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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jose
02. Jan, 2009
this training program sounds terrific…but i live in sweden and would like to know if it’s available here….please respond soon.
thank you!
Ditas
14. Dec, 2008
I’ve been fortunate to have been under teachers who didn’t use as vivid an imagery exercise as that teacher, but I’ve seen an actual lesson focusing on externals, and I was so frustrated that I couldn’t butt in, I left the room. Her problem was, basically (i know you’ll hate me for this term) breath control. But when I teach, I usually simply challenge my students to breathe at the end of the “sentence,” or find a place where they can sneak in a breath, just like they would if they were talking instead of singing. The teacher I was watching was making her student do so many stuff to try to get her to loosen up, but the information overload — when the problem was so simple — made ME want to cry, so I excused myself and left.
I’m still saving up for your system. I’m from Manila, Philippines, and with the exchange rate, your system, even at the discounted price, will cost several DAYS salary that i’m not quite sure we can afford right now. But I’m learning a lot from your blogs, and from the free book you sent when I subscribed. Thanks a lot!
Mark O'Meara
12. Dec, 2008
I am a teacher. I’ve taught business courses and computer courses. What I have recognized in some situations is that just because someone is good at computer programming, it doesnt mean they have the ability to teach it. Just because someone is a good actor, doesnt mean they have the skill of teaching acting. And just because someone is good at yoga, it doesnt mean they are a good yoga teacher. Get the point? Just because someone is a good singer, doesnt mean that they are a good singing teacher.
Now here’s the thing. Some people are natural teachers and some are naturally very good teachers.
I’ve been watching Per’s DVD’s now and reading his blog posts. He is very supportive, explains things well, and demonstrates things well and on DVD. This is the mark of a good teacher because it covers three different learning styles -seeing, hearing, and doing.
I highly recommend Per because he is a natural born teacher! And the best thing is that he’s not stuck in some academic dogma. He really helps YOU sing for yourself.
We all go around saying “See for yourself” Per teaches you to “Sing for yourself!”
Anna
28. Oct, 2008
Per,
I agree with everything that you say in this article. I haven’t got much experience with singing lessons, but think that you have a really good point when speak about how imagery such as the one the woman mentioned in her article, of a pelican swallowing a salmon, would only place restrictions upon the singer. I’m hoping to buy your DVDs soon, I just need to save up a bit more. Thank you for posting all of these articles and videos, it is hugely appreciated!!!
Michelle
14. Sep, 2008
That teacher in your story has done themselves and the student a diservice. In my lessons, confidence is so important and hopefully he has learnt that laughing at someone does not make a better singer. Giving someone something to feel nervous about will only increase tension in their throat!! Oh well a lesson for the teacher I guess. Can’t wait to buy your DVD!!
Samantha
13. Sep, 2008
It’s so sad that this woman had such a horrible experience with that teacher. I have had similar experiences with teachers who really don’t have a clue what they are talking about. The whole idea of this open throat made me constantly push myself to expand the throat to the point that my throat would ache constantly. Healthy? My teacher told me it was just because I was used to singing with a closed throat. Surely, if my throat was closed, I wouldn’t be able to speak? I haven’t used your course, but from what I have read about it, it seems that it addresses something that no other home study course does-the spiritual side of singing. I KNOW I am a talented singer, but due to bad teaching , low self esteem, not managing my emotional state around singing, judging myself harshly and feeling stressed, I have yet to meet my potential. I look forward to working with your course in the near future and finally achieving all my vocal dreams.
Michael Siegling
13. Sep, 2008
Per,
I recently underwent treatment for throat cancer,
i.e. a tumor on the outside wall of my larynx. After radiation and surgery I am now cancer free,
but I was left with partial paralysis of my vocal
chords. The Singing With Freedom DVD’s have helped much more than any other thearpy, but I
still have problems that I would like to address to you personally. Please send me your e-mail and
street address. THANK YOU
Lauren
13. Sep, 2008
Per,
First i just wanted to thank you for making me see that i shouldnt take others judgements to heart. My father and mother never liked it when i just sang and had fun doing it. My father still today tells me to be quiet and stop but i just sing louder. Although i am untrained and have never taken lessons, I can really understand what this woman went through. I have always loved singing but wasnt ever told i was good. I was always told that i should be quiet or just give up. I did for awhile and then i read your theory. You really inspired me to just do what i can to improve it in time. I am so close to ordering your DVD collection. I just have to get the money. I am only 18 and hope one day my voice will flourish.
