The Feldenkrais Store: Singing With Your Whole Self: The Feldenkrais Method® and Voice

Teaches performers to use the Feldenkrais Method® to ameliorate problems of tension, muscle strain, and illness in order to obtain optimal vocal performance. Singing with Your Whole Self contains an important and unique feature: modularized Feldenkrais "Awareness through Movement®" lessons. These are specifically designed for liberating function in all musicians and in singers in particular. Modularized lessons allow the user to choose between functionally useful short segments or entire lessons. The first part of the book presents the theory explaining why this approach works in an easily understood and concrete fashion. The remaining chapters explore our anatomy by area and explain usage, problems and how these relate to singing; lessons throughout revolve around improving performance. Includes an index both by lesson and by problem, referring performers to the lessons most effective for a specific problem.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments

Chapter 1: Overview

Relating to the Feldenkrais Method to the Teaching of Singing
Overview of the Feldenkrais Method
Key Ideas in the Development of the Feldenkrais Method
Kinesthetic Imagination
Relationship of This Work to Pedagogical Literature
Awareness Through Movement
Introduction to the Lessons
Mini-ATM: Freeing the Neck to Turn Freely

Chapter 2: Control and Letting Go

Active Control
Allowing or Passive Control
ATM: Weights and Levers
Tension and Function
ATM: Taming Tongue Tension

Chapter 3: The Base of Support

The Role of Feet and Legs
ATM: Balance in Standing
Using the Floor
ATM: The Connection of Feet Through to Head
High Heals
Leg-Length Differential
A Simple Exercise: Strengthening the Adductors

Chapter 4: Intentionally and Effort

Intention
Efforting
Power and Potential
Reversibility Principle
The Whole Is Not the Sum of the Parts

Chapter 5: Pelvic Power

The Pelvis
Vocal Context: Powering from the Power Base
ATM: Pelvic Clock
The Pelvis in Sitting
ATM: The Role of the Pelvis in Sitting Erect

Chapter 6: Breathing

Mechanics of Breathing
ATM: Breathe and Find Your Center
Recovery from Illness
ATM: Lengthening the Lungs

Chapter 7: Upper Trunk Flexibility

The Upper Trunk
ATM: Freeing the Ribs
The Midspine
ATM: Lateral Flexion
Scoliosis
Mini-ATM: Evening the Sides

Chapter 8: Shoulder Girdle and Arms

Shoulders and Breath
ATM: Reaching Out
Shoulder Tension
ATM: Shoulder Release

Chapter 9: Head and Neck

Positioning the Neck
ATM: Relating Head and Pelvis
Role of the Head in Vocal Production
ATM: Relating Shoulders, Neck, and Jaw
Headaches
Mini-ATM: Releasing the Neck

Chapter 10: Hands and Mouth

Relationship of Hands and Tongue
Shoulders and Hand Tension
ATM: Magic Hands
Imaginary Warm-Ups
The Mouth
ATM: Softening the Mouth

Chapter 11: The Eyes

Role of the Eyes in Movement
Releasing Minor Neck Cricks
Visual Tension
ATM: Releasing the Eyes
Glasses
Ocular Muscles and the Sinuses
ATM: Eyes Relate to Jaw

Chapter 12: Pedagogical Uses for This Volume

Student Use
Group (Class) Voice and Ensemble Rehearsal Use
Teacher Use (Private Studio Voice)

Appendix Functional Integration®
Glossary
References and Resources
Index of Lessons
General Index
About the Authors

"Divided into small units that can be undertaken by people who do not have large amounts of time at their disposal, the exercises are described simply and clearly and are accompanied by helpful drawings." -Choice

"The book is exceptionally clear and eminently practical. The authors' explanation of the Feldenkrais Method is lucid and succinct, the lessons are laid out in a format that is easy to follow, and the diagrams aid in understanding the movements...Singing with Your Whole Self is a valuable volume, both for those who have been previously introduced to the Feldenkrais Method, and for those unfamiliar with this type of body work." -Nats Journal of Singing

"While stating that the book is intended as a handbook, there is much to stimulate the intellect within its pages...Nelson and Blades-Zeller are highly qualified and experienced in pedagogy...As the saying goes, "the proof of the pudding is in the eating". This writer attempted the exercises that were appropriate to his technique finding a high success rate." -Australian Voice