I’ve been at this blog since 2010. Hundreds of posts, many ideas explored and revisited, both successes and flops. You can’t predict people’s reactions. When I post about general principles, philosophy, and the mindset of the voice teacher, I tend to get generally positive reactions. When I post a more nuts-and-bolts “how to” type of […]
Tag: comfort zone
Inside, outside, upside down
People frequently say that when they hear their voice on a recording it is a little shocking. Singers have to learn to make peace with this. Listening to a recording of yourself can help you fix some things, but it also can confuse you if you’re not careful.
Be willing to translate or miss out
Voice teachers, please get over yourselves. The people who get certified in Method A say that Method B is bad while those devoted to Method C laugh at both of them. The devotees of Madame X scoff at anyone who is certified in a method. Some teachers are meek while others fight for attention like […]
Something to hang on to
A tiny baby will grab your finger if you put it in the palm of her hand. This is the “grasp reflex”. The body has many such reflexes to stimuli. The grasp reflex, however, is a special one in terms of its metaphorical meaning. The English language is full of references to the need to […]
Blind Spots, or, We don’t know what we don’t know
Of course, we can’t know what we don’t know. However, a person who has ever had to change their thinking radically will often come to realize that there are probably many MORE things yet to learn of which they are presently ignorant. This is the way of the inquisitive mindset. Being willing to have beliefs […]
Emergencies, Detours, and Sidebars
“I don’t teach breath control.” “I teach everyone breath management as it was taught to me by Maestra Wunderbar.” “My students have to understand low support.” “I teach alignment of particular points in the body and find vague wholistic concepts like ‘noble posture’ to be unhelpful.” “Speech Level Singing has nothing to offer the classical […]
When “voice science” seems overwhelming
If you are a singer or teacher who has been exposed to lots of the current research on voice science, you may find it fascinating or boring, useful or irrelevant, but I think we can agree that the quantity of it is increasing at a very fast rate. To quote Stephen Smith again, “Science is […]
Your way of singing works until it doesn’t
Do you have favorite feedback sensations that tell you that all is well? I do. You may feel your upper range flying out of the back of your head, or you may feel that your chest voice resonates against your hard palate or that you feel your back expanding every time you breathe or that your […]
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 […]
Singing should feel good!
There is no way around it; you must get to know your body well in order to sing well. You need to find out how to treat it as best you can and how to listen to it – how to be with it, cooperate with it, and use it to the fullest. It’s important […]
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?
Issues that affect the voice
Voice, being a phenomenon at the intersection of body, environment, mind, emotions, and expressive intent, can be affected by many, many things. Some teachers are too nosy and involved with their students, and others perhaps not enough! Students and teachers need to communicate with each other about issues or changes in the following: