----- Original Message -----
> I'm wondering what any of you do as far as any physical exercise routines
to > improve your singing...Also, what are your > thoughts in relation to
singers smoking, particularly classical singers?
Hello Robyn,
The right-on stuff that Michelle said in her reply, though I think the whole
smoking deal has rather evolved beyond a simple "personal choice" thing -
refer to further rant below...
It occurs to me that whatever is good and bad for human beings is also
good and bad for singers and vice versa... something like that...
Just in the last few weeks, I have finally got around to taking Kung Fu
classes, specifically, the Wing Chun style, made popular by Bruce Lee and
others. So far, I think it is a wonderful way towards the training and
education of the whole individual and collective spiritbodymind... as it
were... I have previously done bits of tai chi, qi gong, yoga, etc., but my
experience is,
these are a bit too "yin" and otherwise "mellow" for me. I tend to be
laid-back and generally introverted to the point of a certain
depression/implosion, so I think I need something that is rather more
"yang", extroverted and "kick ass" kind of thing... Something that lets my
certain shadow self, "Little Mickey Egg****" to come out and play, as it
were... This is one area where performing and martial arts kind of meet -
the healing ("making whole") and actualization that happens with the
ever-evolving recognition and integration of our various light and dark
aspects into our whole selves... yeah, that's it...
Whatever exercise you do, I think the critical factors are motivation and
commitment. I like these particular kung fu classes for this because they
are fairly small; the instructor does a mixture of stuff that works the
whole body (reminding me how unfit I have allowed myself to become...) and
stuff that is just plain fun, especially the actual punching and kicking and
other fighting stuff - always done in an atmosphere of mutual respect and
compassion... There is lots of partner work and teaching from more
experienced students, all of which contributes to the sociability factor,
which I really need - As much of an introvert as I am, I get bored always
doing the solitary thing... My teacher is very flexible in terms of
commitment - One can sign up for a set of classes or "drop in" 1 - 3 times a
week and/or take private lessons. As my teacher says, the more you can do,
the more quickly you can improve... All this is relatively inexpensive -
$5-$7 for a 1-11/2 hour class and $20 for a 11/2 hour private session, which
further helps to motivate...
I have been a big fan of martial arts of all kinds for many years,
especially Jackie Chan's stuff, with his wonderful light sense of humour,
terrific stunts and choreography that is just beautiful to watch...
I would be interested to hear from other singers of any specific problems
with singing and martial arts...
As for smoking, sigh... I am still and always confounded that Mr. Butts
continues to draw attention/energy in 2002... Smoking is just another form
of corporate government/media-sponsored pathology/psychosis/war that stinks,
maims and kills and is generally unhealthy for all living things... As I
said above, I believe this is all way beyond "personal choice". While my
heart goes
out to the victims of 9/11, to say nothing of of countless global conflicts
from time immemorial, millions of innocents have suffered and died as a
direct result of secondary smoke which is in turn the result of someone's
"personal
choice"... In the "War on Terrorism", I don't understand why butt factories
are not bombed, speaking sort of figuratively, and butt corporation
executives are not hunted down
and held criminally responsible for the astronomical murder and mayhem they
have caused... Actually, I do understand - it's the old boring corporate
greed/corruption thing... "Vocalist Backstage", anyone...?
It occurs to me that on many levels, everything comes from the breath...
The universe breathes...
Smoking is a desecration of the breath. Singing is a celebration of the
breath...
Cheers.
Michael and his little friend Mickey
Michael Eckford michaelb@i...
Earth, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
So, a guy walks into a bar and says ouch.
"The required criteria for success in the 21st century are ecological
integrity, effective decision making, and social cohesion. These are
progressively replacing current commitments to maximum economic growth,
compulsive consumption, and international competition." - Robert Theobald,
Reworking Success
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