
1/3 cup diced mushrooms
¼ cup diced Roma tomatoes
¼ cup diced green bell pepper
2 tablespoons diced onion
1 wedge Laughing Cow Light Original Swiss cheese
2 tablespoons shredded fat-free cheddar cheese
Instructions
Cut bacon into small, bite-size pieces. Set aside. Spray a small pan with nonstick spray, and bring to medium-high heat. Add bacon pieces, mushrooms, pepper and onion to the pan. Stirring occasionally, cook until bacon begins to crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add spinach leaves, and cook and stir until the leaves have wilted. Add shredded cheese, and stir until just melted. Remove pan from heat and set aside.
Warm tortilla in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Lay tortilla flat and spread cheese wedge on top of it. Evenly layer spinach mixture over the cheese-topped tortilla. Place diced tomatoes on top of spinach mixture. Fold in the sides of the tortilla, and then slowly roll tortilla up from the bottom to top. Enjoy!
PIZZA
Here is a really simple suggestion to satisfy a pizza craving and it is an excellent snack size serving.
* whole wheat English muffins
* pizza sauce
* low-fat mozzarella shredded cheese
The English muffin you purchase should be whole wheat, because we are aiming for a healthy snack. Whole wheat bread has many more nutrients than white.
The pizza sauce can be any tomato based sauce, but it should NOT include cheese. Check the label - so many pasta sauces on the market now include a form of cheese. The problem, again, is the added calories, which almost none of us need.
Split the muffin, spread some sauce, and use 1/8 cup of cheese (that is one-half of 1/4 cup) and you got a 100 calorie snack. Put it in a toaster-oven or under the broiler for a few minutes and you are done. (Do not use the microwave - it will turn out yucky).
How did we get to 100 calories? 50 for the English muffin, 10 for the sauce, and 40 calories for the cheese
And now you have a chance to add some Pineapple or other fruit or vegetable to make it even more healthy!
MEXICAN SNACK PIZZAS
A low-fat, low-calorie pizza with a Mexican flavor. The beans and whole-wheat muffins give a fiber boost.
4 servings. Per pizza (1/2 English muffin) : Calories, 95; Total fat, 2 grams; Saturated fatty acids, 1 gram; Cholesterol, 4 milligrams; Sodium, 300 milligrams. 1/4 c. tomato puree 1/4 c. kidney beans (canned), drained and chopped 1 tbsp. onion, chopped 1 tbsp. green pepper, chopped 1/2 tsp. oregano leaves 1/4 c. Mozzarella cheese (part skim milk), shredded 1/4 c. lettuce, shredded
Split muffins; toast lightly. Mix puree, beans, onion, green pepper, and oregano. Spread on muffin halves. Sprinkle with cheese. Broil until cheese is bubbly, about 2 minutes. Garnish with shredded lettuce.
BETTER-FOR-YOU BUFFALO WINGS
Ingredients:
* 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
* 2 teaspoons chili powder
* 2 teaspoons garlic powder
* 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
* 2 tablespoons flour
* 2 1/2 pounds (about 28) wing drumettes (look for skinless drumettes if available)
* 1/4 cup nonalcoholic or light beer (chicken broth or wine can also be used)
* light blue cheese dressing (optional)
Preparation:
1. In a small mixing bowl, stir together the seasoned salt, chili powder, garlic powder, pepper, and flour. Remove and discard the skin from the wings (if you weren't able to find skinless drumettes). Dip each wing into the seasoning mixture, pressing the mixture onto the chicken to coat well.
2. Generously coat a large nonstick skillet with canola cooking spray and place over medium-high heat. Add the chicken wings (cooking in batches if necessary) and cook for about 4 minutes, or until the bottoms are browned.
3. Flip with prongs and cook for about 4 minutes more.
4. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the beer. Cover the pan and cook for about 5 minutes. If the wings aren't cooked through, turn them over and cook for a few minutes more.
5. Remove from the heat and serve hot with light blue cheese dressing if desired (not included in nutrition information below).
Yield:
Makes 7 servings (4 wing drumettes per serving)
Nutritional Information
per serving: 174 calories, 29 g protein, 2 g carbohydrate, 4.5 g fat, 1.2 g saturated fat, 73 mg cholesterol, 539 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 23 percent.
NO-BACK PEANUT BUTTER POWER BARS
Ingredients:
* Canola cooking spray
* 1 tablespoon butter or canola margarine
* 1/3 cup reduced-fat smooth peanut butter
* 2 cups miniature marshmallows, lightly packed
* 1 cup low-fat granola
* 1 cup Rice Krispies cereal (or other puffed rice cereal)
* 1/3 cup ground golden flaxseed (golden flax works better in this recipe)
Preparation:
1. Coat an 8x8-inch baking pan with canola cooking spray. Put the butter, peanut butter, and marshmallows into a medium-sized microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds, or until mixture is just melted. Stir to blend.
