The word “natural” can be defined as:
1. Existing in or caused by nature; not made or caused by humankind.
2. A skill, quality, or ability coming instinctively to a person; innate.
3. A person or their behavior relaxed and unaffected; spontaneous.
Natural doesn’t necessarily mean effortless or easeful. Often someone’s natural is awkward and unwieldy.
Such is the case of learning how to sing well. Some people open their mouth and glorious sounds pour out. This is the exception. Most of us mortals have to work continuously to sound free and easy.
I learn alot about singing by working with others. I have had the privilege to work with singers of all ages and levels. There are some singers who come to me making healthy sounds. I assist the singer with preserving what easily functions and we work on expresssion and artistry. This is the minority however, no matter how talented someone may be.
The majority of singers, including the young folk, work on finding a free, unencumbered sound. We work to find a reliable approach (technique) that a singer can employ regardless the state of their throat.
Over time, the body carries our feelings and experiences. We tote around these roadblocks throughout our lives. These blockages manifest physically; how we walk, speak, sing, dance, and even sleep. In my singing experience, these stored emotional experiences result in physical blockages eg lack of breath support, unclear vowels, unsteady vibrato, tight tongue, locked jaw, and legato difficulty.
So, today I had a chance to work with a lovely singer who like, myself, works on freeing the voice. His goal is to be able to sing runs fluidly. I find that movement in my voice only came when I released and unlocked. It was when I was able to move my sounds more freely, that my largnx and diaphragm cooperated and I was able to sing runs.
Our voice is an audio mirror of the inside. It is easy to eclipse experiences that have been stowed away for self preservation, but our voice will reveal when we open our mouth to make music.
“Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
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