Posture for singing high notes

Your vocal tone is actually affected by the way you stand. It is preferable that you look straight ahead instead of upwards or downwards. Never lift your head upwards, particularly during the process of singing high notes. It is better if you stand while you are practicing. Once you have memorized the exercises, it is better to practice just the occasional confirmation of notes away from the piano so that it will give you the correct pitch. On no account you should bend over the piano either bodily or symbolically. When you are playing the piano you should sit with your back straight and chest forward, without a slouch. Slouching is a lazy attitude that wreaks havoc on the voice. This is because slouching forces your throat to do all the work of sustaining your tone that actually has to be done by your body.

You should keep your tongue, throat and jaw in condition so that they are free and relaxed. Numerous students commit the mistake of stiffening the muscles under the chin (in other words, the floor of the mouth), or the jaw when they sing high notes. They are usually unaware of the presence of this problem unless their attention is drawn to it. Once formed this habit is very hard to change. Let the lower jaw remain free and allow the tone to form itself at the roof of the mouth. Imagine that you are singing with your upper jaw without the help of the lower jaw. This practice will help you to overcome rigidity, a major hurdle in your path to progress.

The relaxation of your body is needed while singing high notes. Relaxation does not imply floppiness, but instead the absence of unneeded and non-beneficial tension. You can apply a lot of energy into your piece without using excessive effort or force - a very different experience.

Mental aspect

You need brains as well as brawn when you are singing high notes. Both your body and mind should be energetic and attentive. You need to work your throat as well as your brains when singing.

You must direct all attention to whatever you are doing and concentrate while singing high notes. Practicing with a lack of purpose will not get one anywhere. Every exercise has a specific purpose to it which you should keep in mind while practicing them. To achieve your goals you should practice with determination and persistence.

It is especially important - You have to ‘Think’ before attempting to hit high notes. Before really attempting the singing of the high note, you must have a mental idea of the type of high notes you want to produce. A faulty tone is caused by a hurried or badly prepared start. Many singers have the tendency to take a breath at the last moment. If you want a perfect high note you should take a breath well before opening your mouth to sing. You should work on your breathing pattern till it is balanced, rhythmical and fully under your control before attempting to sing a high note.

The way to be sure beforehand about the type of quality of high note tone you are going to produce is by developing the habit of ‘Mental anticipation’. Initially, in order to get the expected outcome, you will have to make many trials. However, professional singers have this ability where they don’t have to hold on until they have sung the note to be sure of its quality. This has to be set as your goal to be achieved.