​We begin our studies with the very basic principles of sound and what makes your voice.

In this unit we will talk about what makes sound and where your breath is converted to sound, or voice, in your body.

We will learn about your vocal mechanism and the individual parts inside of your upper body that create voice.

You will learn the specific points and movements to release the most tension in your voice and to liberate the voice that is inside.

We will begin at the top of your head and work to the middle of your chest.

1:00

And, you will learn the small, easy, simple movements that one by one, by one, release your voice.

These open positions are called your, “Home,” or “Resting” positions.

And each triggers a release, and rest and motion in the next point down in your vocal mechanism in the upper third of your body.

1:30

At the end of this class you will have the basic movements that begin each of your vocal study sessions.  

Dancers warm-up, martial artists warm-up, instrumentalists warm-up, and voice people warm-up.

And, before we even make a sound, we have to put our instrument in an aligned position that naturally allows the voice to easily happen.

That is the subject of today’s class:

2:00

Your resting and released, “Home” position.

Now, I don’t expect you to perform each of these movements right the first time.

All of us have habits in our voice and in our tongue and mouth and face, and all the parts that make up the vocal mechanism that move out of their optimum position.

So, it will take a little time for your to find the resting positions, unwind the tension and then become comfortable leaving these points in their resting positions so the voice, and the air, and breath can enter.

2:48

Take your time. These are so important. These fundamental movements are the movements that begin all the other advanced movements you will learn later in this course.

3:01

So, it’s not a race. It’s a progression of understanding how your body works.  

Take your time.

Schedule your practice sessions.

Focus on each point at a time and we’ll be able to move onto the next unit, which is breathing.

But first, before we can allow breath into the vocal mechanism we have to find the release points, unlock them so they can naturally draw breath in.

3:33

So, with that, let’s begin and talk about sound and how and where your voice is made.