Again, thank you so much!
Lauren
mimi
12. Sep, 2008
Yawning has been one of my biggest mistakes. It’s become an automatism and it’s terribly counterproductive (to me!)
I am sorry that the girl’s teacher laughed at her. That’s cruel or just idiotic. However, I have to honestly recognize that the “pelican story” had some positive effect on me. First, it put me in a good mood (relaxed me). The idea is quite ridiculous, like Carole says, you can’t sing and swallow at the same time!
My character is such that I take everything seriously and it is it often a great challenge to make me “relax”. Per is very good at that. Although sometimes I just laugh too much.
So… I could “see in my head” a cartoon character-like pelican letting its jaw fall in order to make space for a huge salmon. The sound that I produced was comfortable and the feeling was pretty much the same as what I feel when I do the exercises with Per. But I am pretty sure that if I had imagined the same pelican with the actual salmon inside its throat the result would have been quite frightening. But as long as the pelican stood with its jaw dropped and his “gullible” expression waiting for the salmon to just fall from the sky and straight into its throat -the imagery could work for me.
Bottom line, it’s really important, when we choose our teacher, that the two of us have a lot in common, character-wise. If any of you out there are familiar with the “Kersey temperament sorter” (see the book “Please understand me II”) you may agree that this book’s material is one of the most useful resources – including to help find the right teacher for yourself.
Singing is definitely a psychological and emotional act. Remember what happened to the American Idol contestants when they find out whether they lost or won. If they cry, they can’t sing. I suppose that a really well-trained professional singer (like the actor) becomes able to transform her/his emotions and “use” them for the performance. I can’t do that yet. When I am too sad or too frustrated, I get a knot in my throat and the singing is impossible, period.
Jon Jacoby
12. Sep, 2008
I am a longtime ski instructor and your methodology sound similar to the Core Concepts of snow sport instruction. We talk about the cross over of skills from one sport to the other and I can see how your techniques can effect other aspects of life. While I(and my band) would like to sing better I see a possible cross over to my ski teaching gig. The art of learning, the evolution of consciousness and the knowledge of our psychology is a very broad and deep school of study.
Suz
12. Sep, 2008
Singing has been a dream for me since teenage time. I tried quite a number of teachers, some of them were famous opera singers. But nothing worked for me. I just got more and more frustrated and scared. Sometimes I found a teacher and never went back for the 2nd lesson. Your product is the best investment I’ve ever made to make myself happy! I feel really comfortable with the way you teach and I’m really happy with the progress I’ve made. You’re truly a genius! So simple and everything you say works.
I’m just wondering where you got your revelation from? Some kind of meditation or spiritual inspiration?
Carola Rost
12. Sep, 2008
LOL, how can I sing and swallow at the same time?
This imagination disables everything in my throat what else maybe could produce a sound.
Mo
12. Sep, 2008
my other teachers told me to open my mouth wide and all that stuff…
it actually never helped..at least for me…
it just gets me more and more tense…
Lasse Larsen
12. Sep, 2008
Hi Per,
I have been working… playing with your sing with freedom along with using Brett Mannings Singing Success and that combination has brought SO much to me that I have never had… I have been singing for almost 15 years while giving up and restarting over and over due to A) bad teachings and B) lack of self-esteem. I emphasize with the woman in the letter 100% and know what it feels like to strain to sing because of the lack of self confidence along with improper technique that seems to get worse and worse with every teaching. Well I have to say that today it dawned on me that my voice ALONG with my selfconfidence has improved remarkably without me really noticing it much… I was just singing a little to myself while waiting for the subway and all of a sudden the strain that I usually feel in the higher registers was almost gone… and the tension in my stomach was next to nothing… I feel a new found vigor that hasnt been there for a while and thank my lucky (law of attraction) star that I found you just in time… Thank you
Lasse
Jessie
12. Sep, 2008
I for one, don’t know how imagining ANYTHING going down my throat is grounds for relaxation. The only thing that seems to do for me is activate my gag reflexes! I got a better idea of it by the “ah/awe” thing. Laughter?! I used to always see it as a good thing. Wow…some people.
