Getting Serious About Singing
I look at the students with whom I’m working and ask myself one question.
When did singing get so serious?
…
I mean, of course I want my students to take their lessons with me seriously. I appreciate it when they practice and do their homework and come to their lessons, but more than one of my students has commented on how silly they feel doing some of the exercises I assign (which is fair, some of the exercises are silly. *smile*)
It makes me wonder what they were expecting. It makes me ponder (again) the relationships between practice and work and play.
…
(If you hadn’t noticed *smile*) I experience singing as a joyous, spiritual and freeing activity. I’m serious about it, but I don’t think it needs to be serious. Particularly when I see that seriousness turn into worry, anxiety or self-doubt. (Even the students I’m coaching at the middle school are worried about their singing.)
…
Besides, when did silly become bad?
What if being silly really helps? (I think it does)
Because it’s not just silly. It’s being present and open. It’s self expression and vulnerability. Being willing to try something new (and perhaps look foolish).
Singing is about revealing our voices and that can feel extremely vulnerable (particularly if we’ve had any singing trauma in the past) because singing is really about revealing ourselves; our personalities, our perspectives and our spirituality.
(Okay, I can admit that that stuff is all pretty serious. *smile*)