2. Microwave again briefly if the mixture isn't melted or smooth. Then stir in granola, puffed rice and flaxseed.
3. Spread the mixture in the prepared pan, flattening it evenly with a sheet of waxed paper. Let it cool completely before cutting into 8 equal-sized bars.
Yield:
8 bars
Nutritional Information:
Per serving: 207 calories, 5.5 g protein, 31 g carbohydrate, 8 g of fat ( 2 g saturated fat, 1 g monounsaturated fat, 1.8 g polyunsaturated fat) , 4mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 174 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 35%. Omega 3 fatty acids = 1 g, Omega 6 fatty acids = 0.7 g.
SPICE-ROASTED ALMONDS
These almonds are given a treatment of spices and a short baking time for amazing rich flavor and intense crunch.
Ingredients:
* 1 tablespoon chili powder
* 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 2 cups whole almonds
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine chili powder, olive oil, kosher salt, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and pepper; add almonds and toss to coat. Transfer mixture to a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan.
2. Bake about 10 minutes or until almonds are toasted, stirring twice. Cool almonds completely before serving. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Yield:
32 (1-tablespoon) servings
Nutritional Information:
Per serving: 62 calories, 5 g total fat (0 g saturated fat), 0 mg cholesterol, 33 mg sodium, 2 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein.
SMOOTHIE
Smoothie blended with 6 ounces skim milk, 3/4 cup diced strawberries and banana, 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup and 1 cup ice
ANY WHOLE FRUIT
1 medium pear with 1 ounce Brie
2 ounces smoked salmon with 1 tablespoon nonfat cream cheese on 1/2 small whole wheat bagel
Larger than a tea sandwich, this snack is almost a mini meal in itself. It's low on calories and high on protein and whole grains, which means you're really getting the most out of those calories
TURKEY HERB CHEESE ROLL UPS
These are easy and make a slightly fancy, hit-the-spot snack.
Ingredients:
* 2 ounces sliced turkey breast
* 4 teaspoons light herb cheese spread (like Alouette® brand) or use light cream cheese and sprinkle it lightly with a Mrs. Dash® Herb seasoning blend
* 1/2 carrot, cut into about 4 thin sticks (thin celery sticks can also be used)
Preparation:
1. Lay out your turkey breast slices (about 4).
2. Spread about 1 teaspoon of the herb cheese spread over each turkey slice (if using light cream cheese, spread it over the turkey slices then sprinkle the an herb blend lightly over the top of the cream cheese).
3. Set a carrot or celery stick on one end of the turkey slice and roll up.
Yield:
1 snack serving
Nutritional Information:
Per serving: 214 calories, 21 g protein, 16 g carbohydrate, 7 g fat (3.5 g saturated fat, 2.2 g monounsaturated fat, 0.1 g polyunsaturated fat), 40 mg cholesterol, 2 g fiber, 260 mg sodium (not including the sodium from the turkey). Calories from fat: 29%.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Vocal Placement Exercises...
I’m going to give you two quick exercises in this blog that will help you with vocal placement, and breath control. If you’d like a free recorded example of this lesson, please visit my myspace.com/jillawebb and listen in. Just scroll down to the bottom of my songs and you’ll see Vocal Tip 1… I’ll do this periodically with exercises when I have questions from you. Please get back to me and let me know what you think of hearing some of this and if there are other specific questions I can answer for you.
I had a question this week from a student regarding vocal placement and was also chatting with some friends about vocal placement for public speakers… how to help people whether you’re a singer or speaker find better vocal resonance, projection, clarity and vocal endurance..
In simple terms a good way to look at vocal placement is to feel or picture where the air is directed in the head, and I believe for projection, clarity, vocal endurance and resonance, it should be as far forward and in the head as possible..
So I’m going to give you two quick exercises that you can do every day to help you with this issue.
The first is just to hummm on one note as long as you can. Actually say the “H” but not so much that pushing out a lot of air at the beginning… If you do that, you’re over pushing, drying out the cords and guess what, you’ll run out of air faster…
If you’re tuning in to the session on myspace, lets try a few.
Remember when you’re warming up to always keep humming in a low to moderate range. Never take it too high until you are properly trained to do that…
Okay here we go..
The next exercise is to hummm while traveling up and down a pentatonic or five note major scale.. again, please keep this in a comfortable range.. never strain…
Again, if you tune in to the lesson on myspace you will hear examples and can then add it into your warm ups that you do now… and yes, I am assuming you all warm up…
Okay, I hope this helps…now its time for my own vocalizing.. gotta run…
See you next time.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Working out: Can it cause vocal damage?