Per,I’ve been reading a lot of your stuff lately and I can literally hear your smooth voice at every word.That’s a great sign! The more i read,the more I like you! I’ve been more conscious of my voice just through reading your blogs.This has a lot more to do than just bettering your voice eh? I too am about to make the leap. Here’s a good thing to imagaine…how much more aware of my abilities i’d be if i did get the Cd’s. I especially appreciate the fact that you spoke out regardless of what others think or what the will say.Odds are, the nay sayers are also the laughers.I appreciated it!!
Charles
12. Sep, 2008
All good points Per. Imagery is a difficult thing for some, so the teacher needs to be adaptable. I use to be an absalutist myself but now I am more of a free thinker.
For some, thinking of the throat as a sausage goes down is fun and works, for others the idea of light coming in to the body and filling their throat works for others it simply takes “ah” or “awe” and the result is there.
Pavarotti said that the Teacher and Student don’t exist but that they both are the teacher. That’s how I hope that my students see our relationship.
By the way, to relax I get my students to sway their arms or do the old press against the wall idea so the tension goes else where never fails, and teaches sensation which is how the mind of the student then learns.
As above, laughing at someone does not help but laughing with them when they realize “ah I know what I should or could have done now!” that’s always a good thing.
Thanks for all you are doing to help the voice around the world.
Ray Barclay
12. Sep, 2008
Per, Thanks for sharing this. I don’t see how laughing at someone actually helps them learn. By all means laugh with them, but never at them. A teacher should always encourage, never discourage. Criticize their performance in a constructive way to encourage growth, not to demean.
If I could afford the flights and fees, I would be booking lessons with you right now, instead I’ll continue saving for the DVD’s.
George Lambert
12. Sep, 2008
Per,
Interesting. I can recall using some of the same imagery ideas early on in teaching; however, people would respond differently to the same imagery technique; I looked for a way to teach the concept of a “resonant cavity” that could be universal; something everyone could relate to, regardless of age or ability. It has been taught before, I’m sure. I’m no innovator, but, by having my students yawn and “siren” out of the yawn, they became familiar with the resonance cavity idea – almost immediately. Once the concept was captured, then we would work to incorporate that into their “focus” sound. As I know you know, this is as custom for each person as their fingerprint; therefore, it may take awhile to “get it,” but with patience, they find their way.
Specifically, Per, I would bring you back to my particular voice with the complete reconstruction of my palate, tongue severance, and scar tissue made into a makeshift uvula; voices don’t come much more custom than that. But, it was still the typical, traditional vocal exercises that helped me mold this mess into something at least remotely palatable to the ear. This is why I say,
you never know what’s going to make things “click” for one person, but completely throw off someone else, but the basics are a good thing for everyone.
George
Tara Napoli
12. Sep, 2008
I don’t know why you’re waiting to order Per’s video! He’s the only vocal coach that I’ve ever truly learned anything valuable from. He encourages you to experience “your voice” simply by feeling your way into expressing sound. Imagery techniques can be great for many things, but when it comes to singing, Per created a technique that you can feel and hear working.
Dave Mazzocco
12. Sep, 2008
Per,
This problem exist in many other training experiences…”if you don’t do it my way you must be wrong!!!” Thanks for sharing your righteous anger!!! Making fun of someone is very distructive and has ruined many dreams.
By the way…I’m very close to ordering your training…I believe this blog message has convince me you are the trainer I want to help me.