From February 2014
FEAR TECHNIQUE
Fear
(“Face Of Fear” by Thomas Shropshire)
Louisa May Alcott:
I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.
Learning how to sing well can inspire a host of fears. Once these habits have been lovingly embedded, having the courage and trust to peel off these layers is a daunting task.
1. Fear of not making a perfect tone.
2. Fear of not being able to hold out a note long enough.
3. Fear of having the wrong vibrato.
4. Fear of not being the right kind of singer.
5. Fear of not singing with support.
6. Fear of not opening your mouth enough.
7. Fear of letting go and working with a sound you may not like.
8. Fear of not being able to find the correct sound again after you have finally got it.
9. Fear of singing and breathing where you speak, only hard work brings good results.
From these fears, a technique is crafted…..
1. I hold with my sound my jaw so I can control it.
2. I neutralize and cover all vowels so they are consistent and attractive.
3. I grip my neck with the correction consonant and vowel pronunciation so I can have better diction.
4. I learn train my larynx to work properly by depressing it.
4. I use my embouchure to make the sound.
5. I close off the space inside to find the right position.
6. I blow air so I am moving the breath in the right way. It will help to sound like a real singer.
7. I tighten my stomach to make sure I took enough breath for a long phrase. It is not ok to run out of breath.
8. I make sure I land on each pitch so I can make it exactly as it needs to be.
9. I make sure to practice singing the note correctly over and over again so it will always sound the same.
Some voices are strong and natural enough to withstand these artificial fixes without much consequence. I was always envious of this strength. My voice didn’t allow the band aid technique. I wasn’t able to mimic. I think of it as a blessing now that I have found the path. When I struggled vocally and wanted to do whatever it took to make sure I didn’t crash and burn, I didn’t feel so blessed…..
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” Lao Tzo
akintsucrooner 