Stage Presence

Archive for the ‘Music’ Category

Warming up your voice before a performance is one of the most important aspects of singing. Even if the performer is in a hurry a proper warm up must be conducted. Permanent vocal cord injury can occur without proper warm up. Warming up before singing is just as important as an athlete warming up before running. It can improve your lung capacity and increase your ability to hit higher notes and lower notes.

Basic breathing exercises can warm up your voice. Inhale for a count of four, hold the breath for four beats and then exhale for an eight count. Breathing exercises exercise your diaphragm to prepare for singing. This exercise also reminds the performer to sing with their diaphragm and not the throat. Practice controlled breathing while doing these exercises.

 

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Now it’s time to sing the scales. Start with the lowest note to the highest. Sing up the scale and then down. Repeat several times. This warm up prepares the voice to hit the proper notes at the highest and lowest level.

It may sound unusual but remember those old tongue twisters you used to recite as a kid? Recite them now. They warm up your enunciation capabilities. They also stretch the mouth muscles.

Always carry a bottle of water. Nerves can sometimes produce a dry throat and nice notes never come from a dry throat. Eat an apple. Apples are known to hydrate the vocal cords, so if you are hungry before a performance munch on one!

Remember, taking care of your voice means warming up your voice properly before singing to ensure a long, happy singing career.

Anyone who loves music knows that it’s changing a lot. No matter what kind of music you like, the way it sounds and the way it’s produced are different than they were just a few short years ago. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s just the way things are. If you’re trying to keep up with the changes, one of the things you should be aware of is that music is starting to get more children interested in the art world. That’s taking place because it’s so easy to work with computers and manipulate pictures, sounds, and everything else. Whether that’s good for the future of music is something that remains to be seen. It might not be as beneficial to some people as it will be to others, but it doesn’t appear as though it’s going to go away anytime soon.

There are amazing things that can be done on the computer, and they’re being influenced musically by rappers like T-Pain, who used auto tune for vocals, when he was singing about girls in the club in Apple Bottoms. Even if you don’t know the song, a lot of people have felt the influence of it and songs like it, where the computer has been used to change how things sound and how people react to them. The future of music has been forever changed, and it will continue to be altered as computers advance and people can do even more with them.

Of course, digital music isn’t the same as performing live, with instruments. Will that type of music fade away as digital music takes over? It’s hard to tell really, whether you’ll eventually go to a concert where everything will be digital. It doesn’t seem like it would be as exciting that way, though, so there will probably always be room for the more standard forms of music that have been around for so long.

History is defined by the staggering successes, the unexpected triumphs. Truth is chronicled in books and is passed through generations. Facts capture the imagination — far more than fiction ever could. And in 1956 the story of a family who dared to leave their world behind stole the attention of Vincent J. Donehue (famed stage director).

The von Trapp family (composed of a decorated naval officer, his new bride and their seven children) had fled their beloved Austria, sought to escape the perils of war. They traveled then to America, offering songs and earnest explanations of the horrors caused by Germany. And, for Donehue, there was no finer tale to tell.

It had to be a musical.

The next three years were spent in a frantic assemblage of songs, choreography and casting. The ever popular team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein were chosen to compose the lyrics; theater greats Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel were selected to play the leads; and Donehue himself served as director, wishing to ensure that his vision was a success.

It was.

The Sound of Music premiered in November 1959 — and has since become one of the most acclaimed Broadway productions. Its sweeping score and straightforward plotting has allowed it to become irresistible (even to film-goers, when a version was made for the screen and featured such iconic scenes as dancing in a gazebo and scaling the Alps). The simplicity of its lyrics serve as counters to war; and the relationships developed among the family resonates with all.

Since its arrival this play has been a perpetual favorite. Revivals have been frequent and The Sound of Music tours are common even today. None can resist the story of a governess, her captain and their many children; and none can deny the relevance of the story. It speaks of tragedy, hope and the power of music. And its efforts have never been — and will never be — ignored.

Being a part of any performing arts scene might seem like a piece of cake. You do your shows, attend rehearsals, and feel the satisfaction of a job well done. However, that isn’t at all how it is. Being part of the community means doing what you have to do to elevate others as well as yourself.

Being a part of the scene means being a fan of it too. That matters more than you think it does. You have to support as well as perform. It’s the best way to ensure that people support you. The work out there might be rewarding, but something is taken away from it when performers are playing to empty houses. Make sure you get out there and make it known that you support.

