The development of a singer takes several years and involves training many different abilities. Since the whole body is the singer's instrument, and the mind, emotions, and musical abilities play the instrument, it is necessary to train all these elements. In the early developmental stage of perhaps six to eight years from high school through college, and beyond, the practices of yoga can be of great assistance in training the various facets of the whole singer. Beyond the training and development stages, the practices of yoga serve the singer well throughout life by keeping body, breath, mind, and spirit in healthful balance. Judith E. Carman, DMA, has taught singing for forty years, practiced yoga for almost twenty years, and taught yoga classes especially designed for singers for a decade. Dr. Carman has conducted Yoga for Singers workshops in university settings, for choral groups, in yoga studios, and for the National Association of Teachers of Singing and National Opera Association national conferences and at national workshops. The material is divided into five categories: individual postures, short examples of practices for specific purposes, breathing techniques, a short demonstration class that includes all the elements of a complete practice in shortened form |
