When Imagery Hurts A Singer
Posted on 12. Sep, 2008 by Per Bristow in Performance, Singing
I feel it is very important that I publish this letter below. Forget for a moment that this is addressed to me. This is not about me and that is not why I am publishing it. The reason why this is so important is because her experience is, unfortunately, so frighteningly common. Go ahead and read it first, and then I'll discuss it…
"Your program has me excited about singing again. I just started to sing a year ago at the age of 34 with the goal of getting a good part in a community theater musical production in 2010 – just for fun. I also dream of being in a band
. I am a dancer but untrained as a singer. I have had a singing teacher for the last 8 months and I have been liking singing less and less. I just quit lessons a month ago. Talk about the opposite of your approach. He would laugh at me when I would make a mistake. Then I would try to control my voice even more so I was singing with a lot of tension. Then he would tell me not to be tense.
After all this time I still do not understand the particular method of vocal production he was trying to share with me. It had to do with staying open, e.g. feeling like a pelican swallowing a salmon while you sing. He was indeed a beautiful singer himself so I am certain that this method works for him but he was unable to teach me how to do it. I am working on ridding myself of the tension, so far I have made good progress with the first couple of your DVDs. And I don't mind practicing as I do not feel the frustration I was experiencing with my private lessons. Thanks!"
So was she just in the hands of a bad teacher? Not necessarily. This teacher probably did exactly what he has come to believe teaching should be. He teaches the student how to sing according to what he believes is the right way. If the student then doesn't "get it", frustration naturally sets in.
Now before we go on, I'm sure you understand why it is difficult for me to write about this. It is difficult to try and bring the art of learning forward without coming across as I if I am critiquing other colleagues. I have written extensively about the art of learning and how it goes hand in hand with the evolution of consciousness and increased knowledge of our psychology. Discussing the evolution of learning should in no way be considered critique towards the many brilliant teachers around the world who inspire people to sing.
However, the woman writing this letter above is a classic case of someone who has been taught what is supposedly "correct" singing. She has been taught from an external point of view of what is supposedly "right", rather than having been allowed to discover her instrument. As a result, the student undoubtedly becomes more controlling. She is after all trying to please the teacher and do it "right". And this is exactly what is intended according to traditional ways of thinking.
Control was, and is still, seen as good. However, what our writer experienced is that the attempt to control is indeed fear-based.
Unfortunately, she is yet one more person who has been exposed to produce sound in an artificial way. And even worse; She has been exposed to devastating visual suggestions. "Feel open like a pelican swallowing a salmon". What does that mean? As I mentioned in the free video that I offer at www.TheSingingZone.com, visualization is one of my strengths and people who know how to visualize effectively can create phenomenal results from visualizing.
Visualizations can create accurate internal responses in your body. You can learn advanced physical skills by using your mind. But if you really were to swallow a salmon, what would happen? Would your throat open up? Would you relax? Would it feel good? Of course not. With any foreign object entering your mouth, your throat would close up for protection. What about a pelican swallowing? I, for one, have never had the experience of being a pelican.
While taking on an animal as a character can be fun and interesting for an improv comedy class, it is exceptionally destructive when you want to develop awareness of your physical instrument.
And then when everything else fails, the tendency is to give the student the standard instruction to "relax" – failing to realize that telling someone to "relax" is seldom productive. No one has ever relaxed by being told to relax.
Of course we understand that the imagery was just a well-meant attempt by the teacher to get the student to open her throat wide, and he is just accustomed to use artificial external images to get her to do so.
But then we may want to consider this old-fashioned idea of "open throat". Unfortunately, we see people all the time trying to sing with this belief, trying to artificially manipulate the position of the larynx, trying to artificially manipulate the sound. Not surprisingly, many who believe they are creating an "open throat" are in fact creating enormous restrictions in body and mind – just as our writer above realized. And not surprisingly, many evolve to sound like… well, come to think of it…. darn close to a pelican swallowing a salmon.
The point here is that people shouldn't have to lose interest in singing. Congratulations to the woman who wrote the letter for not giving up on her dreams!
Singing can be one of the greatest joys in life. Feeling comfortable to express yourself in sound and rhythm may be one of the healthiest activities you can engage in. Singing is for everyone.
How about instead of engaging in "right" or "wrong", you get to experience the truth – the true YOU – the you that constantly evolves? How about getting a chance to really experience what "relaxation" is? How about you get to discover what it really feels like to let out sound with less and less restrictions, with more and more power, with greater and greater and freedom? How can we ever lose interest in that?
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Annabelle Louise Hartz
28. Jan, 2012
Wow I didn’t think visualizing could be so frightineing. I have never gone to a real teacher before.
Judi Brown
08. Jan, 2012
Hello Per -
I’m gearing up to improve my voice through your vocal method which sounds very promising. I’m endeavoring to learn and develop my singing voice into an appealing one as a goal for 2012.
