Exercises
Exercise One. Stand with one foot in advance of the other,
balance the weight of the body on the forward foot, poising
it firmly but lightly, with a feeling of flexible control over the
entire body. The muscles should be free from all tenseness, but
ready for instant use, the shoulders settled firmly. Take this
position a half-dozen or more times, keeping it long enough
to establish the feeling of ready repose; persevere until the
body can instantly be placed in this completely controlled
position.
Exercise Two. Take position, and balancing firmly on the
forward foot, bend over, extending the arms forward and out-



24 THE FUNDAMENTALS OF VOICE PRODUCTION
ward, with the elbows in and the palms of the hands upward.
Take breath, and notice the action of the muscles of the back
under the shoulder-blades. Repeat the exercise until the ex-
istence of these muscles is clearly perceived and their action as
breath is taken in easily recognized.
Exercise Three. Take position, place hands on each side just
above the waist, and inhale slowly for several seconds. Do
not take too deep a breath. Note the expansion of the sides.
Let the breath escape, and repeat the inhalation. Do so until
the movement of the sides is free.
Exercise Four. Take position, place hands at the small of
the back, and inhale as in previous exercise. Note expansion
of the back. Repeat this exercise until the back expands freely
with each inhalation. Do not lift the shoulders, but leave them
free and quiet. As freedom is gained, the back will expand
well up to the shoulder-blades.
