Have you ever wondered why it feels so satisfying to sing in the shower? You are alone. You are warm. The air is moist making your throat feel wet. You're at once relaxed and pleasantly energized by the water. Little can take you away from the simple tasks at hand. You control the speed and pitch. And the bathroom provides wonderful resonance (共鸣).
Now imagine singing while driving. You are sitting, stuck by a tight seat belt that limits airflow. Without any warm-up, you probably start right in with the first song you hear. The air is drier. And to stay awake, you may be drinking coffee, which can make you thirsty. While singing along to the radio, your voice may get lost in the noise of the song and the car.
From my personal experience, I realize the importance of not only focusing but also setting the right conditions during practice. This is why some argue against baseball players practising hitting before a game. They try hitting different types of throws, even slower ones that they wouldn't see in a real game.
To warm up, I practise deep breathing exercises and relax my tongue with "blah blah blahs." Brightening my face helps make my sound more energetic. My voice becomes richer and stronger when I practise opening up my mouth by yawning, imagining the back of my mouth expanding like a frog's. I also adjust the way I stand.
A. Practice makes perfect.
B. You are standing up straight.
C. You are loudly clearing your throat.
D. Poor training may lead to poor results.
E. The stress of driving and staying safe keeps you tense.
F. After all, an upright guitar wouldn't sound right if it was bent.
G. I always try to recreate the great feeling of singing in the shower wherever I am.
