Monday, 31 August 2015
Thursday, 27 August 2015
What Effects Does Dancing Have on the Human Body?
Dancing's effects on the body are generally positive unless injury is involved. Done at a moderate or higher tempo, it usually causes a sweat and qualifies as aerobic exercise. Dancing burns calories and can positively affect weight loss. In addition, it offers the psychological benefits of socializing with others. One study even showed that elderly people who participated in dancing lowered their risk of dementia. Dance-fitness classes such as Jazzercise and Zumba offer fun ways to work out.
Aerobic Exercise
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services recommends that adults participate in two hours and 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity such as wallking or swimming per week for optimum health benefits. Alternatively, vigorous exercise such as running should be done for at least one hour and 15 minutes per week. As a form of aerobic exercise, dancing offers cardiovascular conditioning that may lower your risk of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and being overweight. Whether you choose to learn ballroom dancing from a qualified instructor, participate in a dance-fitness class at your local gym or dance along with a video in your living room, there are a number of ways to enjoy dance as exercise and get a good aerobic workout simultaneously.
Monday, 24 August 2015
Sunday, 16 August 2015
IMPORTANCE OF SINGING LESSONS
IMPORTANCE OF SINGING LESSONS
Reasons why singing lessons can help you as a singer.
Importance of singing lessons. No matter if you're just starting out or an international singing sensation all singers need to have singing lessons! Here are some reasons why singing lessons are so important for singers (credit to Julie Miles of Vocal Ovation for additions):
Reaching your full potential
Singing lessons help you to sing better, although that seems obvious, that’s what they aim to do. Good singing tuition will help you learn techniques and exercises that are suitable for the effective development of your voice. Singing lessons can therefore help to develop your music further.
Staying in key
Singing consistently in key when under pressure can sometimes be a challenge due to the effect nerves can have on the vocal chords and breathing. Regular lessons will teach you how to control, manage and balance this far more successfully.
Increasing your range
Reach you potential by extending your vocal range to allow you to sing comfortably and without strain. You’ll then be able to pick from a much wider range of songs and keep yourself and your audience interested.
BENEFITS OF SINGING LESSONS FOR SINGERS
Build confidence
Successful singers need to be confident as that confidence reflects in their performance. Confidence comes from being in control and control comes from having a good technique. Taking singing lessons can help with all the above and will therefore enable a singer to focus less on what could go wrong and more on delivering a believable performance for their audience.
Vocal health
The voice is a very delicate and complex instrument which unfortunately cannot be renewed if it wears out. When singing without the education provided through singing lessons, it’s very easy for a singer to damage their voice, sometimes permanently. Good singing teachers will identify the times that you may be putting undue strain on your voice and the correct way to change that with specific exercises. They can also advise you on your lifestyle choices that could help to protect your voice.
Developing your own style
Successful singers usually have something quite unique about their voice so that when you hear one of their songs you immediately recognise them. Singing lessons will help develop a strong foundation for your voice which will allow your own style to surface. Unless you want to become a ‘tribute’ singer an audience will far rather hear your voice!
Breath control
The health of your voice is paramount as a singer. Therefore improving breath control can help you to keep your voice strong. Many people with breathing problems use singing lessons as a way of improving the issue. Breath control is essential as a singer and you’ll need it to perform, if you lose your breath and stop singing, you risk ruining your reputation.
Public speaking
As you develop in your career, being able to speak in public becomes essential for interviews and press releases. Singing lessons help you to find your voice and know it better than you did before. Learning to project your voice is essential and helps with microphone technique.
Wednesday, 12 August 2015
Monday, 10 August 2015
Wednesday, 5 August 2015
Drinking Water When Singing
Drinking Water When Singing
Our vocal cords are delicate membranes, which are coated with a protective mucosal lining that protects them from the natural friction which occurs when we speak or sing.
This mucus coating can easily become imbalanced, for example when we get a cough or cold, we may produce more mucus or when talking or singing a lot, the mucus lining dries up. Too much friction on our vocal cords could possibly cause unhealthy swelling. Swollen cords do no vibrate as freely as healthy cords and could potentially lead to more serious damage such as nodules.
We need to keep out cords as hydrated as possible. When we drink, the liquid does not wash directly over our vocal cords. Our bodies are designed to have a flap of skin which covers our windpipe to prevent food and liquid from entering our lungs. Our vocal cords are situated just under this flap, at the top of our windpipe in our Adam’s apple (Larynx).
To effectively hydrate our vocal cords, we need to drink lots of water. This water is absorbed by our stomachs and distributed around our bodies, to where it is needed. It could take around 30 minutes or more for water to reach our larynx and benefiting the voice, so don’t just drink the moment before you sing. Make sure you have drunk enough at least 30 minutes before you sing.
How do you know if you are hydrated enough. The best way to find out if you are hydrated sufficiently or not is by the colour of your urine. Our bodies use water to flush out toxins and waste products. The lighter and clearer it is the more hydrated you are. The darker, and less frequent you pass urine, the less hydrated you are.
Don’t go overboard and drink gallons of water in one sitting as it will just make you ill, but frequent sips of water over the day will keep you hydration levels up.
Something to point out here, but make sure you empty your bladder before you start singing. There’s nothing worse than being on stage, and you need to pee. That 30 minute set of songs, will seem like an eternity, and you will be jigging about doing a very funny dance until you can get off stage.
The Importance Of Drinking Water When Singing
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