Judi Brown
08. Jan, 2012
Hello Per -
I’ve been watching your inspiring videos and reading other people’s comments which is prompting me to gear up and order your DVDs ASAP now that the holidays are over and my life becomes ready for cultivating and learning something new in 2012.
Gordon Williams
15. Dec, 2011
Singing should always be enjoyable for both the singer and the listener. The human voice is a very delicate instrument and needs careful use for maximum effect.. If one follows very carefully Per’s instructions, one can successfully achieve this goal.
JESSE JAMES
26. Nov, 2011
I AM A PROFESSIONAL ENTERTAINER; AND MUSICIAN; WHO NEVER HAD A SINGING LESSON, AND HAVE BEEN AWARE; THAT I HAD TO USE DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES TO GET THE JOB DONE!!! I CAN’T EXPLAIN THIS, BUT I HAD COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN YOUR TEACHING; AND NOT ONLY ENJOYED THE LESSONS; BUT TO MY COMPLETE AMAZEMENT; “SUDDENLY; I WAS SINGING IN DIFFERENT STYLES; AND I AM MORE THAN THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, TO HAVE STUDIED WITH YOU!!! MY SINCERE APPRECIATION. J.J. ( I STLL CAN’T BELIEVE IT !!!) “AMEN”****
KELLY DANIELE ALEXIS A. LAWAS
25. Nov, 2011
HELLO PER,
HOPE YOU CAN REALLY HELP ME IN MY SINGING…IVE BEEN SINGING TO PEOPLE A THOUSAND TIMES… BUT I FEEL LIKE THERE IS LACKING IN ME. I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SINGING…HELP ME PLEASE~ THANK YOU.
Name (required)
10. Nov, 2011
Per:
I’d llove to buy your singing lessons, but, my friend, there’s a big BUT, I’m really sorry.
Best for you,
Raúl
ellen worner
01. Nov, 2011
Per, This is great information. I am anxiously awaiting to start your classes; hopefully very soon. You have an excellent manner for encouragement and teaching.
curwin callender
15. Oct, 2011
I appreciate your approach . You need to visit the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. YOUR professional talent is required here.
Thanks in advance
tp
08. Oct, 2011
Wow! did this just hit home! I just gave up after two months of lessons. The open the throat which made me constantly so tense I could barely get a hoot! Why do teachers use this technique – to physically “open” the throat – can’t you just open it by thinking “ah”?
Lolitta
03. Oct, 2011
Dear Per! Hi! I like everything you are talking about. It sounds well and I believe if you could teach me in personal contact I would probably became a good singer. But if you show and explain to me how to do it right but you have no ability to control my actions and give me a feedback how can I be sure that without your control I keep following your method in the right way? And one more obstacle: I am Russian and my English is not bad but I am still afraid to get lessons in English as I may not understand you correctly. So, if I could get at least one lesson as a trial to understand if it’s reasonable for me then I could decide if your school really can help me and buy the whole course. Thank you for attention. Rgds, Lolitta
Mu
29. Sep, 2011
Hello Per
I do understand what you are saying, as it is also true for me. I have always loved to sing (just at home etc, nothing professional; my Dad had a really melodious voice also, and he sounded like Bing Crosby/Dean Martin put together). I remember taking about 2 or 3 lessons in singing and the teacher used to say to stay still and not move up your arms etc. Anyway I found my voice at those lessons, never came out as good and freely as when I sing at home relaxed. I was never motivated to continue with any lessons. Years have since passed and I have a couple medical issues to contend with daily (which I am currently trying to address), which I think has affected my ability to breathe deeply etc, but I’m dealing with it. Plan to purchase your DVDs in near future to help kickstart my singing again and from what I’ve read from your previous emails, I know your non-traditional approach will be very useful to me, as it was to others. Thanks in advance.
Benjiz Musuota
26. Aug, 2011
So, how can i find my unique voice
Katrina
24. Aug, 2011
Der Per,
This is sooo true! When I follow given visualizations, I feel like everything becomes harder and manipulated. I could not sing any part above alto like that. Then I had the brilliant idea to ignore this advice and try not to control my voice, to attempt to tune in to my inner self, not sound like someone else. Since then I have been singing with more comfort and can be a soprano if I want. My range has majorly expanded!!!
Rodwell
08. Aug, 2011
Hi again Per,
Another interesting article. I was particularly impressed with your delicately stated comments on what makes some folks approach singing as either "right" and "wrong".
As a rock singer who enjoys musical theatre, I've encountered this kind of mindset from a handful of colleagues in the past. Predictably, many of my rockin' friends are more supportive, whereas some more classically trained folks can (perhaps inadvertently) minimise my efforts.
Bringing my voice to church has also been an interesting experience. While I have to worship in "congregational keys", it is sometimes a case of "Forgive, they know not what they do" when I'm encouraged to sing more like others. However, I find that the more I access and use "The unique REAL ME" (while still respecting the worship genre) the more fun I have and the more most folks enjoy it. As I once heard a pastor say: "Different is not wrong. It's just different." Amen to that!