September 9, 2010
Gesturing While Singing
Every song tells a story, and when singing for an audience you want that story to shine through and connect the audience to the song and story. The movements you make around the stage or around the room should enhance both your singing and the story. Being able to move and sing is important, yet starting small is best. Here are some tips on coordinating movement with music:
Practice singing at home while you do general household tasks like folding cloths or washing dishes, so that you get used to doing other things while you sing. When you’re comfortable moving and singing, speak through your song lyrics and notice what gestures come naturally to you. Being aware of what gestures you use when speaking lyrics will help you identify fitting gestures for when you sing the song.
Some songs don’t require much movement at all. Err on the busy side at first when you’re practicing and then pare down the movement until you’re moving in response to what you’re saying. Moving around just for the sake of it when you’re singing doesn’t really enhance your song. For example, a classical song generally won’t need many gestures and requires little movement. You needn’t take more than a few steps when singing a classical ballad.
If singing is new to you, adding some sort of movement may just be too much for you right now. Taking it one step at a time is a good idea when you’re figuring out how to put your new technique and a new song before the public. Once you have developed your technique you can then learn how to move so that your movements enhance the story you are telling. You will need to know how to move and to engage your audience with your song.
Inexperienced singers have a tendency to overuse gestures when singing because they feel that arm movements make their song more appealing - and they can, when done correctly. Just remember it is not just your hands you should be moving, move your entire arm so that your elbows are not glued to your sides and make sure that your hands are not clenched but open.
If your hands normally move when you speak, then you may feel stiff if they remain frozen at your side during your song. Read the songs lyrics aloud like it is a part in a play so that know what is going on in the story and how the character feels and would react to what is happening. By becoming the character in the song, gestures will be part of your natural reaction to what is happening you can use those same gestures when you sing to help tell your story. However avoid excessive gesturing only to fill dead space.
I hope this information will help you to improve your singing performances. If you’re wondering if it’s possible to teach yourself to sing without the expense of one-on-one vocal coaching, then I highly recommend checking out these online singing lessons from experienced vocal coach Per Bristow. All the best with it!
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