An inquisitive and articulate colleague of mine recently brought up some great questions about how we frame our experiences. It was a pretty interesting angle. She asked this question: If we say that we learned to be better teachers because of having bad training or other adversity to overcome, is it because it’s true or […]
Tag: aha moments
Methods versus principles
As to methods there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble. —Ralph Waldo Emerson
I already know about that
Sometimes when I’m talking shop with colleagues they will tell me about a recent course, workshop, or book that they have learned from. Sometimes they may say, “You probably know all about that.” That is never true. If I have made the study of a topic my life’s work, my niche in the vocal world, […]
Am I a singer?
I’m linking to an excellent essay from Camilla Strandberg. We can get caught up in our identities as singers, and become unhealthy about it. This essay and manifesto frees us from that. What is a singer? by Camilla Strandberg
The desired, the possible, and the experienced
When teacher works with student, he needs to keep in mind that he is trying to help the student to do something that she has never done before. Each party is bringing these three potentials to the lesson: the desired behavior (in the future) the possible manifestations and scope of achievement (in the future) the […]
Your personal holy grail
I have some good news and I have some bad news. Only you get to be you, and you don’t get to be anybody else.
But that’s not me!
In your journey through Voiceland, you will make many interesting discoveries if you have an open mind and a desire to improve. If you follow a functional approach, you may make sounds that work better, but are strange to you. You may say, “Well it’s good, but it doesn’t sound like me. It seems fake.” […]
The constant flow of associations and judgements
Before you can do anything well, you must concentrate. You must still the mind in order to use the mind. In the Age of Anxiety we are in a mode of such extreme noise, internal and external, literal and metaphorical. When thinking, observing, doing – stop. Pay attention to what is. Not how this compares […]
Sneaking up on yourself in the practice room
I enjoy taking a voice lesson with an excellent teacher. It is a wonderful experience to switch back to the other side of the teacher-student equation, and I can often sort out a vocal issue more easily with another teacher than on my own. But all singers who practice must learn how to work on […]
Food for the voice teacher’s soul
If you teach, coach, or conduct singers, you probably inspire people to greater achievement and dedication to their art. What do you do to get inspiration and rejuvenation for yourself? Attending workshops, classes, concerts, and shows may be part of your refueling plan. Taking voice lessons and getting coaching on your own repertoire can keep […]
What makes singing exciting?
Is it emotion? If so, what about a singer’s performance evokes emotion? Can it be feats of strength? Sensitivity? Fascinating ebb and flow of the lyric? Are exciting singers “loud”? Can soft singing be exciting? Can a voice be beautiful but not exciting? Exciting but ugly?
The spirit of the song
If one is filled with the spirit of the song, is sincere and earnest, and is filled with a desire to express what is beautiful and good he will not sing badly even if his voice be ordinary. – D. A. Clippinger in The Head Voice and Other Problems