Knowing how to find a neutral posture for singing, especially in practice, is a great way to troubleshoot any vocal challenges you may be facing and set your voice up to make sound without any tension.
When you’re singing, you want to be able to make sure that everything in your body is aligned. A great place to start is with your posture.
If you are compromising the flow of air to your vocal folds, it’s going to make it harder to make sound freely.
Starting with your practice sessions, it’s a great idea to just check in with your postural alignment before you sing.
Here are four steps to finding neutral posture for singing
1. You are looking for a slightly elevated chest, which I call the superhero position.
2. Tilt your pelvis as far back as it can go. Then tilt your pelvis as far forward as it can go. Now find that middle position that is going to help you to have neutral alignment.
3. Check in with your chin. Make sure it’s not jutting forward or too far back (that hilarious selfie double chin vibe!)
4. Imagine you’ve got a string at the top of your head pulling you up and lengthening your spine.
Now, this is the focus for your practice sessions. This is when you want to get that muscle memory locked in.
You can be sure that you aren’t making it harder to sing by slouching or compromising your air pathways with posture or tension.
When you are performing, you can literally swing from the rafters and stand on your head, singing.
Knowing that your neutral postural alignment can be called on if needed.
Another tool is to use is anchoring your body for a high or sustained note or any sound that you may find challenging.
Your muscle memory is going to kick in and allow your voice to be free and flow in the way that you want when performing plus you have it as a troubleshooting tool in your practice.
It’s a great way to start your practice sessions, followed by singers stretches and my fave, the rag doll for relaxation.
What do you do to set up your body and voice for practices or performances? Comment below!
Cherie
