High efficiency

We're going to be replacing our furnace pretty soon. Generally, furnaces last about 15-20 years and ours will turn 20 this year. (Yes, my furnace is older than some of you. *sigh*)

In the interest of being responsible consumers, and as people who try to be environmentally minded, we may buy a "high-efficiency" furnace this time. Although they cost more money, they can heat a house while using less energy than a standard furnace, which may save us money in the long run. In essence, high-efficiency furnaces get more output (heat) with less input (energy burned).

When we break it down, a primary purpose of voice training is to turn our voices into high-efficiency machines.

One of the greatest inhibitors of efficient singing is unnecessary tension. Of course, singing is not a lazy or completely relaxed activity—there must be a dynamic balance of tensions in order to make sound. But too much tension in the wrong places can lead to problems.

In the book Singing with Your Whole Self: A Singer's Guide to Feldenkrais Awareness through Movement, authors Samuel H. Nelson and Elizabeth L. Blades explain that when we unnecessarily tighten a muscle (or a group of muscles), it takes more effort and force to complete tasks (like singing). This extra effort leads to three things:

1. We get tired faster.
2. We're more likely to get injured.
3. Our voices sound strained. 

The authors describe this further:

"As fatigue is a function of energy expended versus energy available, obviously, for any given task, the less energy used, the less tired we will be. With extra effort, injuries are more likely both because the extra effort itself leads to added strain and wear and tear and because as we tire injuries are more likely. As more effort is made, a tense quality envelops the musculature. Since the sound we produce is a product of our entire self, this tense quality colors our sound."  -Singing with Your Whole Self, p.28

One of the Awareness Through Movement (ATM) exercises they encourage in the book is similar to the head-and-neck exercise I have had all of you do at one point or another. Moving your head back and forth a few inches encourages a sense of looseness at the upper shoulders, neck, jaw, tongue, face, etc., which can release unnecessary tensions and increase vocal efficiency before you even start to make sound.

Sure, no one comes out of a performance and says, "Wow, that was some really efficient singing up there!" But when our singing is more efficient, our voices will last longer and we will be able to place more of our effort and attention on the expressive elements of our musical storytelling.

And, just like a high-efficiency furnace, the more bang (or belting) for your buck, the better off you'll be.

How has your singing been this week? How can you bring more efficiency into your singing?

Now go practice.

Our cat (Claude) knows that although the fire on the TV is more impressive,
the actual gas fireplace is more efficient at getting him warm.