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8s TRAINING THE SINGING VOICE
2. The vital capacity of the chest is best in standing position. [Passe
443» P- #]
3. Align the spine so as to avoid neck tension. [Wilcox 666}
4. Use the position of the soldier. [Hagara 220, p. 29]
5. Keep the natural vertical position of the head, the neck free and loose. [Cimini 99]
6. Always stand to sing, [Gould 206, p. 1]
7. Keep the chest medium high. [Christy 97, p. 43]
8. Always drop the shoulders. [Elmmer 464; Finn 181, p. 25]
9. During exhalation the ribs must be kept raised and stationary. [Jacques 299, p. 13]
10. The lower ribs are held outspread, the chest up and forward. [Harper 228* p. 10]
11. The chest remains high, ribs are raised, the shoulders held down. [Henley 246J
12. The chest is held up and supported from below, never from above. [Byers 89]
13. f*Stand tall—never slump." [Wycoff 694]
Little need be added in support of postural physical training. The
forty-six opinions in this group are ail insistent that toneless physical exercises should be practiced to cultivate physique, posture and breath capacity. [E.g., Hemery 238, p. xii and Sheley 545] "The whole body is the vocal instrument," says Hill. "Hence* there is little hope of your becoming an A-i singer if you are C-3 physically.** [272, p. 16] Another point in favor of postural training is that physical exercise will tend to improve breathing without tiring the voice. [Sherwood 548, p. 36] That is why body building exercises should be practiced apart from singing. [New York Singing Teachers Association 421, p. 29]
Maintaining a correct chest position. The chest is that part of the body enclosed by the ribs and breastbone. It is also called the thorax. (W) Other parts adjacent to the chest and therefore immediately affected by its position and movement are: the collar bone, shoulder blades, spine and diaphragm. The parts indirectly affected are the abdominal wall, neck and larynx. The chest cavity contains the heart and lungs and in normal respiration it expands and contracts rhythmically.
Thirty-three authors mention chest position as a factor in postural control. All but four favor the maintenance of a high and stationary chest position for singing. The advantages named include the following: |
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