Type A Singers: Leaving The Control Freak Singer Lifestyle
By E. Perryman
Blog: akintsucrooner.wordpress.com
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. When I let go of what I have, I receive what I need.” Lao Tzu
Singers have a lot of catch phrases. Some are helpful, others mysterious, and many immobilizing. One of my formative voice teachers used to tell me “you’re voice wants to be beautiful Elizabeth, let it.” Of course that would mean uncovering all of the layers of “constructive criticism” I received of what I “shouldn’t do” when singing even though I was only in my late 20s at the time.
Many singers don’t start out singing flawlessly. There is a definite pedagogy to singing whether it is relayed via imagery or physicality. You build vocal technique so you can sing with technique that cannot be seen.
So when my teacher said this to me, all of my singer faults would come rushing back e.g. don’t push, too breathy, not too dark, avoid placing, watch spreading, not in the back of your throat, bigger breaths, don’t use your jaw, relax your larynx, lift your embouchure, drop your shoulders, less chest voice, too many diphthongs and so on.
What seemed like an innocuous comment at the time was an epic singer feat.
At 48, I have uncovered much of the bandaid technique that I relied on for years so I could control how I sang. This freedom has come by finding my core sound by sensation (not by what I hear in my head,) as well as singing with the voice I was given and not the voice I thought I should have. The singer faults that were diagnosed by teachers and well meaning peers were accurate but drawing attention to the results of not being a free singer, only made me even less free.
I was fortunate to have inherited a formidable instrument from my gifted parents and have a strong will. Despite significant technical issues, I was able to sustain the life of a singing teacher and come out on the other side.
As a result, I can see others do the same things I did. I can relate to the frustrations. I understand the desire to control. Controlling is good when you need to learn music and roles but isn’t useful when making sound.
My wonderful student shown above came to me a few years ago as a light soprano coloratura who struggled with cracking in the middle (been there,) had difficulty singing in the lower and upper passagio, (oh can I relate,) and had lost ease to her top (my reality the year after my master’s degree) which should be the most natural part of her instrument.
And slowly, the layers of doubt and need to control have peeled back. She sings much more freely now without a break and has reclaimed her silvery soprano lilt. Most importantly, she loves to sing and is dedicated to sharing her gift.
As much as it is attractive to hunker down, get involved, and control the singing process, especially when we often field singer critiques, it will bog you down and eclipse your sound. If gone unchecked for too long, it will begin to diminish your ability.
“We must be willing to let go of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” Joseph Campbell
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