Working With Singers

Singing is movement! I invite the singers I work with to explore ways to move with freedom, ease and natural elegance in their singing. In my own training as a singer and my 14 years experience as a teacher we, teacher and singer, explore how our bodies are designed to move; the dynamic balance in the structural support of the skeleton, the organic movement of the breath and the connection of the breath with the vocal folds in producing sound. Together, we share our perceptions of where the singer is ill at ease and learn how to access greater freedom in the natural organization and movement of the body. The process for finding ease, elegance and freedom in singing is one that “creates an accurate body map, a fine-tuned kinesthetic sense and inclusive awareness.” And, as we have greater access to these, the resultant sound will always be beautiful!

The body map is your mental representation of your body’s size, structure and function. The body map is of enormous importance to singers, because the integrity of any movement depends on the integrity of the body map that governs it. When you correct and refine your body map, your movements improve, resulting in better singing.

Kinesthesia is the sixth (often forgotten sense), the perception of your body in motion. Singers who learn how to perceive their bodies kinesthetically will clearly discern movement size, position and quality, which is vital for beautiful, communicative and healthy singing.

Inclusive awareness is conscious, simultaneous organized awareness of your inner and outer experience. Inclusive awareness includes kinesthesia.
~ Melissa Malde, MaryJean Allen and Kurt-Alexander Zeller