How do we know when we’ve sung well? Aside from the kudos from audience members or the recording device, it’s our senses that tell us. Singing is a multi-sensory experience – from aural and visual to, most important, kinesthetic. Many of our vocal technique “expressions” – head and chest voice or the voice being “forward” or “back” – are simply the kinesthetic feedback we get from how we adjust our vocal resonators, support the voice and/or use the vocal cords. So, paying attention to our sensory feedback – where we sense vibration, how much pressure and/or “spin” we feel and, of course, tension – are vital clues to what we may be doing to create that feedback. And, it’s highly individual. For instance, we tend to think a tongue can never be too relaxed. However, if it’s a dead weight and not dynamically engaged, I’ll bet you’ll sense that tension at its root (as well as hear muddy vowels.) Fine-tuning our senses is a fine tool for freeing our voice.
Sound Advice #3 – Coming To Our Senses
About the Author: Monica Norcia
I call myself a “therapeutic voice teacher” because I offer singers and speakers the opportunity to deeply explore all aspects of the voice, from the breath to making sound, in a way uncommon in traditional voice lessons. I weave together classic vocal techniques with body and energy-centered modalities, such as the Alexander Technique, yoga-inspired movement and Reiki. As an excellent vocal/body/energy diagnostician with deep knowledge of the vocal mechanism, I am able to quickly get to the root of a vocal problem or help someone grow vocally by addressing long-held physical and psychophysical habits that interfere with free and easy expression.
Leave A Comment