The 7 Best Gifts For Singers 2025: Gift Ideas For Music Lovers
How To Prepare For An Open Mic In Toronto
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Preparing for an open mic night will guarantee you rock the stage and get some free drinks from adoring fans. While some open mic nights operate more like a karaoke bar and take place at venues where “bad singers” really turn up the place, generally an open mic is about putting your performance skills on display.
Open mics can be used to test new material, for experienced improvisational musicians to use it as a jam session, and for local talent to display their original works or nuanced acoustic covers. Whether you are preparing for open mic events for the first time or are a seasoned performer, it is a wise decision to prepare for the event.
This article will lay down some tips on how to prepare, how to perform with gusto, and make the night one of positive exposure for your talents. Want some extra help? Take a look at the professional performers in Toronto who offer coaching in vocal arts and performance!
1. Consider the Venue of the Open Mic Night
Don’t go in blind people.
Before you even think about preparing your performance, take the time to research the venue where the open mic night will be held. Toronto has diverse range of venues, each with its unique atmosphere and audience.
You might sing at a cozy coffee shop, a lively bar, or a dedicated performance space, and understanding the setting will help you tailor your act to the crowd and environment. It feels a little weird to be blasting your belting voice if there are people sitting at your feet drinking a coffee, you know what we mean?
Check the venue’s website or social media pages for information on the size of the stage, available equipment, and the general vibe of the place. This knowledge will influence your song selection, performance style, and overall approach. You will also be able to see if they accept solo artists only or have the setup for a full band.
2. Understand Your Artistic Identity
For the aspiring musicians out there, before selecting a song for your open mic performance, take a moment to reflect on your artistic identity. What genre resonates with you? What emotions or messages do you want to convey through your music? Understanding your own musical style and preferences will guide you in choosing a song that authentically represents you as an artist.
Go ahead and scope through your portfolio of original songs and see what fits. If you like to do covers of songs, give yourself time to sit with the song and write into it your own voice.
3. Selecting the Right Song
Choosing the right song is a critical step in preparing for an open mic night.
Consider the following factors:
a. Relevance to the Audience:
Tailor your song choice to the demographic and preferences of the audience. If you’re performing at a venue known for its indie folk crowd, selecting a suitable song from that genre will get a better reaction from the audience and give you more audience enthusiasm throughout your performance.
b. Showcasing Your Strengths:
Pick a song that showcases your vocal range, musical skills, and overall strengths as a performer. This is your opportunity to shine, so choose a piece that allows you to demonstrate your best qualities.
c. Emotional Connection:
Opt for a song that you connect with on a personal or emotional level. This connection will translate into a more authentic and compelling performance that resonates with the audience.
3. Arrangement and Interpretation
For our singers who like to cover songs, once you’ve selected your song, consider how you can make it your own. Experiment with different arrangements, tempos, and dynamics to add a unique twist to the performance. This can involve adjusting the song’s structure, incorporating instrumental breaks, or even rearranging the chords. Your goal is to present a version of the song that highlights your individuality as an artist.
4. Rehearsal Techniques
Effective rehearsal is the key to a polished performance. Don’t skip out on doing the background work! You may think you are ready, but maybe it’s been a while since you sang that song- the fingers on the guitar get rusty, your body needs a reminder of how to hit those high notes. Take time to work it back into your set.
a. Isolate Challenging Sections:
Identify and isolate challenging sections of the song. Focus your rehearsal efforts on these areas and don’t fall into the “fun” practice where you are just running through the song over and over again. There is definitely a need to run the whole song and then the whole set, but practice should entail focused and intentional work of difficult areas.
b. Record and Evaluate:
Record your rehearsals and listen critically. This will help you identify areas for improvement, assess your vocal and instrumental delivery, and refine your interpretation of the song. If you like the final result, someone else will too!
c. Live Rehearsals:
Whenever possible, rehearse in front of a small audience, such as friends or family. This simulates the open mic environment and helps you become more comfortable performing in front of others. Don’t be afraid to go to easy going jam sessions or meetup with other musician friends and ask them to run the song with you. You might even walk away with a totally new version of the song based on what they contributed to it!
d. Visualize the Performance:
Close your eyes and visualize yourself on stage. Imagine the venue, the audience, and the overall atmosphere. This mental rehearsal can enhance your confidence and preparedness.
5. Technical Considerations
If you’ll be using any technical equipment, such as a microphone or amplifier, ensure that you are familiar with its operation. Practice with the same equipment you’ll be using during the open mic night, and be prepared to troubleshoot any technical issues that may arise.
You could also go by the venue in advance and ask to see the equipment they use!
6. Create a Set List
Once you’ve perfected your chosen song, consider creating a set list that flows well and engages the audience. Think about the pacing and dynamics of your performance, and strategically place your selected song within the set list to make a lasting impact.
7. Embrace Nervous Energy
Feeling nervous before a performance is natural, and harnessing that energy can enhance your stage presence. Embrace the excitement and use it to fuel your passion for the music. Take deep breaths, focus on the music, and remember that the audience is there to support and enjoy your performance.
8. Revisit and Refine
Even after thorough preparation, the process doesn’t end. Periodically revisit and refine your performance. Consider incorporating feedback from rehearsals, live performances, and audience reactions to continually improve and evolve as an artist.
9. Respect the Time Limit
Most open mic nights in Toronto allocate a specific amount of time to each performer. Respect the time limit, as exceeding it not only disrupts the schedule but may also lead to a less enthusiastic response from the audience. Practice pacing your performance during rehearsals to ensure you stay within the allotted time frame.
10. Be Open to Feedback
After your performance, be open to feedback from both the audience and fellow performers. Constructive criticism can provide valuable insights into areas for improvement and help you refine your act for future performances. Don’t take feedback personally; instead, use it as a tool for growth and development as a performer.
Conclusion
Preparing your song for an open mic night in Toronto is a multifaceted process that involves self-reflection, careful song selection, creative interpretation, and diligent rehearsal. By understanding your artistic identity, selecting a song that resonates with both you and the audience, and fine-tuning the details of your performance, you’ll be well on your way to delivering a memorable and captivating experience on the stage. Embrace the journey, learn from each performance, and let your passion for music shine through every note.
Jordanne Erichsen is the founder of Express Voice Studio, Vocal Coach, and is the author of this article. For more details about Singing Lessons check out Express Voice Studio!
How To Sing From Your Diaphragm: 3 Solid Singing Tips
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One crucial aspect of singing that often perplexes aspiring vocalists is the concept of singing from the diaphragm. There is a vast supply of breathing exercises online, but take it from a lifetime of singing and teaching- the application of free singing videos can actually hurt your singing technique if you don’t understand some foundational elements of the voice and anatomy.
