Vocal basics every beginner classical singer should know.

 In 2020, I bought a new and interesting book, the delights of which I hardly had time to delve into amid all the extra online Virtual Studio classes and other activities, created by COVID-19 and the human desire for people, singers, to seek to connect.

The book had been sitting on my desk in the study since mid-June that year. Seeing it still there one day, I thought to remind myself why I bought it in the first place. Glancing at the back cover told me everything I needed to know.

"Somatic learning ... through the practice of these methods, a person can become more sensitive to the quality of his or her movement and more integrated in their co-ordination."

Ah - of course! It had to do with POSTURE and more importantly the habits (good and bad) which underpin everything we try to achieve as singers. Vocal Technique-wise, posture is the first of the 3 essential pillars that I talk about in my YouTube technique tutorials, particularly the Vocal Warm-ups.

(The book has a lovely weight in the hand, the cover falls open easily, and the spine is not too rigid. How very appropriate!)

A quick flick through the book's introduction reminded me that it connects the Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method, and Hatha Yoga -a synergy for further understanding movement and guidance in overcoming bad physical habits to improve health and mental well-being.

My initial interest in the book became clear.

The correction of thought processes and habits; a further foray toward conscious awareness.

As we age and mature, so we as singers can imagine that it may become harder to produce good sound. That our bodies have 'issues' that have accumulated over time and are difficult to reverse. Or - that it is too late to learn - or indeed worst of all in my view, that there is in fact little need to seek further learning! Surely, the joyful learning path never ends?

" Age is not an obstacle to such renewal. The possible connections in the human nervous system outnumber the stars in the galaxy. This virtually infinite network of possibility is the source of our almost unlimited capacity to learn or relearn. We only use a portion of these connections even in our prime."

Just a word of caution: click the link to read more about the importance of guidance and mentoring, and how, if we do not take care to practice correctly we continually build on bad muscle memories/pathways of learning.

The vocal learning journey starts by grasping an understanding of the basics. 

We routinely explore the 'essential 5' in my mentoring group ... even after 5 years of constant input/learning, we return to these five elements repeatedly. Here they are, those 5 Essentials:

• Posture
• Airflow/breath
• Onset
• Body Engagement (support)
• Resonance

The possibilities are endless. Every vocal exercise you could ever imagine will have these 5 essential elements lurking within it. All of them. At once.

As a vocal teacher, I advocate embracing new learning into the pattern, the timetable of life, visiting new vocal technique exercises, new repertoire, and new language patterns regularly and often enough so that it unwittingly creates a steady and firm pathway to becoming more skilled.

But - here’s a quote worth remembering: wise words…

"Practice Makes Myelin, So Practice Carefully."

Learning how to sing well, isn't something you can teach yourself. You need another pair of eyes and ears to watch and hear you - and even better would be to have the advantage of group mentoring and companionship.

A word to the wise - get those basic principles understood. Grab that PDF guide and make a good start.