There is a lot to be said about taking care of others. You want people to help you and be there for you, hence you have to be able to do the same. Look out for those that do the same. Be ready to recommend to others who are looking for talent, the name of your friend. Make sure that you are letting them know when good opportunities present themselves. Don’t be afraid to share opportunity with others and they won’t be afraid to share it with you.

Don’t be afraid to really form strong partnerships and friendships. It’s hard to make it in the performing arts business, but it’s not hard to form lifelong bonds with your fellow performers. It’s arduous like a triathlon where your friend support is more important than the right triathlon gear. You will be satisfied that even though you might not be the biggest star you are one of the best people on the scene.

Dance is used to tell stories and myths with smooth and flowing body movements. There are several categories for dance ranging from waltz to hip-hop. Nearly every dance style is performed by two people, but some styles such as tap and ballet can be performed by only one person. There are also dance categories for large groups of people, line dance and square dance fall into this category. Watching or participating in dance competitions has become a favorite pastime for many people. Dance is often performed as an exercise routine for physical fitness and improved blood circulation in arms and legs.

This type of performing art has been used throughout history as an expression of communication and affection. A performing artist does stand up comedy, magic tricks, or sings in front of an audience who has paid a fee to be entertained. Operas and a one person stage play are other types of performing arts. A performing artist may use props and costumes, as well as audience participation and their act. Performing arts has a variety of genres including tragic, comedy, tragicomedy, and drama. Magic tricks and circus acts are some other popular types of performance art.

Comprehensive information on dance and performing arts can be found at the local library,or colleges and universities that offer courses in performing arts. The library of performing arts allows students to listen to music and theater scores, to view classic works of art, and to see the complete works of the original composer. The library is filled with information on each category of performing arts with detailed descriptions for each one. Whether you plan to study performing arts as a full time career, or you just need to brush up on your knowledge of performance arts the library can supply you with all the information you need.

Dance is defined as an art form which refers to movements of the body, mostly in a rhythmic motion to along to music.  Dance can be a form of social interaction, spiritual expression, or emotional connection amongst individuals.  It can also be thought of a form of nonverbal communication between individuals.  There are animals known to use dance as a form of communications and an example of this would be through a mating dance.

There are several forms of dance that can be expressed through figure skating, synchronized swimming, certain gymnastic routines, and sporting activities. Karate and Martial Arts are also viewed as some to be forms of dance.

What Constitutes Dance

There are many variables that constitute what is considered dance which may include levels of artistic, aesthetic, cultural, social, and moral constraints.  It can be performed for an audience in a social realm, it can be for one individual where it is more intimate, it may be ceremonial, or competitive.

Through your local library, there are loads of information that you can find on dance and other interesting subjects.  Schools frequently introduce young people to the resources that their local library holds through group tours.

Performing arts are forms of art where there is a use of the artists own face, presence, body, as a medium.  In 1711 the term performing arts first appeared in the English language. This can be expressed at a Performing arts Center which is a great place to learn of culture through individual, school, or group visits.  You will be introduced to a vast and complex sequence of amazing art and cultural pieces that will enlighten with a vast array of information.

Improv is one of the hardest types of performing arts out there. You have to be able to think on the fly, say random stuff and keep the audience amused. Nothing is more disheartening than looking out into the audience and seeing a bunch of uninterested audience members. Maybe they are yawning, sleeping, checking out sports betting sites on their phones, texting or emailing friends but they are certainly not paying attention to your comedy act.

Here are some hints on how to handle audience members that don’t pay attention to you.

Speak Louder

Sometimes randomly saying words louder can catch those people’s attention. It’s not a matter of them not wanting to pay attention to it, it’s that in the world of modern technology people get easily distracted. By speaking louder you can pull these people back into the show and what you are doing up on stage.

Ignore Them

If you are up there performing you should be performing for the love of it. Don’t pay attention to the one audience member who is using his cell phone. No one likes a diva on stage and focusing on one bad audience member while there are 100s of good ones could come off as a diva attitude. A diva attitude can really come across badly on stage and make others not want to watch you either. So just simply move on and focus on the good audience members that are out there.

Audience members may be everything when it comes to a live stage production but remember if you are a truly gifted and passionate performer and putting your all into a performance, the audience is likely to be captivated by your stage presence and love for the art of improv.