As some of you know with my background in dance and Pilates, I have always wanted to get my personal trainer certification, which I just completed. I am now a certified trainer with NASM, National Academy of Sports Medicine. I have been working for many years now studying how working out effects singers. In particular how it affects breathing, support muscles and strain on the larynx. I’m going to start incorporating workout and training tips into my blog for singers because I think it is imperative that you understand how to train and how not to train, what exercises will help you in singing and which ones will actually make singing more difficult.
Weight training if done incorrectly can over-strengthen small muscles surrounding the vocal apparatus, causing a lack of flexibility around and in the larynx. As you may imagine, this is not good for your voice. Incorrect physical training can also tighten the throat, neck and shoulders, which need to remain free of tension while singing.
If a trainer is not used to training singers and doesn’t watch specifically for things like holding your breath, the trainer may not notice that you are tightening the glottis, which can cause vocal damage! My best advise is to find a personal trainer who is training singers, understands their special requirements, and knows how to protect them.
In the meantime, here are some tips I have for you whether you are working out by yourself, or with a trainer. And if you are working with a trainer make sure they are aware of what you do and have a good working knowledge of which muscles a singer needs to use when singing. And as always…
CONSULT A PHYSICIAN BEFORE BEGINNING ANY EXERCISE PROGRAM.
Avoid any exercises that cause too much tension or strain in your neck, shoulders, upper back and chest.
Do stretching exercises before and after you exercise. Do plenty of stretching exercises that stretch the chest and neck. Stretch gently and hold all stretches for 20 to 30 seconds and release slowly. Repeat this 2 to 3 times per stretch.
Do exercises that strengthen the core. And no…. I don’t mean a whole bunch of crunches. That actually shortens and tightens the muscles you need for correct breathing. All this does is make it more difficult for you to perform the in and out action required for diaphragmatic and abdominal breathing. There are MANY more support muscles you need to strengthen besides and in addition to the rectus abdominus muscle.
Make sure you are not holding your breath. There are actually breathing patterns that your trainer can teach you that support the breathing you should be doing while you are singing.
If you are lifting weights, make sure you are not gripping the bar too tightly. Keep your hands relaxed.
DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. HYDRATE YOURSELF BEFORE DURING AND AFTER YOUR WORKOUT!
And finally, avoid lifting weights right before you sing. You need to give your muscles time to relax. Allow at least 12 hours for your muscles to relax after lifting before you sing as a guideline. It is fine to do aerobics on performance days, but remember to breathe correctly… in through the nose and out through the mouth. And remember it’s just as important to get proper rest between your aerobic workout and your performance. You don’t want you body to be tired and over trained before you hit the stage, studio or rehearsal. Become a fan of the “nap,” your body and voice will thank you!
Weight training if done incorrectly can over-strengthen small muscles surrounding the vocal apparatus, causing a lack of flexibility around and in the larynx. As you may imagine, this is not good for your voice. Incorrect physical training can also tighten the throat, neck and shoulders, which need to remain free of tension while singing.
If a trainer is not used to training singers and doesn’t watch specifically for things like holding your breath, the trainer may not notice that you are tightening the glottis, which can cause vocal damage! My best advise is to find a personal trainer who is training singers, understands their special requirements, and knows how to protect them.
In the meantime, here are some tips I have for you whether you are working out by yourself, or with a trainer. And if you are working with a trainer make sure they are aware of what you do and have a good working knowledge of which muscles a singer needs to use when singing. And as always…
CONSULT A PHYSICIAN BEFORE BEGINNING ANY EXERCISE PROGRAM.
Avoid any exercises that cause too much tension or strain in your neck, shoulders, upper back and chest.
Do stretching exercises before and after you exercise. Do plenty of stretching exercises that stretch the chest and neck. Stretch gently and hold all stretches for 20 to 30 seconds and release slowly. Repeat this 2 to 3 times per stretch.
Do exercises that strengthen the core. And no…. I don’t mean a whole bunch of crunches. That actually shortens and tightens the muscles you need for correct breathing. All this does is make it more difficult for you to perform the in and out action required for diaphragmatic and abdominal breathing. There are MANY more support muscles you need to strengthen besides and in addition to the rectus abdominus muscle.
Make sure you are not holding your breath. There are actually breathing patterns that your trainer can teach you that support the breathing you should be doing while you are singing.
If you are lifting weights, make sure you are not gripping the bar too tightly. Keep your hands relaxed.
DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. HYDRATE YOURSELF BEFORE DURING AND AFTER YOUR WORKOUT!
And finally, avoid lifting weights right before you sing. You need to give your muscles time to relax. Allow at least 12 hours for your muscles to relax after lifting before you sing as a guideline. It is fine to do aerobics on performance days, but remember to breathe correctly… in through the nose and out through the mouth. And remember it’s just as important to get proper rest between your aerobic workout and your performance. You don’t want you body to be tired and over trained before you hit the stage, studio or rehearsal. Become a fan of the “nap,” your body and voice will thank you!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Dream big: Plan well: Be flexible!
