What is often diagnosed as lack of skill or technique in singers is actually a student not yet accessing their physical abilities, proprioception, interoception, and somatic awareness. As we build confidence, the voice grows and begins to thrive. So picking on surface details too early in the process is rarely helpful, and often damaging. Power, permission, safety, ease and flow first - then when the student feels TRULY safe to express, the details will then be much more easily learned and absorbed. Nuance comes with the confidence that only awareness and repetition bring.
There is too much efforting going on in singing and in singing lessons. Singing should feel easy - like the song is being pulled out of you... like you have no choice but to pour forth your heart, creativity and expression. The process of release is only work if we make it so due to tension and doubt.
One of the hardest skills to teach is "support". Have you ever been told to “engage your core” or “tighten your belly” or “sing from below” but haven’t been told what that means or how to do it? David has developed a systematic series of breath therapy, awareness exercises, postural work and targeted stretching to enable singers and actors to understand and discover what appoggio (support and posture) is, and to therefore effectively put it into practice.
We are all holding our breath and tightening our six-packs to deal with the rigors of life. These actions affect our voice and ability to express. Work with these issues, and we find the Full Voice was always there, just waiting to be unleashed.
Singing is much easier and more rewarding than it often feels. We should stop trying to fit in or trying not to stick out. Our goals are to stop holding back, give one’s self permission to let go, turning singing into what it is meant to be - a joyful imperative.
