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 .