The Anatomy of the Spirit

(Artist Unknown)

Laughing and crying can be rejuvinating and exhausting. Our cheeks may cramp, our brow furrow can deepen, runny nose, tears. But no matter how loud or long we howl and wail, there is always enough air. We have all heard the tiny, inconsolable baby with the most amazing lung capacity! The emotion can be carried and released, breath after breath. When we sing, our breath is rationed and dispensed by thousands of muscular micro-movements, both conscious and unconscious. We are the most complex 'instrument.' The sound, which is your unique and incredible sound is released, and it lifts the notes off the page. Singing with joy, spontaneity and freedom is beauty.

"Movement is the song of the body. Yes, the body has its own song from which the movement of dancing arises spontaneously. In other words, the liberation of the upper part of the body (the head, neck, arms, shoulders, and trunk) produced by the acceptance of gravity in the lower part of the body (legs, feet, knees, and hips) is the origin of lightness, and dancing is its expression. This song, if you care to listen to it, is beauty. We could say that it is part of nature. We sing when we are happy and the body goes with it like waves in the sea." (Awakening the Spine, Vanda Scaravelli)

Anatomy for Backbends & Twists, Ray Long, MD, FRCSC

1) Diaphram 2) Intercostal Muscles

How do we prepare our physical body to carry out the sounds that we feel in our heart and we hear in our mind's ear, then to be released out to the audience? It really is up to the individual musician to focus in, and listen closely to how they will practice and deliver their performance. The expectations that we have on ourselves training and striving as artists is to deliver our highest effort with the finest sensitivity. Our body loves the feel of our voice in song. As we integrate more practice time and performance experience, the exhilaration and happiness that comes from making and celebrating music and art becomes deeper and more meaningful.

Enjoy your unique and amazing instrument!

Glossary

Innervation - The word innervate sounds like what it is - it means to "put the nerves into" something. When nerves go into muscle fibre, they innervate the muscle fibre. Innervate is to supply nerves to something, but it can also mean to energize. Think of all the energy you have when you get nervous! Sometimes nervousness can even innervate the hairs on your arms, i.e. stimulate them and make them stand up.

(vocabulary.com)

Proprioceptive Awareness - The unconscious perception of movement and spatial orientation arising from stimuli within the body itself. In humans, these stimuli are detected by nerves with the body itself, as well as by semicircular canals of the inner ear.