Some things to do on Mondays before singing for fun in Exeter with Forever Young

Some months ago, the E&E ran a singing story.

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Having overcome the feedback, about why singing in Exeter is bad for you, we will now launch

into some of the things to do on a Monday before singing for fun with Forever

Young.

First thing in the morning - check your neck. Can you move your head easily

from side to side? If you have a partner are they new 'cause doing this might

frighten them off? If they are familiar with this activity then they're

probably still asleep and you may need to consider waking them up if your

thinking about ditching them.

Practice your singing posture - You need to be supported by your legs while

you sing. (Those of you who like to sit and sing should consider joining

another singing group).Your feet help you feel balanced and support the

position of your legs. Find the right position to stand in. Some like to stand

with feet apart, side by side. Other's like to stand with feet apart, but one

foot in front of the other. Still others like to stand with their feet

together, but the heel of one foot touching the arch of the other. Some like to

tap one foot against the leg of the person next to them as long as it is in

time with the music. While others are just happy to be alive.

Make sure your rib cage is lifted slightly to give your lungs plenty of room

to expand. It's best to do this at the last minute as first thing in the

morning could ruin that cough you like to have to clear the goosedown

accumulated in your airways from a night of sleeping under the duvet.

Check your chin. Is it raised or lowered? It should be in a center, neutral

position - not lifted or lowered. If you have problems identifying where your

chin ends and your neck begins then joining a gym may be a better option.

Tune your ears, (those of us with tinnitus should have stayed away from the

speakers at concerts and discos), before you begin to sing, hum through the

song in your mind and hear the harmony that accompanies the melody. The better

your sense of key and harmony, the more on pitch you will sing. If you don't

know what this means Forever Young is for you.

Stretch your face and jaw muscles. This might sound funny and look even

funnier although some people I've sung with have obviously overdone this

activity. Tension in the face and jaw has a real impact on singing because it

prevents you from using the muscles correctly. The muscles in the jaw, cheeks,

and lips should be free to enable everything to move up and down but always

look out for early signs of the 'Jagger', 'Tyler' and 'Iggy Pop' look.

Gargle with salt water. This helps stop your throat from tingling. If your

near the sea … consider a dip, I particularly like cheesy nachos with pea and

mint hummus.

My uncle George used to gargle with TCP but he wasn't a singer.

Before you sing, take a deep breath and relax. It'll be soon be over and

that helps you and your voice from cracking. Sing for Fun with Forever Young is

cheaper than therapy, more fun and will help with the cracking.

"Cheaper than therapy and more fun" — is a comment from one

satisfied community singer following a Forever Young Sing for Fun session.

There are many opportunities to sing in Exeter

with different groups. It may be worth finding out about the Monday sessions,

from 7-9pm at St Sidwell's School, where it is said that community singing for

fun doesn't get much better than this. Can a community singing group survive if

it does not depend on a leader, is not a choir and does not rehearse, nor give

public performances or have auditions or have any expectations that you can

read music and lets you choose the songs? 

If, it's proof you require and need more evidence then come along and

listen to - nay, join in – with the other like-minded adults who have regularly

gathered, since 2007, on a Monday in a darkened room with the words projected

large on the wall and sing to some of the best backing tracks.

If any of the above issues cause you concern then maybe singing for fun is

not for you.

Should a glimmer of interest be uncovered then discover more on a Monday

evening and visit the Forever

Young website and email