Performance position

In my last post I talked about how I wanted to help kids learn opera. Let's start with the basics. When your singing opera it is sung from the end of the vocal cords. To do this you need to be singing with your diaphragm not your chest. I can not stress that enough! Start practicing early so you don't develop the bad habit of breathing with your chest. I can tell you something I have learned very well, if you breath with your chest you can't every sing opera.

To breath with your diaphragm and to have support you need to make sure the muscles at the bass of your ribcage are expanding ( other wise known as your diaphragm muscle). You will know if you are breathing with your chest and not your diaphragm by if you stomache or your chest rises. If your stomache is rising is are most likely doing it right. The way to know if your doing it right is to place your hands at the bottome of you ribcage. Then inhale, you'll notice that your ribcage is in that "floating" position while singing. If you inhale then old it for a second you'll feel a sort of "pop" into that elevated spot. That is how you should always feel when singing opera. 

To make sure your singing and breathing right check yourself constantly when first practicing to sing. Make sure you keep your ribcage in that spot. It helps you control airflow which helps to control sound better. Other than breathing stand tall with your arms at sides but very loose. Don't stand to tall or you can't get air in. Here is a way to get into the proper performance position. Put both hands above your head. Notice the lift you just got where your diaphragm is. Slowly bring your hands down not loosing that lift. The video below is a man named Paul Potts that went onto Britains got Talent. He is amazing! Watch his performance position and for that matter watch his mouth position he is a perfect example of how to stand when singing .

My music passion

When I was younger I had a serious passion for music. I've been singing as long as I can remember. There isn't a way that I can describe how I feel about music. Anyone who loves music as much as I do knows exactly how I feel. In school  I am in honors english. Everyone that is in honors english is required to do a 30 hour project. When my teacher told us we all had to do a 30 hour project I started to think about it, and think, and think. There was know way in the world that I was going to find something to do. Not knowing what to do my natural response was to go to my mom. Isn't that any kids response? She asked me what I loved and would enjoy doing a project on. I thought about it and decided I love music more than air! That is how this blog came to be. 

I thought I can help kids learn the basics of music. I have taken voice lessons for more than half of my life. I've gone to a variaty of voice coaches. Four to be exact. My first teacher I had was when I was in kindergarden. Therefore we weren't focusing on making me some star, all I was concerned about was having fun. When she moved I went to my second teacher. She helped me focus on belting. That is by far my favorite kind of music, to sing anyway. My next teacher taught me to sing opera. I really had a natural talent when it came to singing this style of music. At this point I was only nine and I was singing in Italian. I did this for a couple years and then went to the next teacher to learn more. This teacher didn't really care what kind of music I sang. She was more concerned about my breath support and teaching me the right technique. I really want to help other kids like me to just learn the basics of some other types of music. I really wanted to start with my specialty... OPERA!