West End Musical Theatre performer, lead singer of a London Big Band, and Clinical Osteopath, Jennie Morton joins Alexa on Singing Teachers Talk for part one of a two part episode. This week the pair will be discussing how you can help your singers find their best posture and alignment. Listen in for some great exercises you can use with your students to improve their posture. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Concerns have arisen over the long-term health effects of technology-induced postures, especially among the younger generation. Habitual postures can lead to structural changes, causing discomfort as muscles become fibrous and impede blood supply.
• Maintaining a neutral spine is crucial for optimal posture and shock absorption, influencing the functioning of vital components like the diaphragm, emphasising the importance of understanding and addressing structural dynamics for overall well-being.
• Jennie emphasises the importance of dynamic stability over rigidity, likening it to a tall skyscraper built to move in the wind. She suggests lying on the floor to explore spinal alignment and identifying the felt sense of neutral curves.
• Singers achieve optimal posture through exercises that recognize and balance unique spinal curves. Performers in extreme roles benefit from targeted stretches. Triangulating body position, emotion, and vocal outcome enhances predictability. Unconventional exercises, like singing upside down, disrupt fear-associated contexts, facilitating effective navigation through challenging vocal passages.

BEST MOMENTS 

‘Structure governs function’

‘Our bodies are kind of like Plasticine, whatever you do habitually becomes habituated’

‘Elasticity is the key to being an artist. You know where home base is’

‘Maintaining a neutral spine is crucial for optimal posture, with the definition of 'neutral' varying for each individual’

EPISODE RESOURCES 

Guest Website:

• www.jenniemorton.com

Relevant Links & Mentions: 

• Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.97 Elevate Your Musical Performance Through Anatomical Efficiency with Jennie Morton
• Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.40 Teaching Singing to Dancers with Jennie Morton 
• Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 32 The Bio-Psycho-Social Model with Stephen King
• Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep.138 Exploring the Benefits of The Alexander Technique for Singers with Patrick Ardagh-Walter 

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ABOUT THE GUEST 

After a long performing career as a Ballet dancer, West End Musical Theatre performer, and lead singer of a London Big Band, Jennie is now a Clinical Osteopath specialising in the field of Performing Arts Medicine. She provides treatment for musculoskeletal, neurobiological, and psycho-physiological issues from her base in Los Angeles. She also works as a Performance Coach for singers and actors, focusing on anatomical efficiency, embodiment of artistry, movement education, and rehabilitation from vocal injury. Jennie co-created the MSc in Performing Arts Medicine at University College, London, and lectures internationally to artists, arts educators, and healthcare professionals on the subject of performance-related injuries. She is the author of three books: The Authentic Performer: Wearing A Mask And The Effect On Health; The Embodied Dancer: A Guide To Optimal Performance; and Dancing Longer, Dancing Stronger. Her website www.jenniemorton.com contains many of her published articles and educational resources, as well as links to her online courses on a range of health topics.

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