Singing “with support” is not just about deep breaths or remembering to inhale deeply: When you sing properly, the function of diaphragmatic breathing as a wholistic act of relaxation and proper muscle engagement is so deeply memorized by your body that you don’t even have to think about it! In this article, we will delve into the meaning behind singing from your diaphragm, how this vital muscle functions during singing, and three simple tips to help you improve your vocal technique.
So lets get into it and learn how to sing from. your diaphragm!
What Does it mean to sing from your diaphragm?
Diaphragmatic Singing As Anatomical Function
The phrase “sing from your diaphragm” is a common directive in vocal coaching, but what does it actually entail? The diaphragm is a large, dome-shaped muscle located beneath the lungs. Singing from the diaphragm means utilizing this muscle to control the release of air while singing, resulting in better breath support, resonance, and overall vocal control.
It can be very useful to understand that the diaphragm actually sits below the lungs. So when you think of expanding your body on the inhalations, know that your back and ribs all need to have malleability to move and make space for the air and diaphragm. More air does not necessarily automatically make your body expand in the right places; many people find their stomach moving but cannot sense their back and ribs moving. When you sing, start to know that the act “to sing” could also be interpreted as, “to expand.”
If you take away one thing from this article, let it be that you make peace with this fact: It is extremely important to work on your posture, alignment, and body awareness in order to sing properly- and this can take considerable time depending on your current habits and natural abilities.
How A Vocal Coach May Explain What It Means To Breathe Correctly
True deep breathing as it is used by singers is about more than contracting your abdominal muscles like when you’re at the gym, and it requires more than in depth anatomical awareness. Actually, many great singers are not experts in anatomy! Beyond its physiological implications, singing from the diaphragm is often described by experienced vocalists as a sensation of harnessing power and control.
It involves a conscious effort to engage the diaphragm to regulate the airflow, an action that requires practice not just for muscle memory, but to strengthen the ability of the diaphragm to assist in long phrases and supporting high and low notes. The concept of a “shallow breath” also changes in the eyes of a professional singer.
When we refer to shallow breaths, we mean a breath that is created with tension, usually limited to the stomach area and lifting of the thoracic cavity and shoulders, and requiring tension to control on the exhale. In fact, a deep breath could actually be called a shallow breath when done incorrectly, with the added issue of “tanking up” which demands your transverse thoracis muscle to act on the exhale as it does in forced exhalation such as when we cough.
How The Diaphragm Muscles Allow Resonance
Singing with proper singing technique means singing with diaphragmatic breathing. This technique allows sound waves to reverberate through the chest cavity, creating a warm and well-projected vocal quality. The reason for this is that the diaphragm acts as a dynamic amplifier, relieving the body’s many unnecessary muscles from needing to support the sound, consequently enabling them to relax and transforming the body -upper chest, vocal folds, throat, face- into a space capable of reverberation. Resonance is the product of sound waves bouncing around these “relaxed spaces” and finding amplification much like when you take your cell phone and drop it in a bowl or cup to get your music to sound louder.
In essence, the directive to sing from the diaphragm encapsulates a fusion of physical awareness and artistic mastery. It is not merely about understanding the anatomy of stomach muscles and the diaphragm but also about connecting with the source of vocal power within oneself. Singers often describe this connection as a grounding force that enables them to tap into the full potential of their voice, creating a transformative and immersive experience for both the performer and the audience. It feels powerful and is worth the work to develop your lungs and support!
How Does the Diaphragm Work During Singing?
Understanding the mechanics of air movement in the diaphragm is essential for any aspiring vocalist. When you inhale, the diaphragm contracts, creating space for the lungs to expand. As you exhale, the diaphragm relaxes, helping to expel air from the lungs. Controlling this process consciously allows singers to manage their breath effectively, enhancing the quality and power of their vocal delivery.
Achieving mastery over diaphragmatic control involves a comprehensive understanding of interconnected muscle groups. More control of the diaphragm can be achieved when an aspiring singer understands the role of the back, chest, rib cage, stomach, shoulders, and abdominal muscles. The back muscles, especially the lower back, provide stability and support for the diaphragm’s upward movement. Singers should focus on allowing the back to relax and the stomach expand, on the inhale, and maintaining this expansion on the exhale.
While inhaling, the chest muscles facilitates expansive breath intake, but many beginner singers will mistake breathing into the chest space as correct inhalation. In fact, your chest should never lift dramatically- the expansion needed for space for your air should be felt in the back and through the lower ribs, with the last expansion point being the upper chest.
The rib cage, acting as a protective enclosure, expands with the diaphragm during inhalation and learning to connect with this part of your body takes practice. Laying on the ground lie flat on your back may help to start recognizing when you lower ribs- sides and back of the ribs- are moving in expansion to make room for air.
The Abdominal muscles, including the rectus abdominis and obliques, stabilize the diaphragm during exhalation, ensuring controlled airflow. This is why many people say they feel their abs really active during singing.
Relaxing the shoulder muscles prevents tension that may impede the diaphragm’s natural movement. Strengthening the transverse abdominis supports sustained breath release, preventing rapid diaphragm collapse. In layman’s terms- watch yourself in the mirror and if you notice your shoulders moving drastically up and down on your breaths, you have a lot of upper body tension impeding your breathing.
This is a lot to process, so you may want to consider voice lessons with a trained vocal coach to help you start to become a master of body awareness and vocal performance.
Basics of The Singing Voice To Know
Before delving into the specifics of singing from the diaphragm, it’s crucial to grasp some fundamental aspects of vocal technique:
Find the correct posture
Maintain an upright posture to allow for unrestricted breathing and optimal vocal projection. Use a mirror to start watching how your body moves when you breathe. For beginners, we recommend trying breathing while lying on your back with your shoulders relaxed, knees bent and feet on the ground. This allows you to feel the movement of your back and ribs better while minimizing the movement of the shoulders.
Keep your throat open when singing
Tension in the throat can impede the flow of sound. Keep your throat relaxed and open for a smoother vocal delivery. Of course, this is easier said than done since once we develop tension, it is incredibly stubborn to get rid of. A vocal coach can work with you on relaxing undue tension and put you on track to becoming a better singer.
3 Tips on Singing From Your Diaphragm
Now, let’s explore three practical tips to help you sing from your diaphragm!
1. Strengthening Your Diaphragm for Better Breathing
Engage in exercises that specifically target the the diaphragm muscle. Deep belly breathing, yoga, and diaphragmatic breathing exercises can help strengthen this muscle, leading to improved breath control while singing. The truth is, this is a muscle: You will need to start paying attention to how you breathe throughout the day and actively putting time aside to work on taking deep breaths and controlling the exhalation.
Whether you choose yoga, meditation, or guided youtube practices, here is a hot tip: On your exhale, focus on pushing down through the pelvic floor to control the speed of your exhale. You know that feeling of pushing you have when giving birth your- excuse our language- have a really stubborn poop to push out? Those are your pelvic floor muscles, your Psoas, and your abdominals and back all engaged, and the sensation mirrors what it feels like to control air pressure and supply on the exhale.