There are many forms of recreation that we love and enjoy that can have the ability to relieve stress and provide individuals with countless hours of entertainment.  Recreation can be defined as an activity done during persons free or leisure time.  They are usually done for a person’s pleasure, enjoyment or amusement.  Just about any activity can be deemed recreational if it is used on a person’s free time and they have fun with it.  The following is a list of activities that may be considered recreational:

• Dance-There are several forms of dance which can be done both professionally or leisurely and can be a form of expressing ones culture, spiritual nature, or can be a form of connecting on an emotional level. This involves body movements usually in a rhythmic pattern. There are several types of dance some of which include ballet, waltz, Tango, square dances, Hip hop, and Ballroom.
• Sports-This is usually competitive game where a person or group of persons challenges each other to see which holds the better physical or skillful talents.  There are types of sports such as volley ball, soccer, swimming, running, baseball, tennis, football, softball, and many more.  For the purpose of leisurely fun, the same rules usually apply as with professional sports but he rules may be a bit more laid back.
• Performing arts-With performing arts a person uses themselves or others are used as the medium in the art.  There are several types of performing arts which include; Drama, dance, circus acts, the spoken word, opera, magic, and music.  It also can be broken up in different eras which include The Modern, Post-War Performance and the Renaissance periods.  The performing arts period began in Greece in the 6^th century BC. It was led by s poets such as Sophocles.

Dance is a great way to bring entertainment into your life and also a great way to and entertain others. There are professional dancer and those who due if for the enjoyment it brings. There are also a host of heath benefits when you partake in this type of physical activity and the following are just a few:

1. Great for bones and Joints. Dance helps in preventing and treating osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a concern to women who are in the post menopausal stage because estrogen levels decrease. It also aids in the prevention of arthritis because it keeps joints lubricated.
2. Keeps you in shape. Dance allows you to burn a huge amount of calories depending on the duration and intensity you perform it. On average it is estimated that a person burns 5-10 calories per minute. There are several different forms such as the mambo and swing burn more calories than the waltz because the waltz is a relatively slow performing dance and the other two calls for more movement. .
3. Improvements to the blood. Research indicates that dancing aids with the controlling of lipids which is responsible for raising our HDL and lowers the LDL levels. Dancing is also said to possible aid in controlling blood sugar for diabetics.

The following are some classic forms of dance and the amount of calories they burn per hour based on a person’s weight.

The Latin, Mambo, Salsa, Disco, Square, and Ballroom:

100 Lbs burns 246, 125 lbs burns 330, 150 lb burns 396, 175 burns 462, 200 lb burns 596.

Ballet, Twist, Fast:

100 lbs burns 288, 125 lbs burns 360, 150 lbs burns 432, 175 lbs burns 504, 200 lbs burns 576.

Waltz, Foxtrot, Slow:

100 lbs burns 144, 125 lbs burns 180, 150 lbs burns 216, 175 lbs burns 252, 200 lbs burns 288.

Places where performances can be held are performing arts studios, theaters, and dance halls. Someone wanting information on dance can easily find it at their local library.

You may be about to take up archery, or you may be have been actively involved in competitive soccer for years. Either way, you know, or soon will know, how participating in sports can keep you in tip-top shape. Sports are a fabulous way to stay active and keep your body healthy. You even have built-in workout buddies known as teammates who know just how hard one more mile or one more game can be, and will push you to achieve. And nothing can beat the feeling of winning a match or taking home a gold medal.

The rewards of being involved in your favorite sport don’t end when you’ve stepped off the field or put away the bat; there are rewards you feel and see every time you see your reflection in a mirror or slip on your True Religion jeans. Your hard work on the field, the skating rink or the pool pays off in ways your body will thank you for. Being involved in sports is the perfect all-around workout. Sports involve cardiovascular, or cardio, exercise, which helps strengthen your heart, improve stamina and burn calories. Did you know that, depending on your weight, you could burn through more than 400 calories fencing for an hour? Sports also involve a great deal of muscular strength. Boxing, rowing and even horseback riding rely on certain muscles of the body for a great performance. Strength training tones the body so it appears sleek and tight, and the body will continue to expend calories when a strength-training session has ended.

When you’re involved in a sport, you’ll see that the rewards don’t end when the game is over. The jersey will come off, but the jeans, the fitted tees and the dresses will come on, and while your skills can be impressive, wait until everyone sees what sports have done for your body.