By: Maddie Rowlette
Typically, people don’t think of singing when considering athletics. However, what most people don’t realize is that a lot of physical activity takes place in the body while a vocalist is performing. Not only does singing require incredible rhythm and balance, but many performers stand up onstage for several hours at a time, making physical activity a necessity for vocalists.
So many different aspects go into singing. Everything from posture to heart rate to breath intake can affect both exercising AND singing. How healthy a vocalist’s body is determines the quality of the sound that they produce. It is surprising how many vocalists are runners, simply because of the positive impact it has on their voice.
To analyze how exercising affects vocalizing, we must first look at which parts of the body are involved with singing. While the throat is an important aspect of phonation, and the one most commonly referred to, most of what happens when a singer is singing actually takes place in the abdomen area.
The diaphragm is an important stomach muscle musicians use for controlling their breathing while singing, and it is strengthened best through activities that involve lots of breath intake. Activities such as running or swimming are especially good for this. Really, any activity that gets the heart rate up is good for strengthening a person’s core.
The position of the spine is also important to consider when singing. Your spine is connected to your rib cage, which is connected to your lungs. If someone is slouched, their breathing will be more labored, causing more difficulty producing sound.
According to stolaf.edu, “Fitness activities can enhance your sense of body rhythm, postural balance, and awareness of subtle energy flows, all of which benefit the voice.”
These are all important reasons why vocalists should always be very careful when taking care of their body, especially as they grow older. Two of the most important parts of singing are breath control and stamina, both of which are improved most easily through physical activity.
So many vital organs are involved with singing, so it is crucial for singers to ensure that physical health is a priority as they get older.
Running is one activity singers commonly utilize to improve breath control.
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