2. Begin to expand your lung capacity
Enhance your lung capacity by practicing controlled deep breaths. Inhale deeply, expanding your lungs to their fullest, and exhale slowly. This helps increase the amount of air you can hold, providing a solid foundation for powerful singing.
Keep in mind our previous tip on the exhale, and trip this:
Inhale for 4, exhale for 4
Inhale for 5, exhale for 5
Inhale for 6, exhale for 6
Continue this until the length of time is not attainable and start your singing practice each day with this exercise.
3. Incorporate lip trills with your breathing exercises
Lip trills involve blowing air through slightly pursed lips, creating a vibrating sound. This exercise not only aids in breath control but also helps you connect with your diaphragm. Practice lip trills while moving through different vocal exercises to integrate lip trill and diaphragmatic engagement into your singing.
Make sure that you do not tense your jaw in order to create the trill. This exercise is great, but also very commonly difficult for beginner singers. Try to be super patient and invite the trill to start, but don’t tense your face or jaw in order to achieve it. Keep exhaling and relaxing your lips, mouth and jaw. Eventually the buzzing and trill will come naturally.
How to Sing from the Diaphragm – Basics to Remember
Know what muscles to activate
Consciously engage the diaphragm by focusing on the sensation of breath originating from the lower abdomen. This ensures that you are using the diaphragm effectively to control airflow.
Watch for expansion in your back and ribs. Ask a singing teacher to help you when you first start singing.
Sing Long, Sing Strong.
Extend your vocal phrases to encourage sustained, diaphragmatic breath engagement. Singing longer phrases challenges your breath control and strengthens the diaphragm over time. Try singing phrases from songs you are working on with just vowels or on lip trills so that you can focus on the breath and not have the words and their many consonants getting in the way. It can be just too much to focus on at one time when you are trying to improve correct breathing.
Are You Ready to Improve Your Breath Support?
Mastering the art of singing from the diaphragm is an ongoing process that requires practice and dedication.
Consistent incorporation of these tips into your vocal routine will contribute to enhanced breath support, resonance, and overall vocal performance.
Want to Learn More Vocal Cords?
Understanding the intricacies of vocal cords is another crucial aspect of honing your singing skills. Many singers don’t even think about how to care for their vocal cords until there is a problem!
Practice singing with a qualified teacher and have them create a practice regimen for you so that you can track your progress and vocal exercises. We recommend a journal designed for singers so you an track the growth of your vocal range, the work you do with your singing teacher, and specific work you are doing for technique and application of those techniques to your songs!
Want More Vocal Exercises?
Make sure to check out our Tiktok and Instagram where we post free content from artists on our roster. The best answer will always come from someone who has been through it!
Also check out The Singer’s Tension Podcast for more free content on the music industry!
Can You Sing While Sick?
Can You Sing While Sick: The Singers Guide to Protecting Your Vocal Cords
Singing while sick is not a black-and-white issue: Whether or not you can perform while sick depends on various factors. Sometimes, singing when you are sick can be accomplished safely simply through natural remedies!
This article will explain how to know if you are in need of vocal lessons, vocal rest, or are in fact injured.
Once you are through the woods and back to physical health, how can you avoid any interruptions to a future great performance? Let’s look at the natural remedies and habits all singers should implement into their lifestyle so that they never have to sing with a cold again! From taking care of your sinus cavity through the winter months to the importance of sleep…
This is the ultimate guide on how to get your voice back and keep it.
Before You Start Singing
The first thing any singer should do when they feel agitation is consider the symptoms. A singer can assess themselves for symptoms of being sick by paying attention to changes in their voice such as hoarseness, loss of range, coughing, and fatigue. Other symptoms to look out for include the more obvious body symptoms like a runny nose, throat pain, body aches, low energy levels, and fever. These are pretty solid signs of the common cold.
But what about if it’s not a common cold? What should you do if you experience symptoms like an inflamed throat, voice cracks, loss of access to low notes or high notes, or jaw pain? It may be time to dive deeper and try to decipher if your way of activating vocal cord action is not only incorrect, but hurting you!
Distinguishing a Sore Throat from Poor Vocal Technique
Understanding how to sing when you are sick is a question that many vocalists face at some point in their careers. Even harder: knowing whether the answer to their problem is vocal lessons, going on vocal rest or seeking professional help for serious vocal injuries.
With the flu and cold seasons made year-round with the emergence of Covid-19, taking your vocal health seriously has never been more critical. You must be able to distinguish between discomfort from poor technique and signs of strep throat or dehydration! Singers cannot afford to be detached from their bodies: know when to rest your voice, when it’s time to work with a vocal coach, and when something serious – such as vocal nodules – could be to blame.
So, It’s Poor Vocal Technique
It’s not always easy to determine the cause of strain in your voice, as it can be caused by both illness and poor vocal technique. If you’re experiencing a sore throat without any typical cold symptoms, it may be due to poor singing technique. This can happen when you strain your voice, such as by singing too loudly, singing without warm ups, not giving yourself enough voice rest, improperly hitting high notes, or unnecessary tensions in the body.
It is important to be mindful of how you’re using your voice. By understanding the root cause of your pain, you can take the necessary steps to protect your vocal health and maintain your singing voice. We strongly encourage you to prioritize working with a vocal coach to assess your technique. If you believe voice lessons may be the fix you need, make sure to speak with someone who can direct you to a qualified teacher.
What Works Wonders For Pain From Singing? Voice Lessons.
Consistent vocal lessons with a professional instructor can help singers develop good technique and reach the level of proficiency needed to overcome the effects of illness on their voice. A skilled instructor can guide singers through proper warm-up exercises, demonstrate techniques for preserving the voice, and provide constructive feedback to not only help them make progress, but assess if something is potentially damaging to their voice.
Regular singing lessons can also provide a safe and supportive environment for singers to practice their skills and refine their technique. With dedication and practice, singers can develop the level of skill needed to maintain a strong and healthy voice, even when feeling unwell.
If your voice is well-trained and you have control over your breathing and tone, it becomes easier to modify your singing style to accommodate any limitations caused by illness. This means you can still deliver a quality performance without putting too much strain on your voice, minimizing the risk of further damage.
How To Treat Vocal Chords When You Are Sick
It’s understandable that you may be feeling overwhelmed when your voice is not working properly due to an illness and not due to any vocal technique issues or serious injuries. We know that you want to kick the cold and get back to singing as fast as possible. To be honest, the fastest way to get back to 100% health when sick will always be going full potato: vocal rest, drink water, steam, sleep, and healthy foods.
Vocal rest when sick does not need to be complete silence. You may benefit from gentle activation of your vocal cords to help you speak properly even when experiencing hoarseness. When we speak with healthy technique, we protect and nurture our singing voice. Since the two live in the same place: your speaking voice is your singing voice.
