Are you a singer? Or maybe a teacher or a coach? Do you use your projected voice? Then this blog may be for you.
As part of my series of blogs “Massage for Musicians” This item looks at tension in the neck, throat and voice.
When we use a projected voice. (Imagine your teacher shouting “Hey! you there”) We place strain on our vocal chords and all the muscles around them. our head neck and throats will all be put under tension. If this action is prolonged and repeated, over time you could notice damage to your voice.
Musicians and teachers alike, come to me to address this problem as they feel this, and ask for proactive care before they damage their voices with nodes or nodules.
The first stage of my assessment looks at posture. Ideally, the neck should be relaxed and central to the shoulder cradle, the spine falling loosely below and the knees soft, acting as a shock absorber in movement.
Some people like to visualise a golden thread suspending them from the crown of their heads to the sky (suspended in perfect balance like a marionette). This technique, a mainstay of the Alexander technique, enables the body to find it’s natural resting postition.
You may find that you are raising your chin and pushing your head forward. This places strain on the sternocleidomastoid muscle at the sides of the neck and the upper trapezius at the back. Try realligning your spine with the golden thread exercise. Note the difference.
Is there additional tension in the jaw or soft palate? Why not focus on these muscles, encouraging them to “Soften, just a little”
Observe your breath. Not trying to change anything, observe, the cool fresh air coming in to your body, and as you exhale, soften the muscles, just a little.
A difficulty some find is that they are always used to being active. It is necessary for us to sometimes be inactive. To actively do nothing. To just BE. Make time at the beginning (not the end) of your schedule each day to Just Be.
Observe your breath.
Soften each muscle group.
Feel aligned
Vocal strain can be alleviated before the onset of nodes through relaxation , breathing exercise and massage.
Do get in touch if you would like more details, or would like a personal consultation.