Tag: emotion

Fear In Singing

Fear is a common emotional response in singing, and it’s a difficult emotion to combat. Here are three ways to re-frame fear in singing:

#1. Fear can be positive:
Fear as a human emotion, is actually there for good reason. It prevents us from things that may harm us. While singing is not actually harmful, the social fear of rejection is often what our body and mind object to. But fear of singing can also serve a useful purpose, in telling us how important music is to us. Fear before a concert can help us realize how important doing a good job is to us. It can also tell us if we haven’t prepared well.

#2. Using Your Instrument:
Many peoples’ fears in music come from a lack of control. We are afraid to sing, because we are uncertain about what sound might come out of our mouths. We are afraid of poor tone, of voice cracks, of running out of air, and a myriad of other problems. And yet, the only way to mitigate these problems is to use our voices. In every other instrument there is the expectation of a learning process, and yet with our voices we believe we either have a good voice, or we don’t. This is a fallacy. Allow yourself time and space to learn to use your instrument properly, and you will start to see great results!

#3. Support:
One of the best ways to get over a fear of singing, is through a positive support system. An introduction to singing through choir is a great way to accomplish this. Because choir is a community of like-minded people, whose voices are stronger together, singing in a choir takes a great deal of pressure off of the individual. Choir is also social, and we are much more likely to try new, and difficult things, if we feel we have strong social support behind us!

How else can you combat fear in singing? Tell us in the comments below!

January 16, 2017
Trust In Singing

Singing, and music in general engender many emotions, as discussed in this post. There are many positive emotions that arise from singing, as well as the occasional one. One aspect of positive emotion found particularly in choral singing, is trust. Trust is a powerful emotion because it takes time and effort to build, but can be broken in an instant.

#1. Trusting the director:
The director of an ensemble is the leader in many ways. From selecting the music we sing, to facilitating our learning of a new piece, to ensuring that all the disparate parts of the choir come together, to creating artistic, musical moments in live performances, the director is responsible for so many aspects of our choral experience. This would be an impossible job without the trust of the choristers under their charge.

#2. Trusting other choristers:
Singing with others means trusting them to do their part. Choir is about disparate parts making up a whole, and in order to do that, choristers have to subsume their ego, and blend into a sound larger, and grander than they can make by themselves. This requires a delicate balance between doing your best for the group, and supporting other choristers in doing their best for the group.

#3. Trusting the music:
This can be the most difficult aspect of singing, because while we are singing, we don’t actually hear the piece the way the audience does. In a performance, we must trust our training, trust the director, trust the other choristers, but most of all, we must trust the music, and the emotion we feel during a performance, to help inspire our singing, and drive us towards our best singing selves.

How else is trust important in singing? Tell us in the comments below!

December 5, 2016
How Emotions Affect Singing

Emotion is necessary in musical expression, but our emotions can have a very strong effect on how we sing. Here are 3 ways in which our emotions can affect our singing:

#1. Positive emotions:
Positive emotions, such as joy, excitement, and love, often have an equally positive impact on our singing. These emotions help us to feel confident and engaged in what we’re doing, meaning our breathing is more free, our sound is focused, and we blend well with other singers around us!

#2. Negative emotions:
Negative emotions, such as fear, stress, or anger, can have a deleterious effect on our singing. These emotions inhibit musical expression, often dragging pitch down, introducing bodily tension, hindering supported breathing, and freedom in our singing.

#3. Changing emotions:
One of the most wonderful aspects of music is how engaging in it, whether through listening, or playing an instrument, can actually change your mood! If you’re experiencing negative emotions, one of the best things you can do is start singing! Singing forces you to pay attention to your body, to stay in the present moment, and to regulate your breathing that creates a meditative effect. Plus, singing in a choir with others, has been shown to have a very positive effect on mental health!

How else might our emotions affect how we sing? Tell us in the comments below!

November 28, 2016
Joy In Singing

Singing has been shown to be beneficial in various ways; it improves breathing, circulation, enhances cognitive abilities, and lowers stress levels. But one of the best outcomes of singing, and particularly singing in a group is the joy and happiness

#1. Good music:
Music has the ability to make us feel a myriad of different emotions, which is one of the reasons why it is such a powerful art form. When we listen to good music, we experience a biological response to the music. Our brains begin to release the chemical dopamine, which is responsible for positive emotions, such as joy.

#2. Singing with others:
We receive pleasure from singing, not just by ourselves, but by singing in community. Many voices together can create more nuanced and layered music than singing alone. The benefits of singing with others include, increased self-esteem and confidence, a larger sense of community, and even biological changes. A recent study has shown that choir singers sync their heartbeats when they sing in ensemble!

#3. A job well done:
Singers often feel a sense of exaltation when they’re performing; a feeling which often extends even after the performance. The exhilaration of performing, is heightened by knowing that you did a great job. Satisfaction, pride and joy, all contribute to the euphoria of singing!

How else might singing be joyful? Tell us in the comments below!

October 19, 2015