There are also several lifestyle and self care strategies we suggest to coerce your voice back to its gorgeous self.
Gargling with Salt Water
When you’re feeling under the weather and your throat is sore, gargling with can provide much-needed relief. Salt water helps to reduce inflammation and remove mucus from the throat, while the steam from a hot shower can soothe and moisturize the vocal cords.
To make a saltwater gargle, simply mix a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water and gargle for 30 seconds. Repeat as needed, but avoid swallowing the saltwater mixture.
Drinking Plenty of Fluids
Stay hydrated to maintain the health of vocal cords. Dehydration can cause the vocal cords to become dry and irritated, leading to hoarseness, reduced vocal range, and even injury. Adequate hydration is crucial for keeping the vocal cords lubricated, which helps to prevent friction and injury.
Drinking water throughout the day, especially before singing, can help to keep your vocal cords in top shape. Additionally, it’s important to limit the consumption of dehydrating substances like caffeine and alcohol, which can further dry out the vocal cords. You may also work a regular habit into your routine by using warm steam to keep your chords hydrated.
Throat Coat Tea
While staying hydrated is crucial for vocal health, some singers also turn to warm tea for additional benefits. Warm tea is believed to soothe the throat and improve singing. Look for warm tea with slippery elm, marshmallow root, and licorice root, as well as green tea and black tea in moderation. These teas contain properties that can help to relieve soreness, reduce inflammation, and promote healing. However, it’s important to remember that excessive tea drinking can have a dehydrating effect, so be sure to balance it with plenty of water.
Maintain Good Gut Health
Studies show that digestive problems can lead to throat inflammation and negatively impact your voice. To maintain good gut health, follow a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and avoid foods that cause inflammation, such as dairy products. Some singers choose to avoid dairy due to its effects on the voice, such as mucus buildup and hoarseness. Try eliminating dairy from your diet for a few weeks to see if it affects your voice.
Steam
Using warm steam for hydration can be done by taking hot water in a bowl and placing a towel over your head and the bowl of water. Make sure to breathe deeply through your nose and mouth to inhale steam into your nasal passages. This is a brilliant supplement to aid in hydrating your body in addition to ample fluid intake. Get that nasal cavity and upper respiratory tract lubricated!
Vitamin C and Collagen for Singers
As a singer, having a healthy voice is essential to perform at your best. Vitamin C is an important nutrient that can help support your vocal health in a number of ways. This powerful antioxidant helps to boost your immune system, fight off infections, and reduce inflammation, all of which can have a positive impact on your voice.
Additionally, vitamin C plays a role in the production of collagen, a protein that is important for maintaining the health of the tissues in your vocal cords. By ensuring that you are getting enough vitamin C in your diet, you can help to protect and support your voice, so you can continue to sing to your full potential.
When to Go On Vocal Rest
Vocal rest is an important part of maintaining a healthy singing voice, but knowing when to take a complete extended break can be challenging. Some signs that it may be time for vocal rest include extreme hoarseness, a loss of speaking voice, or pain when singing. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s best to avoid speaking or singing for a period of time to allow your vocal cords to recover.
To know for sure if vocal rest is what you need, consult an ENT who can perform a laryngoscopy to scope your vocal cords and look for serious injuries. If there is no medical issue address by the ENT but you still feel pain or irregular activity when singing, you may also consult a speech-language pathologist or a singing voice specialist for a professional evaluation and recommendations.
Hard Decisions:
To Perform or Not To Perform?
Like all things in life, balance is required here too.If you are contagious, it is not recommended to publicly perform. However, if the gig is important and understudies are not an option, you may need to find ways to save the day.
When making a decision, consider the potential impact on your reputation. Ask yourself if canceling the performance would cause damage or if performing poorly would be worse. It is also important to consider the quality of performance you want to give your audience. If you are feeling too tired or vocally fatigued to give a performance up to your standards, it may be best to reschedule or cancel the gig.
Pushing through a performance while sick can only lead to further damage to your voice and prolong the healing process. Although it may be challenging, it may be necessary to reschedule or cancel your performance in order to give your voice the time it needs to fully recover. By prioritizing your health, you’ll be able to get back to performing at your best soon.
In the end, you have to make a choice that is right for you and your voice. If the road ahead is still unclear, you can book a lesson or consultation with a professional vocalist who has been through difficult situations and can assess your voice to give advice.
Learning to Sing While Sick:
Skill is Everything!
If you decide that the show must go on, then you need to have the tools to give the performance your audience expects even when you don’t feel at your best.
Poor technique can amplify the symptoms of hoarseness, loss of vocal range, and prolong the period of time your voice is unusable for singing. It can also potentially cause pain while singing and even lead to losing your voice altogether.
To counteract the effects of illness, singers should have a good understanding of their voice and proper techniques such as mastering chest voice, support through breath control, and using more head voice through the passaggio. It is vital to be aware of the limitations imposed by illness on your singing.
Rather than solely relying on belting to get through a performance, singers with strong technique can play with different tones and styles, making it easier to preserve their voice even when feeling fatigued. By focusing on proper technique, you can minimize the impact of illness on the voice and maintain the longevity of your singing career.
So, Can You Sing While Sick?
In conclusion, whether or not you should “sing while sick” depends on the severity of your symptoms, your skill level, and the stakes involved.
Technique related: Hold Your Horses.
A sore throat can be a sign that your vocal cords are strained and in need of rest. This would mean that your pain is related to your technique and can be addressed with vocal rest and working with a singing teacher. Proper vocal technique is not only a valuable asset for a singer, but will save you from injury.
Once you have confirmed with an ENT that your pain is not due to severe injury, you should look at finding a vocal coach who can help you perform without pain. Good technique will help you sound great even when you are fighting a cold, as it can prevent damage to the vocal cords and allow for creative vocal choices.
Until you have seen an ENT or at least worked with a vocal coach, we do not suggest performing, The way you are currently using your voice is hurting it.
This needs to be addressed immediately.
Physical Illness: Assess the Situation
When you feel a cold coming and have a performance on the horizon, it is time to make some hard decisions. While it’s possible to sing with a sore throat, it’s important to weigh the risks and benefits of performing. Singing while sick can cause further damage to the vocal cords and worsen symptoms, leading to long-term vocal problems.
We suggest you rest, drink tea (we love throat coat tea), steer clear of loud environments like the bar, and give your body time to heal. If you incorporate the use of herbal tea, warm ups, vitamin supplements for your immune system, and remember to drink plenty of fluids, you will recover your voice and physical health much faster.
That said, sometimes you need to perform and we get that.
Worst Case Solutions
Doctors have been prescribing steroids for singers to reduce swelling in the vocal folds, but this option has some negative effects on the voice. If you have decided to perform while sick, you may choose to rely on adrenaline, which can be a lifesaver in high-stakes situations.