Its been said that many people fail not because of lack of talent, but in large part because of lack of vision, poor planning and deciding that there is only one way to do something. See if you can apply these things to your singing… for instance, if you want to increase your range or sing a particular song that is challenging for you, or get more bookings, or record a CD… See if following a more structured plan wouldn’t help you achieve your goals.
Dream big!
Many people have dreams, but when they think of them follow it up with thoughts like… but I could really never do that, or that’s only for lucky people and things like that never happens to me, or every time I try, something always gets in my way … get the picture. When you dream, you have to give yourself permission to really believe that not only is it possible to get there but you need to spend time thinking and FEELING what it would be like to be living your dream right now!
If you focus on what you think you can’t do… guess what, you probably won’t do it… Have you ever thought, “the big note is coming up, I hope I can hit it, I didn’t get it in rehearsal, I wonder if I’ll get it now …” and then you don’t…. You have effectively talked yourself into missing the note… Wouldn’t it make more sense to focus your energy on what you want? Put your attention on what you want and get a plan going on how you’re going to get it… I want to be able to hit that note, and higher notes, every time, I want to hit it strong and clear, I want to have complete control over how that note comes out… wouldn’t that serve you better? How do you do that?
Plan well!
Get very clear on what it is you want and write it down…. Let me say that again… get crystal clear on what you want and write it down!!! Now what are steps you can take in the next three months to get you on the road to your goal? What do you want to get done and by when? What can you do weekly and what could you be doing daily to bring you closer to your goal? WRITE IT DOWN!!! Make some flash cards. One side with long-term goals the other side with weekly goals… Put them where you’ll see them often, maybe keep one with you and read it many times a day.
This may sound silly, but it is sometimes difficult in life to stay focused and positive about our journey. It will make you feel great to start seeing all that you are accomplishing each week and you will see yourself moving closer and closer to your dreams….
Be Flexible!
In my opinion this is the tricky thing… We do all of this work and then get too attached to the way we think the plan should unfold… Well, how often do plans actually go just the way we thought they would? You have to take daily action, but you must be flexible enough to try different or new approaches along the way. Remember, if something isn’t working, you may need to take a look at it and approach it from a different angle. Don’t hang on to tightly to one way of doing things just because it’s familiar. You may need to branch out and try hitting that note a different way.
Be open to new things. Re-do you plan often. Don’t look at it once a year. Stay focused on what you want and keep searching for the best most efficient way to do things… Always be a student, keep learning and growing. We all have new things we can learn, no matter how accomplished or successful we become. Always keep fresh goals in front of you….
Dream big!
Many people have dreams, but when they think of them follow it up with thoughts like… but I could really never do that, or that’s only for lucky people and things like that never happens to me, or every time I try, something always gets in my way … get the picture. When you dream, you have to give yourself permission to really believe that not only is it possible to get there but you need to spend time thinking and FEELING what it would be like to be living your dream right now!
If you focus on what you think you can’t do… guess what, you probably won’t do it… Have you ever thought, “the big note is coming up, I hope I can hit it, I didn’t get it in rehearsal, I wonder if I’ll get it now …” and then you don’t…. You have effectively talked yourself into missing the note… Wouldn’t it make more sense to focus your energy on what you want? Put your attention on what you want and get a plan going on how you’re going to get it… I want to be able to hit that note, and higher notes, every time, I want to hit it strong and clear, I want to have complete control over how that note comes out… wouldn’t that serve you better? How do you do that?
Plan well!
Get very clear on what it is you want and write it down…. Let me say that again… get crystal clear on what you want and write it down!!! Now what are steps you can take in the next three months to get you on the road to your goal? What do you want to get done and by when? What can you do weekly and what could you be doing daily to bring you closer to your goal? WRITE IT DOWN!!! Make some flash cards. One side with long-term goals the other side with weekly goals… Put them where you’ll see them often, maybe keep one with you and read it many times a day.
This may sound silly, but it is sometimes difficult in life to stay focused and positive about our journey. It will make you feel great to start seeing all that you are accomplishing each week and you will see yourself moving closer and closer to your dreams….
Be Flexible!
In my opinion this is the tricky thing… We do all of this work and then get too attached to the way we think the plan should unfold… Well, how often do plans actually go just the way we thought they would? You have to take daily action, but you must be flexible enough to try different or new approaches along the way. Remember, if something isn’t working, you may need to take a look at it and approach it from a different angle. Don’t hang on to tightly to one way of doing things just because it’s familiar. You may need to branch out and try hitting that note a different way.
Be open to new things. Re-do you plan often. Don’t look at it once a year. Stay focused on what you want and keep searching for the best most efficient way to do things… Always be a student, keep learning and growing. We all have new things we can learn, no matter how accomplished or successful we become. Always keep fresh goals in front of you….
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