The 9 Biggest Lies About Singing
- By Brett Manning
- Published 02/28/2007
- The Music
-
Rating:
Big Lie #7 - It takes great effort and the coordination of many muscles to sing correctly.
Truth - If you are having difficulties right now, chances are, you actually have TOO MANY muscles trying to help! Singing "as designed" is easier than doing it wrong, and gives you more satisfying results.
A large part of the "difficulty" most people experience in their singing starts inside their own brains.
Don't get me wrong. It's not ALL in their brains, but it usually starts there. They trick themselves out. It usually happens like this:
A singer gets hold of a song they like and it has one of those high notes that sounds very impressive on the radio. It's part of why they got the song to try to sing. They put it on and start to sing along and as they approach the big moment, they realize that they are approaching the end of their range!
What do they do then? They make a choice.
Possibility #1: They "go for it," pulling up their chest voice and just blasting through it. Of course if it's too far above their break point, they either make it and feel pain, or they don't make it and falsetto kicks in (usually embarrassing them).
Possibility #2: It's right on the edge of their break and they make it but always feel insecure about it.
So...the next time rolls around
They try the song again, and as they approach the note that's supposed to make them feel great, a strange dread and fear kicks in. They begin to "work up to it" in their mind.
Their neck begins to show veins. The muscles under the chin jump in to help also. (I've had students tell me that their entire neck and back hurts after singing!) They may even begin to breathe irregularly, reducing oxygen supply to the areas that need it.
So here they are in a wrestling match with their own bodies, wondering why singing is so "hard."
of your thumb under your chin and press upward VERY slightly. Sing the same scale again and chances are, you\'ll feel the muscles under your chin start to press your thumb downward. These muscles are not needed and in fact only add to your strain.Truth - If you are having difficulties right now, chances are, you actually have TOO MANY muscles trying to help! Singing "as designed" is easier than doing it wrong, and gives you more satisfying results.
A large part of the "difficulty" most people experience in their singing starts inside their own brains.
Don't get me wrong. It's not ALL in their brains, but it usually starts there. They trick themselves out. It usually happens like this:
A singer gets hold of a song they like and it has one of those high notes that sounds very impressive on the radio. It's part of why they got the song to try to sing. They put it on and start to sing along and as they approach the big moment, they realize that they are approaching the end of their range!
What do they do then? They make a choice.
Possibility #1: They "go for it," pulling up their chest voice and just blasting through it. Of course if it's too far above their break point, they either make it and feel pain, or they don't make it and falsetto kicks in (usually embarrassing them).
Possibility #2: It's right on the edge of their break and they make it but always feel insecure about it.
So...the next time rolls around
They try the song again, and as they approach the note that's supposed to make them feel great, a strange dread and fear kicks in. They begin to "work up to it" in their mind.
Their neck begins to show veins. The muscles under the chin jump in to help also. (I've had students tell me that their entire neck and back hurts after singing!) They may even begin to breathe irregularly, reducing oxygen supply to the areas that need it.
So here they are in a wrestling match with their own bodies, wondering why singing is so "hard."
This time go up the scale and try to consciously keep those muscles from pressing against your thumb. (You may not be able to do it without having first taken the strain off the vocal cords themselves with some other exercises). But most likely you WILL be able to do this, and you\'ll notice that your voice enjoys this new sensation.
Next time, I\'ll reveal a lie about the nature of singing itself that can severly limit you if you believe it. Until then,
Keep singing,
Brett Manning
Singing Success Inc
8217 W Chase Ct
Nashville, TN
37221
US
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The truth is, by the time their minds tell them how hard it is to hit this high note, they've enlisted every muscle in the region to "help" and they all jump on board. The trouble is--it causes more strain and can even do damage to the tiny muscles that actually make the sound.
Part of what I have to teach singers caught in this trap, involves some exercises to dis-engage all those external muscles so they get out of the voice's way.
To show you what I mean, try this simple exercise:
Start on a comfortable note and sing "la, la, la" up the scale until you get just past the limit of "comfortable" and then return down the scale.
Now place the flat of your thumb under your chin and press upward VERY slightly. Sing the same scale again and chances are, you'll feel the muscles under your chin start to press your thumb downward. These muscles are not needed and in fact only add to your strain.
This time go up the scale and try to consciously keep those muscles from pressing against your thumb. (You may not be able to do it without having first taken the strain off the vocal cords themselves with some other exercises). But most likely you WILL be able to do this, and you'll notice that your voice enjoys this new sensation.
Next time, I'll reveal a lie about the nature of singing itself that can severly limit you if you believe it.