Alexander Technique: The Whispered Ah

Hello. My name is Ron Murdock. I've done this little video on The Whispered Ah because I believe it should be part of learning the Alexander Technique - whether on a training course where people learn to teach the Technique or when someone is having private lessons. However, I've seen a lot of confusion around this simple vocal exercise - confusion which, in some cases, leads to people not wanting to do it at all. This is really a shame as the exercise is a very important one for anyone wishing to improve the quality of their speaking voice, the co-ordination of breath with voice and for singers. I've been using a simple approach to doing the Whispered Ah for some time now and would like to share it with a wider audience. I hope you find it useful and helpful.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Alexander
• Technique
• Whispered
• Ah
• voice
• Ron
• Murdock
• vocal
• exercise
• singers
• singing
• tenor
• soprano
• baritone
• bass
• choir
• chorus
• concert
• gospel
• opera

[zu0832]

Does practicing whispered ah help to loosen the neck even more?

[vaneijck]

Interesting question. The neck is free when we feel the support system (bones of the skeleton, the muscles next to the bones and the nerves in those muscles). Most neck tension and stiffness comes from the fear of falling over backward. Allowing onself to be supported by the bones, feeling that support, calms the fear reflex and the head and neck then become free. Our job is not to interfeer with the support when carrying out any physical activity, including doing a whispered "ah".

[eddiethrashcort]

You should make sure that you credit Ron Murdock more explicitly for this video

[vaneijck]

hello. I'm intrigued by your comment. I hadn't thought about it since most people who log on realize that I AM Ron Murdock despite the user name vaneijck. When I did the film I just assumed people knew who I was. duh. Rather naiive. I've re-edited the preamble. What do you think?

[accensus]

where should I look for help and material I can study etc.

[accensus]

I am a much abused in the past singer. I was considered a bass baritone but in truth I am a male mezzo soprano. Singing low distorted my vocal chords. When I started singing in the proper registers I had them back in shape, only to be messed again by ignorant and not listening teachers as you have pointed out. They wanted to make a soprano out of me. This caused the formation of nodules. Happily they are gone now. I would like to know if there is anyway the Alexander technique is helpful

[eringeyelin]

Really really helpful video! I am an AT student....always trying too hard to get it. Great ease in thislesson. Perfect! Thank you!

[markmichaelwong]

Thanks for this video - I've been an Alexander practitioner for several years and strongly advocate the practice of this technique!

[tube4625]

i dont know what is this whispered ah but in your explanation you said to feel the support so the neck and head is free; that helped a lot cause i had a chronic stiff neck; thanks buddy.

[myhalfof]

Wonderful and simple explanation - thanks! Do you have a website where we can contact or to refer Alexander students to you? Some of us other A.T. teachers would like to talk you up in the Alexander world also...