Awareness/Self-Awareness

Awareness/Self-Awareness

We bring our attention, our soft gaze or listening, to the world outside of us, so that we can gain awareness of what is going on within.  This is a facet of many meditation traditions and I practice meditation regularly.  It’s also my goal to help increase students’ awareness in every lesson.

I love my voice doctor, laryngologist Michael Pitman, MD and not just cause he’s a Patrick Dempsey type and graduated in the same year I did from University of Michigan (Go Blue!) The page linked below to his hospital, The Eye and Ear Infirmary on W. 14th street in Manhattan, is an overview of most of the reasons and methods for voice therapy, which can complement voice lessons for people with serious or chronic speech or vocal problems. http://www.nyee.edu/cfv-therapy.html#awareness  labeled “Awareness”. The page is excellent, but if you scroll to the bottom, you get to this:

"An important early component of voice therapy is increased self-awareness of personal traits of voice production. Change can only be achieved after self-awareness. People are frequently surprised at the sound of their own voice when heard on a recording. That surprise is caused partly by limited self-awareness of personal vocal characteristics. Do you know how your voice sounds to others? You can increase that self-awareness by monitoring your voice and the voices of others. […] For many types of voice problems, increased vocal awareness is an important first step in overcoming a voice problem. http://www.nyee.edu/cfv-therapy.html#awareness

In addition to listening to recordings, a great way to hear yourself more closely to how others hear you is to put our hands behind your head with your elbows pointing to the front, or, simply to cut your ears.  You might be pleasantly surprised!

My master teacher Thomas Houser, PHD, used to remind me that I did not need to “get it right” all of the time. He allowed me to see that each new awareness about my singing was all I needed…awareness was the prize.

“Breathing in, I know that I am breathing in. Breathing out, I know that I am breathing out.”  -Thich Nhat Hanh

Everything is a miracle

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing in a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” -Albert Einstein

One of my yoga teachers at Yoga Works Soho (yoga and singing are like neighboring continents) read this famous observation to us last weekend. I must have seen or been read this quote before, but I never Heard it until now. Every day, every moment we have the choice to let go of the striving, touch the allowing and notice where we are. When it comes down to it, I don’t think anything serious gets done in the artist’s practice room without Einstein’s lens. The voice is a miracle. Each of our voices are miracles. Each breath. Time to stand up, take in our surroundings and be alive in whatever way we can today. Singing is one of my most precious ways to be alive. A practice and a miracle.

When you’ve got it, flaunt it!

I, personally, have spent too much of my life hiding my fabulous. The other night one of my studio's gorgeous sopranos surprised me by whipping out a fierce and healthy rendition of the big mix/belt number “When You’ve Got It, Flaunt It” from The Producers in her lesson.  And she sure did!  I had a giant smile plastered on my face to hear her sing it with such ease, joy and gusto and also, because spoofing in the song aside, it’s an inspiration, a kick, a starter, a delight.

If you haven’t had a chance to review this inimitable song from Broadway’s The Producers by Mel Brooks, treat yourself to a listen. Listen to it several times, in fact.  I want you opening your eyes hearing “If you’ve got it, geeve eeettt!”  I personally agree with Ulla’s mother in Sweden:

If nature blesses you from top to bottom, 

Show that top to bottom, don't think twice!

-Mel Brooks (...and he should know)

We have to share the gifts we have been given; no need to hide, no need confuse egotism with a healthy ego.  We don’t have to be perfect or best…we don’t even have to get it “right”….We have to pick (or write!) a song, work work work on it, and sing it with abandon. Yes, even a bit recklessly. Getting to that place may take some work: how to free up the body, mind and soul to be in the Zone?  How to feel creative and playful when you practice; how to practice being creative and playful?

Open the windows when you practice – let people hear.  My experience is that most of the time, people like it. People appreciate it. One guy may bang on your floor with a broomstick, kids in the alley may chortle along in imitation and So What?  Most will tell you how beautiful your scales are.  Sing.  Sing something you love to sing. Sing it…don’t think twice! Then go back and work on 2 or 3 choice “tricky” bars or sections. Work methodically, thoughtfully, attentively…until you notice that it is better.  Then sing your song again.  Hit repeat for 7 days maybe 7 weeks. THEN…. if you’ve got it, flaunt it.

FLAUNT  Merriam-Webster’s definition of:

To display or obtrude oneself to public notice

To display ostentatiously or impudently

To wave or flutter showily “The flag flaunts in the breeze”

Akin to the Old Norse flana – to rush around

Unfurl your wings, unfurl your personal flag – literally, right now, open your arms wide and high, stand tall, breath deep and make a sound.  Make up a song about how you are feeling; sing something that lights you up, that inspires you.  Remember Marianne Williamson’s famous quote: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”  But we have to do the work to get ourselves psyched up, feeling empowered, feeling fabulous enough to flaunt it. 

In fact, here’s your homework: make up a “flaunt it” playlist for your mp3 player (suggestions off the top of my head:  “Cream”-Prince, “I’m Beautiful”-Bette Midler, “SexyBack”-Justin Timberlake, “Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets”-from Damn Yankees) and sing along to get you in the zone. Flaunt it! Post your “flaunt it” song ideas here.

