Aligning the Body & Spine

In our practice, beginning with alignment can help all other aspects of singing fall into place. Good alignment is not just helpful to us as singers, but can prevent physical pain at later stages in life and make us present ourselves more confidently. Good alignment can even improve our mood!

Many vocal teachers utilize the Alexander Technique when discussing alignment. Alexander was an actor who performed recitations of Shakespeare before the availability of microphones (Yes: He would recite the whole play and voice every character -- as you could imagine, he was using his voice a LOT). After a performance, he found that he would lose his voice, become hoarse, and be unable to perform. This lead to his technique of studying his alignment and the way his body moved, so that he would be in peak performance, be able to project his voice for these long periods of time without negative consequences. The modern use of Alexander Technique is to study the way our bodies move and stand, and be mindful at all times of our alignment and any tension being held in the body.

Remember our first alignment exercise? Standing with two-fists-width distance between our feet -- Find this position again. Try to release any tension held within the body. Let's stack up our bodies in a comfortable alignment.

• Stand with both feet on the floor, distributing your weight evenly between your feet and rock forward slightly, then slightly backward. Try to maintain your balance through the center of the feet. Feel like you are pushing your weight to the outside edges of your feet so that you can lengthen from the arches of your feet & up.
• Align your knees above your ankles or even above your foot. Keep a slight bend, or softness in your knees (it won't be noticeable if you look in a mirror, but the back of your knees should feel soft and comfortable)
• Align your hips above your knees. You may or may not have a curve at your lumbar spine. Some people have a larger curve than others. If your knees are not relaxed, your butt will stick out more and your pelvic bone will rotate downward. If your knees are relaxed your pelvic bone should be aligned more forward, and your butt will stick out less (though, try not to clench - just to where your hips relax and feel like your hip points are directing you forward, as if you're about to walk somewhere with intention)
• Align your shoulders above your hips. Feel your back and collar bone widen side to side. Breathe deeply into your ribs to feel that space open up. Your belly should be able to soften to take a deep belly-inhalation.
• Allow your head to sit atop your spine. You should easily be able to look side to side.