Make sure to ask your ENT about the potential consequences of using steroids.
While this article aims to provide guidance, it is always best to consult an ENT doctor or laryngologist if you have concerns about your voice. If you are still unsure, you can book a lesson or consultation with a professional to find the best solution for you.
Written by Vocal Coach Tylor Van Riper and Express Voice Studio Founder Jordanne Erichsen
Review of the 5 Best Singing Teachers in Toronto
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When looking for singing teachers in Toronto, the choices can be overwhelming. There are singing teachers everywhere in the city, each selling themself by claiming to be the best vocal coach for opera, or the top singing teacher for musical theater.
How do you find the best vocal coach in Toronto training programs?
We have put together a review of the top 5 singing teachers in Toronto based on what their niche is. Who excels at coaching pop singers? What singing teacher is an expert at working with gender diverse voices? Keep reading to find the right voice teacher in Toronto for you.
What Makes A Great Singing Teacher
In our analysis of what makes a great singing teacher, we consider a few qualifications. Too often we have seen aspiring singers work with a teacher that wasn’t the right fit for them, and their voice and career suffered because of it. Not all amazing singers make good teachers! Our overall advice to finding a great vocal coach is to try out a couple and see who connects with you and the way you understand your body and voice.
Hopefully your teachers will understand that singing is a journey, and they shouldn’t take it personally if you decide to leave to work with someone else. Here are some qualities to look for in your potential vocal coach, whether you are a beginner singer or professional singer looking for vocal coaching.
Do good singers make good voice teachers?
Keep in mind that some people were just born with a natural ability to sing. From a teaching perspective, it is difficult to teach someone how to sing if you never actually had to figure it out yourself! Teachers who were born with the ability to sing are limited to explaining to their students what it feels like in their body: they have not had to overcome tensions, bad technique, and vocal issues and thus they really don’t know how to coach you on overcoming those same problems.
Look For:
A teacher who has had previous vocal health issues or vocal technique challenges which they have overcome, and thus understand how to coach others through the same challenges.
Why Your Singing Teacher Should be A Performer
Part of what we look for in a coach is their experience in the field we want to be in. If they are an active performer, it means they are likely known within the industry and have connections. Business is about who you know, and the arts are no different. You want a singing teacher that is a full time artist because they know the people you will need to know to get roles, opportunities, and stage time.
Building your network as a singer is critical.
Your teacher is also demonstrating that they have the chops to do what you want to do! Your teacher should be able to demonstrate the techniques they are talking about. If you need to work on stamina- your teacher should also be capable of answering the question, How do you sing on stage without losing your voice?
Look For:
Success acquiring roles, gigs, and singing opportunities in their field.
Active participant in the scene you want to be a part of: Connections in your industry.
Singers Need Alexander Technique Training
We would actually expand that statement to say that singers need one of the following body awareness studies: Body mapping. Alexander Technique, Linklater, or Feldenkrais training. Each of these somatic body movement practices connect the singer with a deep understanding of how to coordinate their body, retrain incorrect coordinations, and release tension.
Never heard the word somatic before? It refers to the connection between your mind and body.
Most singers do not have perfect technique, and depending on the issues they have, they may or may not be risking losing their voice, damaging their vocal chords, or singing in pain. When your teacher has experience in Alexander Technique or another somatic practice, they can help your body stop subconsciously using muscles that are not only not necessary for beautiful singing, but are actually preventing you from singing better!
Great side effects include no more neck pain, better breath control, more vocal power, and being able to practice singing in a way that is not frustrating!
Look For:
A voice coach with training in body coordination or somatic practices.
top 5 singing teachers in Toronto
In our review of the 5 best singing teachers in Toronto, Ocean comes in as one of the most well rounded. Ocean has received awards for classical voice, worked and studied Musical Theatre career path, studied acting at Guildford School of Acting. They offer singing lessons for adults in Toronto, working with singers of all skill levels in Pop, Jazz, and Musical Theatre. Ocean has made a name for themself for their work with trans/bipoc voices.
With technique experience from Estill to Alexander Technique, Ocean checks our boxes on needing somatic body awareness training and he is one of the few vocal coaches in North America to incorporate techniques found in the Laryngeal Conditioning System, which aims at freeing the voice through balancing acoustics & power, dealing with issues in registration, and allowing singers to produce a healthy mixed belt.
If you live in Toronto, consider yourself lucky to be able to work in person with Toronto pop singing teacher Jenn Connor. In 2022, ReverbNation named Jenn one of Canada’s top independent pop recording artists, and Toronto’s number one artist! Vocally, Jenn is classically trained, specializing in Bel Canto over the past 13 years.
Jenn has worked with renowned producers including Los Angeles-based Tomas Costanza (Boys Like Girls) as well as award-winning producers Douglas Romanow (Justin Bieber) and Rob Wells (Ariana Grande).
Jenn teaches vocals, beginner and advanced piano (classical and pop/jazz), and helps students prepare for RCM examinations, auditions, and performances. Her experience in the recording studio makes her an ideal voice teacher in Toronto for any parents looking for a singing teacher for kids in pop music.
Explore More Online Singing Lessons
Another voice teacher who can seemingly do it all is Robert Popoli. Robert is a voice and piano instructor, composer, and performer based in Toronto. Work on musical theatre, pop, opera, and rock with Rob or take advantage of his incredible skills as a composer to learn how to write songs.
Rob can teach students how to accompany themselves while singing, and develop their sense of creativity for songwriting. In addition to one-on-one lessons, Robert occasionally offers masterclasses where students can perform for each other and receive feedback from their peers via live performances.
We recommend working with Robert if you are a more advanced singer wanting to increase your vocal range, sing with more power, learn musical theory and song writing or just ensure you are not singing in a way that is harmful to your voice. Learn to sing with a teacher who is highly trained like Rob and building confidence as a performer is only a matter of lessons.
Katrina Anastasia, a 24-year-old multidisciplinary artist and entrepreneur hailing from Toronto, Canada, is a sonic architect whose musical palette weaves alternative new wave tones with hints of RnB, dream pop, acoustic, nu-disco, folk, and more. Her smooth and alluring sound is a testament to her ongoing exploration of dynamic ranges, resulting in ethereal layered vocals that seamlessly complement her intimate lyricism, providing a captivating experience for her listeners.
Katrina offers lessons in songwriting, inviting aspiring artists to explore various styles and glean insights from her creative process. Additionally, she imparts the secrets of live performance, teaching techniques to keep an audience engaged, master the art of audience interaction, and discover one’s unique stage presence.
For those eager to enhance their recording skills, Katrina provides lessons in microphone and recording studio techniques. Students can learn to confidently work with microphones, ensuring their self-recordings and studio sessions capture the desired sound. Moreover, Katrina offers guitar lessons, with a focus on basics tailored for beginners or singers looking to delve into songwriting and guitar playing.
