Re: Voice Teachers--what to look for?

samia525
Fri, 14 Oct 2005 22:48:00 +0000

MsTee, yep I live in Seoul. It’s beautiful here now! Perfect fall weather!

I also want to mention something about yoga. I’ve been doing Bikram yoga for the past 3.5 months now, and WOW it does wonders not only for your breathing and singing, but also for your overall health. My lung capacity is so much bigger now, I can go into the splits first thing the morning (and I’m not and never have been a dancer,) and my biceps are harder than most guys’ I know. It’s 90-minute class performed in a heated room (105 degrees F approx.) The heat allows your muscles to loosen up, making it possible to go deeper into stretches without hurting yourself. The class teaches you not only how to completely focus your mind and body, but also how to relax. It does wonders for your mental and physical health! Also, it’s making my singing voice better and more supported than before. Even though you don’t speak at all in the class, it somehow warms up your vocal cords! (All that heat and humidity and deep breathing.)

I’m mentioning this for kids like me who aren’t stellar dancers but would like to show auditors that we have the POTENTIAL to be somewhat good. Bikram yoga builds the fundamental skills you need for dance: strength, flexibility, and balance. Suddenly I find myself able to do double pirouettes no problem, I can extend my legs at an obtuse angle to the floor and HOLD them there, and I can do all kinds of crazy things with my spine now, haha. If any of you out there are worried about dance auditions like I am, get into a Bikram yoga class! Do dance classes too, of course, but the yoga is what will REALLY get you in shape for those auditions. The dance classes will help you learn combinations quickly, but unless you’re super-advanced, they don’t really get you in shape, ya know?

Okay I hope that helps a few people!