Learning
A Meditation on the Breath
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Singing begins in the breath. How do you breathe?
General
Oh No! I Have a Cold!
I’ve had a cold this last week. It always feels ironic to say I’ve had a cold in May, but there you are. Times can be tough for singers when viruses run rampant through our respiratory system, making it hard to breath and sing. Here are some tips to help Read more…
Teaching
Natural Inhalation (Breathing Like Normal)
Many people come into singing and discover they don’t know how to breathe. Well. Kinda. For singing, you need a very specific kind of breath, one which makes use of your whole lung capacity on the way in, and which you can control as you breath out. There are lots Read more…
Teaching
Excercises for Beginners: Straw Singing
I have recently rediscovered the childhood magic of the drinking straw. I don’t know what it is about this small, plastic thing that creates such joy, but I love ’em. Why have I rediscovered straws? Well, I have been looking for some new ideas for technical exercises, and I have Read more…
Teaching
Exercises for Beginners: Square Breathing
One of my favourite exercises for beginners, and for warming up with a choir is square breathing. It’s all about developing control of your breath, and extending lung capacity. From the beginning of any vocal training, it’s really important to work on your breathing. To breathe properly, you need to Read more…
Teaching
How Breathing Works: A Guide for Singers
When I started taking singing lessons, I never expected that I would come to know so much about the human body. I’m still not convinced that anatomy is my favourite subject, but it’s vital for singers and singing teachers to understand what’s going on in the body. The very first Read more…