choristers, ConductorsNancy Singlacantala womens choir, toronto choral scene, choral music, choral sound, singing, technique, breath, choral singingComment

7 tips for Preparing the Singing Breath

choristers, ConductorsNancy Singlacantala womens choir, toronto choral scene, choral music, choral sound, singing, technique, breath, choral singingComment

The way in which we prepare our bodies and breath to sing greatly influences the quality of the sound that is produced afterwards. Here are 7 steps to prepare the breath to sing.

Cantala standing tall to sing 

Cantala standing tall to sing 

1. Stand tall and feel a stretch at the back of your neck.

2. Tuck in your tail bone. Feel your knees soften, how naturally you will “sit” in your pelvic girdle and how your breath lowers.

3. Focus on lifting your sternum and your shoulders will relax.

4. Feet should be wide enough apart to be comfortable and balanced.

5. Hands comfortably hanging by your side. **note: Never crossed them in front as this closes the sternum and will collapse the ribs quicker on exhalation.

6. Take three silent, low breaths at your own tempo. Breathe in through your nose and feel the air cool pass over the roof of your mouth. Your jaw and tongue should be relaxed.

7. Breathe in on the shape of the vowel you’re about to sing ie. {ah}.  Feel the yawn (openness and feeling of height) created as you breathe in. You are ready to phonate!

Singers often falsely think that singing starts with the onset of sound. But it actually starts many seconds prior with the intake of the breath and the shaping of the vocal track. By preparing the breath we mean making sure the breath is slow, deep, and silent, the throat is open and the breath is taken in on the shape of the vowel that is to be sung. For instance, if the vowel is {ah} you breathe in on the vowel shape {ah}. Both {ah} and {oh} are very natural shapes to breathe in on. It becomes more advanced to breathe in on {ee} or {eh}, {oo} or {y}. This technical tip can make a world of difference because you are organizing the vocal track before the vocal apparatus vibrates. 

 

 

 

 

Conductors, choristersNancy Singlacantala, cantala choir, nancy singla, Choral music, choral singing, choral sound, vowels, singing technique, womens choir, toronto choral sceneComment

The ABC's of Singing

One time I was asked if vowels were important in singing. I replied “vowels are like green vegetables in our diets: they are essential!”. This may seem obvious, but it’s important to understand the role vowels have in singing and how they are produced.

Conductors, choristersNancy Singlacantala, cantala choir, nancy singla, Choral music, choral singing, choral sound, vowels, singing technique, womens choir, toronto choral sceneComment
choristers, ConductorsNancy Singlacantala, cantala womens choir, nancy singla, toronto choirs, toronto choral scene, choral singing, vowels, music, choral musicComment

Warming up the choir

Everyone seems to come to choir exhausted. It’s the end of their work day and while I know they are looking forward to creating music, their sense of listening and often also their vocal apparatus are fatigued. They are ready for the couch and some tv, but you are asking them to get up, smile and sparkle. Warming up the choir is an important transition from tired work day to musical brilliance.

choristers, ConductorsNancy Singlacantala, cantala womens choir, nancy singla, toronto choirs, toronto choral scene, choral singing, vowels, music, choral musicComment
choristers, ConductorsNancy Singlasinging technique, consonants, singing buzz, cantala women's choir, nancy singla, voiced consonants, unvoiced consonants, choral singing toronto, women's choirComment

Consonants + Singing: Part 1

There are 21 consonant sounds in the English language, and they are defined as “speech sounds that are articulated with complete or partial closure of the vocal tract”. Now just a minute….Closure of the vocal tract? Let's understand how they are produced then look at how they can improve and/or enhance our singing.

choristers, ConductorsNancy Singlasinging technique, consonants, singing buzz, cantala women's choir, nancy singla, voiced consonants, unvoiced consonants, choral singing toronto, women's choirComment
Conductors, choristersNancy Singlajulie andrews, cantala women's choir, singing technique, choral singing, toronto choral scene, nancy singla, vibrant singing, vibratoComment

Consonants + Singing: part 3

In part 1 and 2 of  "Consonants + Singing" we have looked at the differences between voiced and unvoiced consonants. Now in part 3 we take a closer look at why Julie Andrews' voice is so vibrant and what we can do to apply her techniques to our singing. 

Conductors, choristersNancy Singlajulie andrews, cantala women's choir, singing technique, choral singing, toronto choral scene, nancy singla, vibrant singing, vibratoComment
choristers, ConductorsNancy Singlacantala, cantala womens choir, nancy singla, toronto choirs, toronto choral scene, choral singing, vowels, music, choral music, agnes grossman, choral examplesComment

7 ideas for warming up the choir

Years ago I had a very experienced choral singer come up to me in Cantala and tell me that I spend a lot of time on warming up and inquired "isn't there an urgency to get to rehearsing the repertoire?".

choristers, ConductorsNancy Singlacantala, cantala womens choir, nancy singla, toronto choirs, toronto choral scene, choral singing, vowels, music, choral music, agnes grossman, choral examplesComment