AboutPamela Thomas Expertise Questions on Opera performance, repertoire, vocal technique, acting for opera. I have some 20 years experience in opera in both leading roles and chorus. I have sung with New York City Opera since 1981. I have studied voice in NYC for over 20 years and have also taught technique and coached singers in acting.
Coinciding with a divorce, I have recently discovered or become more aware of my voice. I am 29 years old and have always enjoyed singing, and even though there is an opera singer in the family, I never even thought I could take singing seriously.
I'm at my financial low right now and can't afford lessons and I have been ill with mononucleosis recently and am therefore a little weaker. After my illness, I felt an incredible urge to start a self-study to improve my voice.
I have access to a recording studio at my art school so I can record my voice and listen to it. I have noticed that it is often much more easier for me to sing lying down. When I am standing up I often feel dizzy and tense up and need to concentrate a lot on my breathing to keep going. But when I am lying down or even sitting, I am often much more louder and I can feel the resonation vibrate fully. I can then often reach notes as low as E3 and as high as C6 with a full sound. It amazes me every time because as soon as I am standing in that room with the mike my throat seems to tense up, and I get really tired. It is very intimidating I guess.
I would really appreciate your advice. Perhaps I need breathing exercises. Or are there any physical exercises that could improve my posture and ability to sing while standing?
thank you, with kind regards,
Nadia S.
Answer Hi Nadia,
It does seem to me as if you might be letting the "intimidation" of singing get in the way. When you are lying down and breathing/singing - really pay attention to your body and what you are doing. How do you breathe? Is it a deep breath? Do you feel your abdomen and back expand? When you sing - do you feel any tension or tightness in your throat or is your jaw tense? I think you should try to duplicate the feeling when you stand.
If you can sing in front of a mirror - that would be helpful. Make sure you breathe low (don't tense up when you breathe in - just fill up and sing. You want to resist the collapse of the air - strengthen the abdomen muscles so they can control the air as you sing. You want to control the "collapse".
I think if you are feeling dizzy you should also speak to your doctor and make sure you are fully recovered..
If you can manage it, it would be good to find a teacher and take a lesson or two - just so he/she can see what you are doing and give you some suggestions. Even if you can take 2 lessons a month - that would help guide you as you work on your own.
