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From:  John Link <johnlink@n...>
Date:  Mon Sep 9, 2002  7:32 pm
Subject:  Re: [vocalist] Suggestions needed for vocal workshop

>I have been asked to lead a 20 minute "refresher" on posture and breathing
>for a community chorus is sing in. Does any one have any clever or
>innovative suggestions so I don't rehash the same stuff everyone already
>knows?

Here's one possible plan:

10 minutes (from the Feldenkrais Method):
Have everyone lie on their backs with their knees bent and their feet
standing. Ask them to leave their feet where they are and then ask
them to notice where they have placed their feet. Ask them to feel
the distance between their feet. Ask them to feel the distance
between their feet and their pelvis. Ask them to leave their feet
where they are and several times lift the pelvis in the air. Suggest
that maybe they feel that the lifting of the pelvis could be easier
if their feet were placed even a little bit differently. Ask them to
make small adjustments and see whether the lifting becomes easier.
Tell them to experiment both with the distance between the feet and
the distance between the feet and the pelvis. Eventually everyone
will find the optimal placement of the feet for lifting the pelvis
off the floor.

10 minutes (based on the Carl Stough's Breathing Coordination):
Once they have found the optimal placement of the feet for lifting
the pelvis off the floor, ask them to observe their breathing, with
no attempt to control it. Ask them to be aware of when the are
breahing out and when they are breathing in. Tell them to hum as long
as they can easily every time that breath out, and to allow each
inhalation to take as long as it wants. Tell them to hum using
whatever pitches seem easy.

Once they are standing upright again, ask them to look for
differences in their sensations of standing and breathing.

>On a related topic, does anyone have any comments on the method of focusing
>your breath toward to lower back instead if the abdominal area?

The plan above will probably be helpful in this regard.

Good luck!

John Link

http:/www.cdBaby.com/JohnLink
Check out my CDs:
http://www.cdBaby.com/JohnLink2 (John Link Sextet)
http://www.cdBaby.com/JohnLink (John Link Vocal Quintet)



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