Her rates for lessons are $115 per hour for songwriting and live performance techniques, and $100 per hour for microphone and recording studio techniques, as well as guitar basics. Join Katrina Anastasia on a journey of artistic discovery and mastery.
If you thought belting was only used in Musical Theatre, think again! Belting is the style of singing used in r&b, pop, & jazz when the singer gives you that moment of insane power where your jaw drops and you start to think, God I wish I could do that! Toronto vocal coach for belting Nika Samandas is a master at this genre.
So, though we have named her the best Toronto Midtown vocal coach, she is in fact ideal for anyone looking to belt and sing jazz, rnb, or pop as well. Your singing voice is a muscle and like having a trainer at the gym, having Nika on your team for voice training will work you out!
How To Sing Better in Toronto
There is no other music school in Toronto solely dedicated to the voice. Express Voice Studio only hires full time artists who are active and successful in their field so that you get the best voice teachers in Toronto.
You may have been feeling overwhelmed by the idea of starting vocal lessons before. You may have stage fright and worry about feeling confident. Our teachers can work with you to build confidence and make you excited by the opportunities that await you!
Each of these teachers uses their teaching styles to craft a personalized voice routine for students. How can you learn to sing better in Toronto? Pick a coach, work hard, and know that each of these options for singing teachers will not lead you astray.
Become part of an elite music academy and work with one of the top 5 voice teachers we highly recommend in Toronto!
Breath Control Singing: Stop Gasping
Your breath is the foundation of a beautiful sound. How often do you notice yourself hearing your friends breathe, or your own breathing? Unless you both have just completed an intensive circuit of Cross-Fit, you are probably not aware of your breath very often. Why then, do some singers make an audible gasps when taking in breath to sing?
In this blog, we will show you how to improve breath control, explain why gasping while singing happens to some singers and not others, and give you some of the EXPRESS voice teacher’s favourite breathing exercises.
Looking for a coach to assess your voice? Reach out and we can hook you up with an Artist who knows all about breath control.
What Is A Gasp?
The sound of someone gasping is defined as, “the strain to take a deep breath.” One of the most obvious- and loudest- ways to check if your breathing is… messed up… is to record yourself and see if you gasp between phrases for air.
To put it a touch scientifically:
Gasping is the result of your body trying to take in air quickly, but fighting against its own tensions to do so. It is the complexity of your body mechanisms attempting to function together quickly.
Sorry to say guys, but this absolutely needs to be addressed.
How To Stop Gasping
Because a gasp is the result of tension in your body, the solution is to release this tension.
Simple enough.
Introducing breath control exercises can help you build endurance, control, and support for your diaphragm, which in turn helps you hit high notes and sustain long phrases.
However, your body considers these tensions essential to existence; without habitual tensions, your body believes it cannot produce the action you are demanding of it: standing, walking, sitting down, and of course, singing. For this reason, stopping yourself from gasping is not a matter of merely telling yourself not to do it. Rather, you must use Alexander Technique, breath control technique, and personalized vocal exercises to change the way your body supports itself while strengthening intercostal muscles (also called the singer’s support).
Will Any Kind Of Practice Work For Breath Control Training?
Isn’t it enough to just practice singing and it will go away on its own? Do you really need to be so strategic about how and what you practice?
I wish I could tell you yes! Please just go sing away and it will improve! But, then I would be a liar and the negative comments on this post would grow and grow.
And herein lies the frustrating truth about singing: No two bodies are the same, no two singing journeys are the same, and the speed at which you and Bob beside you progress are highly dependent on the extremity of your natural habits and whether your teacher understands exactly what your body needs. Let’s look at Bob as a case study to understand why just singing is not a solution to breath control.
A Singing Case Study: Bob v. You – Vocal Technique
Bob: A Case study on healthy singing
Bob has some nasty habits: His posture involves pulling his neck forward and down while his shoulders slump forward, and back curves over. As a result, his voice is compressed and his throat must work extra hard to create sound- this is why Bob finds it difficult to talk for extended lengths of time and gasps when he takes a quick breath.
Bob is going to have to change his posture entirely if he hopes to sing without pain and use his voice in a healthy way. Bob understands that he cannot use strength of will to force a good sound out of a twisted instrument and so goes to work with an Alexander Technique teacher for 8 weeks.
Alexander Technique teaches him how to change his relationship with his body so that when he goes to sing, he can change his habits to get the sound he wants. Bob also starts practicing breathing deeply and incorporates breathing exercises into his routine.
You: Vocal technique faux pas
Now lets maybe look at you? You are commended often on your posture, you exhume a regal air and are known for being able to project across large halls. It seems that all you need to work on is loosening some tension in your chest (likely established from holding that posture without an awareness of the space that should exist within your sternum and back even when standing straight!)
But luckily, you are not nearly as twisted as Bob. You take singing lessons focused solely on scales, trills, and sighs without any specific body work or Alexander Technique, but your teacher mentions you are a bit stiff and should try yoga. A few months later, you are a better singer with less tension and have achieved the goals you set out to.
This is a possible outcome! Alas, the story could easily go the other way, where the absence of body work has actually made you even tighter, and now you have lost your ability to project across large halls.Bob, who incorporated both body work and vocal exercises into his learning, now has a job as a voice-over artist for Disney.
What Should You do To Ensure You Improve And Stop Gasping?
Don’t leave anything to luck. Treat your body like a cellist treats his cello- keep it in top condition and watch for any broken strings. Work with a voice teacher who has training in Alexander Technique or another form of body work or complement your training with your current voice teacher by doing sessions with an Alexander Technician. Proper breathing technique is essential for maintaining vocal health and performance.
When you go into the practice room, go in as a detective. Spend time just breathing and preparing to sing- before you make sound, see where in your body you feel tight. Make notes and take this to your teacher. Lessons and practice times should be exploratory.
No one is inside your body but you, and if you try to improve as a singer by simply repeating the same act over and over again, you are neglecting the most obvious and yet forgotten fact: Your vocal folds play a crucial role in sound production and need to be coordinated with your breath.
Your body is your instrument. Mastering breath control is key to improving your vocal technique.
Be like Bob.
Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercises
Now that we understand why people gasp and the importance of body work for good breath control, lets check out some of the favourite breathing exercises for diaphragmatic breathing from our roster of Artists Who Teach.
Breathing Exercise 1: Release Tension
Find a comfortable and quiet place to sit or lie down.
Start with your toes and gradually work your way up, tensing and then releasing each muscle group. For example, tense your toes for a few seconds, then release and let the tension go.
Move to your feet, then your calves, thighs, and so on, until you reach your head and neck.
Focus on your breathing throughout the exercise, inhaling deeply as you tense your muscles and exhaling fully as you release the tension.