Then get a venue, get a gig, get an audition - or grab a public seat (park? subway? karaoke?) and sing even 16 bars of a song you love.  Even if someone is listening to you.  EVEN if someone is watching you. EVEN IF someone seems to think you are nuts. You deserve to be seen and heard.  You owe it to the world to share your gifts. Open the floodgates. You’ve Got it baby, so flaunt it!

Dedicated to my sister-friend, Rabbi Michelle Denker-Pearlman on her birthday, June 18th

A beautiful singer, who’s more fabulous with every passing year.

Warm Down and Restore: your cords, your emotions, your spirit

Dear Singers,

 

a week or so ago, I had a full day of commuting between several locations. It included a call back, a costume fitting and an audition appointment at a very fancy building with various theaters, art galleries and other businesses near the Highline in Manhattan. After making it through my mini marathon, I took a pause before teaching and other activities that would finish my day. I took the time to warm myself down, mentally and emotionally, from my acting auditions by sitting and treating myself to a beautiful latte and a rosemary parmesan scone at an impossibly fancy coffee shop in the building. 

 

It was a lovely moment: afternoon light, spirits lit up from being in said fancy building (it was so upscale-downtown that I couldn't figure out what any of the businesses actually sold, but they were beautiful!). I gave myself this moment because I have learned to "warm down" or get myself a gift after taking a step forward or putting myself on the line as a performer. My brilliant acting teacher, Kelly Kimball, often commands that her students get themselves a gift (can be inexpensive) when they master a new skill. This is the same idea: to acknowledge myself for my good work combined with the idea of warming down in dance or athletics. The foam on the latte was complete with a heart and some wings. I let go of the results of the day and enjoyed the late afternoon light in that delicious corner of Manhattan. You don't have to buy or eat something for this brain and spirit warm down: it could be a walk, a read, a nap, journaling, smelling the flowers or whatever you chose.

 

Back to the vocal cords: it's rarely talked about, but while the necessity of warming up is a given for singers, it is also important to warm ourselves down vocally. We warm up, literally, our vocal apparatus before singing challenging rep. Most singers know: what we do with our voices and bodies is athletic; the body temperature rises, it's exhausting, and we are asking a lot of the muscles in our larynx, even with excellent technique. So, to sing "Un Bel Di", "Glitter and Be Gay" or "Take Another Piece of My Heart" and then run back talking to mom or your manager on your cell while you scoot down Broadway is like running a 10k and then not stretching before you sit at a desk all day. You will feel it tomorrow.

 

On Vocal Warm-Downs: usually gentle, downward scales in the middle to low voice on vowels like [i] [u] [o] or lips trills and humms are an effective warm down. You don't have to do a lot, but you want to get your vocal folds, all stretched our from singing "Maria" or "I Dreamed a Dream" fifty times for an overzealous director, back into your speaking range. If you sound like Minnie Mouse after you practiced or rehearsed, you sang too high for too long and need to warm back down to speaking range before hitting the asphalt. This physical warm down can also be a mental one: a meditative 5 minutes of self care and thanking yourself for practicing and taking good care of your voice. 

This week has been a holiday in the Jewish and Christian faiths both with reflection and restoration; whether atheist, agnostic, religious or pagan, consider celebrating by showing gratitude for the unique gift you have been given - your voice. 

Sing out, stout hearts!

Siobhan

Prepare for Excellence...but be Willing to Suck! -February 21st, 2013

Dear Singers,

What?!  Why these words of graceful wisdom, which so many of my students have heard over the years?

Because, while we do want to take wonderful vocal care of ourselves...  if we always play it safe when practicing or performing, we can never really learn new skills or make art. Really?!  No. You have to be brave, you have to be out there. You have to be imperfect. You have to try something new, something difficult, something that challenges you.  And that means you you will undoubtedly, at some point, suck!  And even if you never suck, you had to be Willing to suck because otherwise you were playing it safe.  Artists cannot play it safe.  Prepare for excellence. Be willing to suck.

Singing can be terrifying. Just singing is a risk for all of us at some point. This is why I have noticed over my 10+ years of teaching voice that Nothing (that isn't actually dangerous like knife-play or jumping out of a plane) scares people more than singing.  So, I take a leap and play around with my voice in my lesson:  I stop trying to please my teacher, I sing those scales and get into the zone, and just go...I free up...high notes surprise me....my lack of a "break" surprises me...the high of a new skill that I have really mastered eventually surprises me.  

You've got to take risks. You've got to practice. You've got to apply your risks to your technique. Eventually you get technique which allows you the freedom to do what you want. To express something. To fly. To take even bigger risks. 

I love singing!

Vocal Care TIPS:

What are the Most important things you can do for your vocal health?  sleep and hydration. 

SLEEP go to sleep!! take a nap!  lay on the floor and rest your feet up the wall or on a chair for a 5 minute power inversion during the day (inversions reverse your blood flow and the yogis have known them to be restorative for centuries) 

HYDRATION drink water. drink tea. get a humidifier. inhale steam with your steam inhaler or a good old fashioned pot of hot water and a towel

AND if you have problems, like reflux, allergies or a compulsion to scream at sporting events (guilty), then call me for a lesson. I can help.

Siobhan