4th September 2024 - First lesson of the year!!

Although this session was cut shorter than anticipated due to complications with the first day of school timetable, a lot of work was still able to be completed.

During this session, we covered several warmup techniques that can ensure one's vocal and physical health is suitably maintained at a basic level.

These were:

-'Wake Up'

-Mobility Drawing

-Ballerina Breathing

Wake Up

This exercise involves gently tapping various parts of your body rapidly with the tips of your fingers. The general pathway is to begin with the face and back of the neck, before traversing down the body into the shoulders, arms, torso and so on. This gentle stimulation encourages the muscles to become more alert and for the participant to feel more energised for performance. It is commonly used in warm-ups before performances to ensure maximum energy, but can also be applied to a rehearsal setting.

Mobility Drawing

Another physical exercise, this activity entails drawing one's name in the air with their dominant hand finger, in the most cursive and flowing way possible. Following this, the task is repeated with other parts of the body (on both sides to maintain an even balance), such as the nose, knees, hips and feet/toes. This allows for the mobilisation aspect of any successful warm-up t be achieved, especially is the pulse-raising and dynamic stretching phases do not include it very much.

Ballerina Breathing

While not inherently a vocal exercise, Ballerina Breathing is very useful in reinstating one's posture and centre of balance that is imperative when singing; it also, being a breathing exercise, grounds the participant and eradicates any possible performance nerves if being used in that context. For this activity, one stands with their feet shoulder width apart and their arms comfortably resting alert in front of them, similarly to a standard ballet position. With each inhale, the participant will gently bend their knees to lower themselves, as well as slowly reposition their arms to be outstretched horizontally at their sides. Following this, during the exhale, they will slowly realign themselves to their original pose. The exercise can be repeated for as long as a participant may require, and can be done at any speed, but preferably a slow and methodical one.