"Good Educators Share Knowledge. Great Educators Make an Impression That Stays in Their Students Hearts Forever." Part 2 of 5

 

It is beyond imagination the impact that a teacher can have on a child.  Last week I challenged you to thank a teacher and also to think about a teacher who impacted you and why.  Teachers are working even harder in this year of 2020 to do what they love, TEACH, and shape lives.  They are met with added challenges and still persevere.  Yes, I am a teacher too and realize why.  It is partly because of the teachers who taught me.

There are many teachers who have greatly impacted a life that stick out to me from an article I recently read:

A high school English teacher impacted the life of one of her students and encouraged her writing.  She is  now famous author.  The author has thanked the teacher in many of her prologues.  Without the teachers words and encouragement, she would not of set the goal to be an author.

The caring nature of a 10th grade teacher towards a child who lost their parents gave the student the courage and drive to attend school and be one of the first in their family to go to college.  The teacher became a reason for the student to show up to class and do well when the child thought there was no longer a reason to do so.  He gave him a purpose and to know someone was counting on him.

These examples may seem severe or out of the ordinary, but they happen everyday.  Who were the teachers that impacted you?  Did you thank them yet?

As I reflect on my teachers who had the biggest impact on me, I am reminded of the life lessons they taught me and want to share a few who stand out to me:

Thank you, Mr. Bob Wilkey, my 5th grade teacher.  He helped me through some struggles during that year.  He believed in me and gave me courage to believe in myself and my strengths.  He and I have kept in touch over the years.  I know he has done the same for countless students.  

Thank you to my first voice teacher, Pat Conrad, who also believed in me and fostered my talents.  She showed me the joy of singing and love of helping others to learn to sing at their best.  It was so valuable to me I decided I wanted to do the same.  I continued to return to her for years to come and sang with her for many more.  I think of her often as I teach and all she taught me.

YOU as a teacher make a difference.  YOU as a student are impacted and YOU as a student also give teachers the motivation to do what they do.  We all give energy to one another.  Keep it positive and share your positive influencers.

"Good Educators Share Knowledge. Great Educators Make an Impression That Stays in Their Students Hearts Forever." Part 1 of 5

 "Good educators share knowledge.  

Great educators make an impression that stays in their students' hearts forever."  

ESPECIALLY IN 2020! (Part 1)

I read these words a few days ago and it really rang true to me as something to remember right now!  Educators are working harder than ever in this wild and crazy year of 2020!  Not only are they doing what they love, TEACHING, but they are becoming proficient on technology, planning more than ever to hold seamless virtual classes or simultaneous virtual and in person classes, and trying to reach their students in all the different ways that they need through the computer and/or with COVID safety measures in person. So many challenges and so many added responsibilities.  From the math teacher, to the 5th grade teacher, to the Chorus Teacher, to the college professor, to the Voice Teacher, I have no doubt some of the teachers our kids really remember in their lifetime will be from this time.  

Teachers, take a moment and breathe and know you've got this.  It will take extra time and patience, but your work is important and we will all get through this together.  (Yes this is a pep talk for me too!)

Parents and students, take a moment to breathe and remember 'patience is a virtue'.  You've got this too, you can adapt to learning in new ways.  What teachers are sharing is still important.  Not only the CONTENT of what they are teaching but HOW they teach with compassion and WHAT you learn about humanity.  What sticks with you?

EVERYONE, take time to do something that lifts your spirits!  Listen to music, sing, play the guitar, go for a run, dance.  

Once you have done that, think about what TEACHER really touched your life and why?  Was it in a particular subject or just who they are?  Tune in next week for more.  In the meantime, take an extra moment to thank a teacher you appreciate in your life right now.  

What? School is Online? I need a creative outlet and 1 on 1 interaction-Try Singing Lessons!

 Ah 2020, what is going to be next?  School (and work) is online for many of us and so many students need a creative outlet with one on one interactions.  Singing Lessons may be the answer!

Think about it:  Music has been the one thing that everyone went to when we first went into quarantine in March.  How many videos did you see of people singing and making music together through the computer?  How did it make you feel?  It made me feel good and think about how much music soothes the soul or as a recent colleague said, "Music fixes everything."  

Music and singing specifically gives you an outlet for your emotions.  A chance to explore what lies within you.  Interacting with a voice teacher is a human connection that helps you improve those skills. 

 The one on one attention makes you feel like you are important and what you do really matters.  It does. Sing from the heart and work on improving something within yourself.  Try singing a new style of music, learn to sing in a different language.  One on one singing lessons have so much to offer!

Making music gives you a creative outlet, something we may be missing with online school.  Singing releases feel good endorphins.  Go out and sing your heart out to lift your spirits.

