VOCALS
HEALTHY POSTURE FOR SINGING : NOT QUITE A MAGIC FIX , BUT ALMOST | Renee Maranan
We ’ re living in a time when most of us are slouched in front of something for most of the day , whether it be a computer , a cell phone , or a television . Many of us also spend hours on the road , in vehicles that may or may not encourage optimal cervical spine alignment . Even when we sing during worship , we are often hunched over a guitar or a keyboard or craning our necks forward to bring our mouths closer to the microphone .
For some of us , slouching may be a response to a physical condition . Injuries , chronic pain , and muscle tension often cause compensations in the body that can lead to misalignment . Even physical changes brought on by weight gain or pregnancy can impact our posture in dramatic ways . Posture changes brought on by physical conditions can sometimes be difficult to fix without help from a medical professional like a doctor , physical therapist , or massage therapist .
It ’ s helpful to understand what might be causing inefficient posture in each person , because understanding the contributing factors can help point the way to specific adjustments that are applicable to singing . What doesn ’ t often help is when people equate slouching with sloppiness , laziness , or lack of discipline – these judgments are often more discouraging than informative , and they do little to motivate a singer to actually seek improvement for themselves .
THE BENEFITS OF HEALTHY POSTURE FOR THE VOICE One of the most common assumptions that singers make when it comes to healthy posture is that it helps with breathing . And indeed , it is easier to breathe when the lungs and abdomen are not compressed . But the more immediate benefit of healthy posture in singing is in releasing excessive extrinsic muscular tension .
Extrinsic muscular tension refers to tension in the muscles outside and around the larynx , which houses the vocal folds . This includes muscles in the neck , the jaw , the tongue , and the upper shoulders . All of these muscles are interconnected to each other , and when there is imbalance or tension in one group , it tends to impact the other groups as well . Tension in the extrinsic muscles will eventually impact the intrinsic muscles , which are the muscles responsible for controlling vocal fold coordination and laryngeal movement . In other words , tension outside the larynx often creates tension inside the larynx , which is where the voice is produced . This can cause a number of different vocal challenges , including pitch inaccuracy , lack of clarity , lack of volume control , compromised breath management , vocal distortion , limited range , diminished vibrato , voice breaks , and more .
SIMPLE WAYS TO IMPROVE POSTURE Fortunately , posture is one of the easiest things to address in singing because it ’ s visible , measurable , and within a singer ’ s direct control . Here are some ways to establish a healthier posture for singing :
• Stand with your feet parallel to each other , about hip width apart . No need to lock the knees or keep your feet glued to the floor ; you can move and shift your weight to maintain balance and freedom of movement .
• Keep your hips in a neutral position . Check that your hips are neither tilted too far back or forward by running your fingers down the front of your hip bones . Your fingers should be able to trace a straight line down from the top of your hip bones ; if not , you may need to adjust your pelvis so it isn ’ t tilted too far in either direction .
• Keep the palms of your hands facing your body , and practice anchoring the shoulders down by pretending that your hands are being pulled towards the floor . This is especially helpful for singers whose shoulders tend to be hiked up towards their ears .
• Stand at a partially sideways angle in front of a mirror and make sure that your ears are lined up over your shoulders and your chin is more or less level , not tilting up or down .
• Don ’ t just practice these posture adjustments when you ’ re singing . Practice them throughout the day whenever you can , so that when you have to stand in front of a microphone or over your instrument , it will require less conscious effort .
• Set up your microphone stand and instrument so that they allow for your body to be in proper alignment while singing . It might be helpful to do this in front of a mirror or with the help of a teammate .
REMEMBER : POSTURE IS NOT A MAGIC FIX Posture is just one of the many factors that contribute to efficient singing . While it can have many positive effects on a singer ’ s sound , it isn ’ t going to fix every vocal issue . Start with posture to give yourself the best foundation for vocal balance , and then seek personalized training to really discover how much your voice can do .
Renee Maranan Renee is an acclaimed vocal instructor , voice teacher trainer , and life coach . She has been teaching voice for over 20 years and works with singers , vocal instructors , and performers from all over the world . For more vocal help , visit
www . ReneeMaranan . com follow her on Instagram @ reneemaranan