Music Teacher's Helper Blog

How can a singer’s arms assist in the production of a better sound, you may wonder?   

A singer’s body is his instrument.  Most teachers acknowledge that the body is interconnected and inseparable from the sound or tone a singer creates.   Ironically, arms are tremendously useful tools for singers!  While they are not directly connected to the production of a tone and the processes of phonation and resonation - I find their use in practice and rehearsal can greatly assist the quality of sound production.

If a singer’s sound is not carrying well or is being produced in a pleasing manner to the singer (it sounds so lovely in their head!) but is not carrying “across the room” or “to the back of the theatre” in an effective manner, the use of arm movement can improve this quality.  

Try this exercise:

1) Have the singer sing a simple exercise – I like 5,4,3,2,1 slide up to 5 and back down to 1 (move by half steps either direction).

2) Have the singer add the movement of his arm moving forward (perpendicular to his body) while he sings this exercise.  It is important that his arm be moving forward throughout the entire exercise to keep the tone placed properly.

3) Repeat

I usually find immediate improvement from this exercise and like to discuss the difference with the singer after a few successful runs.  I ask “How did it feel?  What was different?  Did the sound feel smaller?  Less ‘fulfilling’ or powerful?”  and we discuss how this sound can be found again and document those key phrases and words they associate with that success in their voice notebook.  Those magnificent arms!