Do you love choir but not feel like you are getting the same satisfaction when singing in an online choir?  Maybe you need more individual human interaction and guidance from a singing teacher.  Not only can you hone your skills, but feel better in the process.  

Sing a bit to yourself.  Go on, Give it a try!  How do you feel after a bit?  Would you like to make it sound even better?  Reach out to a voice teacher like me today and get started!   Voice Lessons Inquiry

Reduce Your Anxiety and Improve Your Overall Well Being with Yoga, Pilates and Singing Part 6

I hope you joined me in the fun of planks and the experiment to see how it affects your singing.  After a few weeks of adding 2 planks to your daily practice, what happened?

I noticed I started supporting my singing from my abdominal muscles immediately upon doing my warm-ups.  A plank activates the abdominal muscles to do exactly what we want them to do when singing:  contract lightly but firmly.  It also activates the quadriceps or front muscles of the legs. Engaging these muscles when standing helps us activate the internal abdominal muscles and provide adequate breath support to our sound.

My breath support was balanced from the start and I avoided the potential to oversing even in emotional passages.

My brain also was truly focused on singing from the start.  The extra couple of minutes to get myself set to sing made an impact. 1 or 2 minutes of concentration on a muscular task also calms the brain.  Instead of trying to calm it down to focus all on your own, physical motion helps you.

It also calms and slows down your breath from our quick paced and uncertain world.

Comments from my studio:

"The planks help me develop a stronger core which I can feel."

"A tighter belly creates more breath support which is therefore easier on my throat when singing.  I always want to start my sound in the throat without using my breath first.  This is helping me to break this habit."

"My core is getting stronger to use it and guide my air better."

"I am connecting with my breath more now when I sing."

Thank you to all of you who commented on my blog The 2 Plank Challenge-What-does-doing-2 planks before singing do for you?  Most singing teachers agree that adding planks and other physical activities help singers be more in tune with their bodies, minds and improve singing.

"I've been advising my clients for years to do the Plank Challenge in order to build up their core strength - very effective :-) http://30dayfitnesschallenges.com/30-day-plank-challenge/" Kim Chandler


"I have been having my students planking for a year, I have been doing it for a long time. The results are immediate: even on days when they are a bit under the weather, after planking for 30-40 seconds, the breath connects with the body and the vocal results never cease to amaze! HIGHLY recommended..."  Angela Ahiskal 

Each individual is unique so various approaches work for different people.  Singers who are also athletes may need less direction on support and dancers often already have tight core muscles which may need to be relaxed when singing.  Those who are not as physically active outside of singing may need to take more time to get in tune with their bodies.  Physical fitness is an important part of being a singer today.  It is also a way to be a more well-balanced individual in these trying and uncertain times.  Find the activities that work for you to keep improving your singing and truly get your voice and body coordinated to make YOUR best sound.  Keep up the plank challenge and let me know other things which help you!


www.susanandersbrizick.com 

Reduce Your Anxiety and Improve Your Overall Well Being with Yoga, Pilates, and Singing Part 5

Pilates Practice for Singing and what are some of the most effective exercises?

There are many pilates exercises which are beneficial to singing practice.  We are engaging many of the same muscles with focus on centering, concentration, precision, control, breath and flow which are the 6 Principles of Pilates and often a source of focus in singing study.  Here are a few samples of effective pilates moves for singing practice:


Planks:  Strengthens core muscles and engages abdominal muscles in the same way we should engage abdominal muscles to initiate and stop airflow for singing.  Planks may be done on elbows on floor or ball (as shown) or on hands.  Keep up the planks in addition to these other exercises before you practice and don't forget to let me know how they are improving your singing and mood!







Chest lift with rotation: Engages and strengthens core muscles for breath control.



Spine twist and Side Lift : Strengthens side abdominal muscles and stretches vertebrae for good posture and breath engagement


Corkscrew: Strengthens all abdominal muscles and focus on control and flow of movement.  Slow controlled breath to initiate the movement and throughout the movement very effective for how engaged abs should be while singing a phrase.



Thread the Needle (Shoulder Stretch):  Opens back and shoulders to increase expansion of ribs and ease of breathing.  So important to singing!



Side Stretch (Sitting or Standing):  Opens side for ease of expansion for breathing in singing and articulates length of spine from the side.  As you stretch, imagine your spine growing in length by adding space in between vertebrae.  On returning to center, you should feel more space in your spine and side and stand taller with more buoyancy in your stance.  

Cat and Cow Stretch and Swan Prep:  Work the back extensors and latissimus dorsi and strenghten while articulating the spine.  Eases back pressure and add space in between vertebrae for better overall posture while singing.


