The most underestimated influence on our singing
“When we deny our stories, they define us. When we own our stories, we get to write the ending.”
Brené Brown
Here is a very generalized summary of what singers need to develop their voices (admittedly I could write about this topic for a thousand pages, but let’s not do that here):
1. Singers need to develop vocal technique.
They need to understand the mechanics of their voice and how to utilize them for vocal power, ease, flexibility and expression.
2. Singers need to cultivate body awareness.
Since the whole instrument is the voice, being keenly attuned to what is happening in the body allows us to work more skillfully with tension or tightness as it arises. It also allows us to understand how to utilize movement and alignment for free breath and vocal production.
3. Singers need to understand how to embody a character and emotion.
They need guidance in how to effectively bring their songs and characters to life in a powerful way.
4. Singers need methods for cultivating stillness and concentration
The capacity to bring focus and attention to our practice and performance enables singers to perform at their best. Mindfulness and meditation can be hugely helpful in this area.
5. AND singers need spaces to work with their stories.
They need safe spaces where they can be vulnerable and share their emotional challenges and joys in their singing journey and life. They need spaces to cultivate their internal compass - to connect to their emotional life and creative desires in an authentic way. They need places they can work through doubts, anxieties and fears.
As Brené Brown so wisely explains:
“Student’s deserve one place where they can rumble with vulnerability and let their hearts exhale.”
I would say having safe spaces to work with our stories is probably the least emphasized part of the singer’s journey yet it could be called the most essential. WHY? Because our emotional lives and our stories effect our capacity to engage with steps 1-4 of the singers development.
Once again Brené says it best:
“When we deny our stories, they define us. When we own our stories, we get to write the ending.”
So, don’t forget to tend to your heart on your singing journey. Your unique story is what makes you the beautiful and incomparable artist you are. Your voice is connected to your emotional landscape and when we honour and nurture both, beautiful things happen.