Pay attention to anything that tightens at the thought of singing- actively think about relaxing those areas before you start your exhale.
Breathing Exercise 2: Connect To Your Abdominal Muscles
Lie down on your back with your knees bent or sit comfortably in a chair with your shoulders relaxed.
Place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen.
Inhale deeply through your nose, allowing your abdomen to rise and expand while keeping your chest relatively still.
Start to breathe in for two counts, suspend two counts, and exhale for two counts.
Increase the breathing pattern by one count to 3, 3, and 3. Continue this pattern until you reach 8.
Breathing Exercise 3: Get Used To Expanding On The Exhale
Sit or stand comfortably, with a straight back and relaxed shoulders.
Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose, counting to three or four.
Exhale slowly and fully through your mouth, extending the exhale to a count of six or eight.
Focus on making the exhale longer and more relaxed than the inhale, feeling the expansion and release of tension with each exhale.
Focus on opening your lower back and see it expand as wide as the room as you exhale. This will help you to not collapse as you use your breath. Also watch that your shoulders do not sink. You can help this by taking your arms and lifting them slowly as you exhale to keep your rib cage expanded.
How To Know If You Are Doing Breathing Exercises Right
The breath control exercises we have recommended are focused on the work that takes place in your body before making sound. This way, you can’t run the risk of making your tensions worse.
If you are ready to take your breathing exercises into singing notes, we highly recommend working with a qualified teacher who can guide you through exploring your vocal range, supporting high notes with strong breath control, and point out any errors you are making such as taking in too much air or shallow breathing.
How to Improve Breath Support For Singing
The underlying motive of human beings is to achieve a result as quickly and efficiently as possible. This is why marketing catchy titles which promise a fast result are so effective! But, have you considered that like trying to lose weight or using physiotherapy to rebuild muscle coordination and strength, proper breathing is also a full body exercise with absolutely no shortcuts?
But hey, maybe your breathing is already amazing! How am I to know? Just a voice on the internet. So why don’t I help you the best I can to analyze and improve breath support and check if indeed you know how to breathe correctly.
Physiology Of Breathing
To grasp the intricacies of proper breathing, it’s crucial to delve into the mechanics. Despite its daily occurrence, how much do we truly understand about breathing?
Breathing is orchestrated by the autonomous nervous and motor systems, functioning independently to maintain equilibrium. This intricate system not only ensures the optimal intake of oxygen and a balanced level of carbon dioxide but also involves the expansion of the back during inhalation. The diaphragm, a muscular and tendinous structure spanning the base of the neck, is a key player in this process. As diaphragmatic muscles contract during inhalation, the back expands, facilitating the smooth influx of air.
What is SUPPORT
Although methods for conceptualizing and developing breath support are varied from person to person according to the training techniques they have adopted, most teachers and singing artists have common concepts or definitions. Support is using various parts of the skeletal system, such as muscle and lungs, as tools for producing the desired result: improved tone and the capability of singing longer phrases and maintaining the same notes. When a singing teacher talks of the terms breath control or vocal power they are inherently referring to the existence of breathing control techniques necessary for proper breath support.
There are various ways to learn to sing, and many teachers disagree on the best way to make beautiful sound fastest and with the least negative side effects. However, it seems like everyone agrees at least that diaphragmatic breathing is an essential component in singing properly.
Reasons for Dysfunctional Breathing
Dysfunctional breathing happens when we don’t control our breathing. It is common practice for people to inadvertently breathe incorrectly. If a singer has no ability to relax the throat or diaphragm before inhalation, only the upper lungs are filled. There will be no vocal power. A good singing teacher understands the vital importance of relaxation to breathe correctly and efficiently. But the majority of singers lack psychosomatic skills (when we connect our brain/ body awareness/ and muscle malleability to these thoughts) and their singing voice suffers.
Human beings in general tend to breathe in their air flow in a shallow way. Even with practice it takes some time before the healthy diaphragmatic breathing cycle becomes the nervous system’s habitual coordination. Unlike driving on autopilot, this breathing pattern requires conscious work in the beginning before eventually taking minimal energy. Singing requires more coordinated efforts and more diverse breathing methods than it merely takes to survive. This is why most people never address their breathing: They are alive, so it must be working.
However, for vocalists, if the underlying foundation of their breathing techniques fails, singers can have erratic performance outcomes.
The Truth About Breathing Exercises For Singing
As a singer, your breath is the first step to making a good sound. If your breathing is tight, your voice will be tight, your vocal cords will feel stiff, and your singing voice will suffer. Our correct breathing is what we will refer to as the breathing mechanism. It is dependent on flexibility through the rib cage- particularly through the back- proper posture, and a release of unnecessary tension through the pelvic region and abdominal wall to allow space for the diaphragm.
Sounds complicated? It is and it isn’t.
Your body is actually designed to use proper breathing techniques. This is why babies can scream without tiring- their bodies have yet to be manipulated by slouching in class and at work, how we tighten our neck when we workout, or how we constantly manipulate our posture as we look down at our phone to text.
The way we use our body builds what is referred to in Alexander Technique as “undo tension,” and as singers we must become hyper aware of how we are using our body: Natural breathing is achieved through the process of releasing tension in the body while re coordinating correct habitual patterns.
The most frustrating part of it all: there is no black and white, a + b= c approach to breathing well. 🤷🏼Your body and the tensions you have are completely different from everyone else, which is why breathing exercises which claim to be a universal solution are not the quick fix you think they are.
How To Analyze Your Breathing Technique
Lets play body detective. Perform these tests to check if you are relaxed and are breathing correctly. This test will not give you the answer to the question, “Where is my unnecessary tension?” However, it will visually and immediately answer the question, “Do I breathe correctly?”
1. Find a mirror in which you can see your full body
2. Stand naturally- don’t position yourself in any manufactured way
3. Start with a an exhale: let out everything you are holding onto
4. Inhale slowly and watch how your body takes in air. These should be slow breaths so that you can see how your body tries to make room for their air
5. Ask yourself what is moving? What feels stiff? Make notes of these observations
6. Make sure to Inhale deeply, but notice if you have the urge to “tank up.”
Beginner singers usually breathe as much air as they can without taking any time to think of the length of phrase. These breathing habits often result in an ‘increase in clogging up the lungs’ resulting in ‘fast breaths expelled’. (These same singers are usually ‘clavicular’ breathers who gasp for air between phrases in order to expel the remaining stale air.)
We can label tanking up as taking in as much air as your lung capacity will allow. When you inhale, how much air you take should be somewhere between a deep breath with your lungs filling, but not so deep that you tank up.
Keep this in mind as you perform the following tests.
What Is "Tanking UP"
Beginner singers usually breathe as much air as they can without taking any time to think of the length of phrase. These breathing habits often result in an ‘increase in clogging up the lungs’ resulting in ‘fast breaths expelled’. (These same singers are usually ‘clavicular’ breathers who gasp for air between phrases in order to expel the remaining stale air.)