Spine articulations with Spine Stretch (seated) :  This works the separation of the vertebrae in the spine.   While contracting abs, forward motion with arm reach stretches and separates lower spine.  Upon return to upright sitting, a taller and more separated spine. This is excellent to undo the crunch we put on our lower spine with sitting.  

Bridge: In bridge work, you are contracting back and abdominal muscles simultaneously.  The initial bridge opens the back vertebrae and lowering bridge you can articulate each vertebrae coming down one at a time and separating to release tension.  At the same time, you work the glutes and hamstrings for a tall energized stance for singing.  The more agile the spine, the better for singing.  

Many of these poses come from a paper on Pilates and the Classical Singer https://d3a512p2kajs89.cloudfront.net/media/paper/-pilates-and-the-classical-singer.pdf

In Pilates we work to free the muscles of the head, neck and shoulders and work on strengthening the core stabilizers (abdominal muscles).   We reduce outside tensions and open the resonating chambers of the body, creating a more resonant (freer) singing voice.  We establish more core awareness and stability in connection with making a resonant sound and help to build the foundation of a strong and resilient singing voice.  Some basic Pilates study will help you find strength from within your own body to enhance the beautiful singing you know lies within you.  Imagine the freedom you get in your singing voice when your posture is wonderful and your core muscles are truly connected to your sound!  When you are strong in body, you are strong in mind and sing at your optimal potential!  Let me know how this impacts your singing!

Reduce Your Anxiety and Improve Your Overall Well-Being with Yoga, Pilates, and Singing Part 4

So many similarities between Pilates practice in general and singing, but the most important practical move to use for our singing is the PLANK!  I have a challenge to all singers out there, add 2 planks of 30-60 seconds a piece before practicing.  It is ideal to to this on your toes, but on knees is a good start.  Try adding this to the beginning of practicing for a week or two.  How does it impact your practice that day?  Take note if anything and what changes about your singing.  Write it down and then process, what does this do for your singing?  What does it do for your mind?

Try it and then respond to this blog post.  Then check back in.  How does it impact what you are doing?  Does your body remember what to do better then when standing?  I will post more thoughts next week and a few more moves.  Join me in improving your singing and your mind!  We will do a check-in on the affects of your planks in 2 weeks!

Reduce Your Anxiety and Improve Your Overall Well Being with Yoga, Pilates, and Singing Part 3

 Our overall well-being is becoming more and more important through this pandemic we are living through.  We have spent much time talking about how Yoga can help us and applying it to our singing practice.  Now its time to explore Pilates and its affects!
  
What is the overall concept you think of when you hear the word 'Pilates'?  I think abdominal muscles and core work!  It is a focused intention no matter the area of the body, but strong abdominal muscles are one of its most efficient affects on our singing.    

But there is more: Pilates and Singing: Why and How Pilates Helps the Singing Voice

What are the main components of Pilates and how do they relate to the singing voice?

6 Essential Components of Pilates (from the BodyBook) (and Singing by Me)

1. Centering: Everything begins and ends with the center

Pilates:  All movements are energized and empowered by the strengthening of the core muscles

Singing: All breath flow starts with the direction of the core muscles and coordinates with the ribs and entire body to balance breath flow.  Breath flow is initiated and ends with the center core.

2. Concentration: Attention is on the intention of the movement or beginning of a phrase

Pilates: Attention is spent on the intention of movement before it begins and as it happens

Singing: Concentration on how our breath and sound is coordinated is the focus of much of our practice time until it becomes second nature.

3. Control:  Body and mind

Pilates and Singing: In both, we control and sync together the body and mind

4. Precision: Focus on each part being precise!

Pilates: Each movement is performed with precision and focus.  The details matter.

Singing:  Each start, duration, and end of musical phrases is performed with precision and focus.  The details matter to practice to make it seem flawless and effortless.

5. Breath:  Transformative

Pilates: Breath transforms the body and mind by working together

Singing:  The sycronization of the the breath with the body and mind makes singing such a unique art.  The mind slows to be in sync and the breath then does its job to provide the catalyst for our sound. 

6. Flow:  Breath, body, mind.

Pilates:  The goal is to flow from one exercise to the next gracefully.

Singing: The goal is to flow from one phrase to the next (coordinating our breath and muscles) gracefully.

One more thing which I find to be paramount to Pilates and Singing is that it works on improving and strengthening your posture.  Good posture is essential to good breath and therefore good singing.  Pilates work strengthens our core and posture which in turn improves singing and makes the motions of good singing more natural. 

Pilates work involves the coordination of body and mind.  Add some to your Yoga and Singing practices this week (start with some planks).