Strong. Centered. Singer.
Embodied Singer is a multi-disciplinary approach to vocal artistry with fact-based vocal pedagogy at the heart. Movement practices, Myofascial Release Techniques, and Meditation support the exploration and development of breath, resonance, and musical artistry.
Vocal sounds authentically represent the body that created them. Embodied Singer explores the full body and mind of the singing artist. Awareness, alignment, strength, and flexibility of the body and mind allow your voice to function optimally.
Why Movement?
Our Entire Body Sings!
Singing is an expression of balance of the body and mind. Singing requires intelligent strength and supple flexibility. Both vocal function and expressive physical artistry ask for deep body awareness. Drawing from Yoga, Pilates, Qi Gong, and Orthopedic Exercises, Embodied utilizes postures and movements to align the body, balancing energy and space. A responsive relationship between the body and mind is the foundation of effective, holistic vocal pedagogy. Discovering your unique, effective singing techniques becomes a creative and satisfying endeavor of its own!
Why Myofascial Release? (And what is that, exactly?)
Your Instrument is an Interconnected Web of Fascia!
Fascia, your body’s interconnected web of tissue, has a tremendous influence on your singing and artistry. This tissue surrounds every muscle fiber and every organ. If you’ve ever sung after deep tissue massage, you likely experienced unparalleled vocal freedom. When we attend to our tissues using appropriate therapeutic tools, our muscles can slide and glide more easily. Myofascial release for the abdomen or back muscles can liberate the breath, allowing those muscles to both engage and stretch responsively. Release techniques for the spine, neck, throat, tongue, and facial muscles can have an astonishing affect on vocal resonance and articulation. Fascia is also a conduit for the nervous system. Myofascial Release techniques have the potential to calm our mind as well as free our body.
Why Meditation?
Singing *is* Meditation.
Meditation is the act of returning, again and again, to a point of concentration. As singers, our point of concentration is our musical expression. Singing asks for a receptive and focused mind, as well as patience, tenacity, and compassion. These and many other qualities overlap between singing and meditation practice. Exploring singing as meditation as well as meditation as an independent practice helps us cultivate the mental and emotional skills of expressive vocal artistry.
You are a Unique Artist.
Every singer is unique, bringing their own perceptions, intentions, and artistic desires. Embodied Singer is inclusive in its approach and applicable to all genres of music. Each artist is encouraged to consider what they want to sound like. Once the intention for the sound is clear, it guides the body and mind. Embodied Singer technique is versatile and always in service to your authentic artistry. The “right” vocal technique is the technique that reveals and supports the sounds you love.
Every Sound is Valuable.
Embodied Singer promotes equanimity - equal respect for all of our vocal expressions. Every sound we make releases something valuable from within. Every sound we make gives us more information about the full spectrum of our artistry. When we embrace all sounds and experiences, we are free from judgement and open to discovery.