We can label tanking up as taking in as much air as your lung capacity will allow. When you inhale, how much air you take should be somewhere between a deep breath with your lungs filling, but not so deep that you tank up.
Keep this in mind as you perform the following tests.
Test Your Breathing
The following are directions to aid you in learning how to identify whether you need to improve your breathing. If breathing is halting your progress as a singer- you’re about to know it!
1. Don't think too much
Don’t think about air quantity on this breath. Just go for it!
When you breathe in, do you feel you are taking shallow breaths?
When you think about your breathing throughout the day, do you think they are shallow breaths? Do you feel your air rapidly fills in short bursts? Do you feel your air supply is small causing you to breathe more often?
Write down what you notice.
2. Consciously inhale
Lets consciously inhale now.
Inhale deeply without tanking up.
Do you feel a tension in your chest or between your collar bones?
3. Lower Body Test
When you breathe in and sing a single note or sound, do your hip sockets tighten? Do you become stiff in your legs, lower back, or hips?
Write down what you feel.
4. Upper Body Test
Make sure to look in a mirror now. When you breathe in, do your shoulders rise? Do you notice your chest rises?
Write down what you see.
5. Jaw Test
During your inhale or sound production, does your jaw tighten? What about your neck?
Write down what you feel.
6. Back Flexibility Test
Now lay on the floor with your knees up and feet flat on the ground. When you inhale, does your back widen, slightly pressing into the ground, or do you feel tighten? Do you feel your back actually pulls away from the ground instead of opening into it?
Write down what you feel.
7. Self Assessment Time!
If you answered yes to any of these tests and noticed any of the above tensions listed, your body is not free to take in air and support your sound with its full strength and colour.
Your intercostal muscles are likely not engaged. The surrounding muscles may in fact be extremely tense preventing proper vocal technique, relaxation and even causing poor posture.
Any “breathe exercises” from Youtube for instance that you perform will not address the overall coordination of your body and your unique tensions.
So what will?
Alexander Technique For Singers
As I mentioned earlier, I cannot give you a quick fix! This is why a vocal coach is so essential: A singing coach trained in Alexander Technique will be able to analyze your sound quality and physical habits. Based on their observations, they will be able to walk you through a sequence of thoughts which will re coordinate your body and develop mobility through key areas for healthy singing, such as the rib cage, psoas muscle, lower back, and freedom of the neck and jaw.
In order to breathe properly, you must learn how to work around sensory perception: The current understanding of the nervous system as to how to coordinate itself to make sound and breathe. Many singers, actors, voice actors, tour guides, etc. use Alexander Technique to improve their sound and breath control for this reason. It is a proven method of improving breath management, breath support, vocal range, vocal power, reducing chronic pain in neck and abdominal muscles,, and ensuring you can in fact breathe deeply.
When you understand how to monitor your body for tension, inhibit habitual reactions, and coordinate new muscles, you will be able to apply this awareness and learning methodology to vocal exercises and breathing exercises you find online.
The danger to your vocal health, proper posture, and breath control lies in mindlessly performing actions with your body which reaffirm bad habits.
When you are ready to take the next step, reach out to a voice teacher- preferably one with training in alexander technique- and change the way you breathe to change how you sing. Undoubtedly you will also be overjoyed with how much better your neck feels on a daily basis, how your jaw seems to feel less tight, how you can easily maintain proper posture without thinking about it, and how naturally your body can take a correct breath.
What About Yoga Breathing?
Many singers ask if yoga and practicing yoga breathing specifically is good for improving breath control. From an Alexander Technique perspective, any activity can be beneficial for breathing if you bring conscious control into the equation: Conscious control is the term given by Alexander to a form of body awareness where the head-neck-back- relationship leads all movement in order to organize the entire body correctly. Without this awareness, your movement through a yoga flow is comprised of habitual movement restricted by whatever tensions your body holds.
When we stretch a muscle, we do not re coordinate it back into the necessary functioning of the entire body. This is why when you stretch your neck, it may feel temporarily better, but very quickly the pain returns: Your body is coordinating itself the way it always has.
However, if you learn how to use Alexander Technique, every yoga practice breathing move becomes a brilliant way to build and change the coordination of your body! Don’t get me wrong. belly breathing is never going to be the answer to proper breathing, but the combination of Alexander Technique- conscious re coordinating of the body- with the mobility and stretching of yoga and yoga breathing is a beautiful combination.
Thus, stretching and yoga by itself may make you feel good, it certainly relaxes you, but it will not change your singing voice or directly improve breathing techniques.
Breathing for singing: To the diaphragm and beyond!
My job as a voice teacher is for students to learn to sing properly, which involves teaching a student to breathe! Sometimes students may request breathing exercises directly, but they are not ready for me to give them breathing exercises because they are trying to “end gain.” That is, they desperately want a result, and they want it quickly, so any direction I give them is filtered through a need to achieve a result and body awareness and observation flies out the window.
This is why voice classes in person are so great. As a singing coach trained in Alexander Technique, I can stimulate their nervous system to respond with improved coordination through my touch while walking the student through the thought sequences I have successfully used to re coordinate my own body.
So, How can one learn how to breathe properly while singing? By developing a sequence of thoughts that works for them to relax and re coordinate the body even before making sound.
Everyday, whether you choose to follow along to an Alexander Technique style warmup or practice another form of body awareness, all that matters is that you try it! Stop being in a rush to make sound and take the time to be hyper aware of what your body is doing. Once you master inhaling without tension, you will be much better aligned to work on engaging your muscles on the exhale.
One thing is certain
Learning to breathe when working on a singing voice is a good starting point. It is because breathing support makes your voice strong throughout your entire vocal range.
Generally, singing exercises are helpful for enhancing your breathing ability but need to be integrated into your routine when ready.
So prioritize working with a singing teacher trained in breathing exercises, alexander technique, and voice lessons who has also gone through the journey of discovering this work for his or herself- this is the best person to impart their knowledge onto you.
Jordanne Erichsen
Jordanne Erichsen is the founder of Express Voice Studio, Canada’s only platform dedicated to financial autonomy for emerging artists through connecting the public with them for private lessons. In 2014, Jordanne launched The Singers Tension Podcast of which she is the host and director.
Jordanne holds a B.Mus majoring in Opera from the University of Regina. She went onto complete her M. Mus majoring in Opera at the University of Ottawa. Complementing her university training, Jordanne has completed the BodyMinded Alexander Technique program out of Australia and over 500 hours of formal Alexander Technique training to assist with postural and tension issues in musicians.
Jordanne Erichsen is now a vocal coach, singing teacher, Entrepreneur, and SEO specialist. She specializes in working with beginner singers, those with pain and tension when they sing and speak, and recording artists for their vocal power and longevity.
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