I read a fascinating discussion on the Internet a while ago. It was in respect to mental versus physical. My name was also thrown into that discussion by someone who suggested I was very much into the mental aspects.
And it's true. I am. Very much so.
However…
…we could also argue that I am very much into advanced muscle development.
One of the cornerstones of my method, as well as the Sing With Freedom program, is to develop advanced kinesthetic awareness. That is how we can effectively develop all physical aspects of the voice. That is why it has been proven so effective for pros as well as beginners. And that in turn enables us to practice and learn effectively so we can ultimately express with greater passion and freedom.
In the free video that I provide I mentioned my passion for developing strategies to make my fingers move effectively when I played the violin as a kid.
Now here’s the thing; being able to isolate muscles, release tension, effectively develop strength, coordination and functionality of our body is very much a mental activity.
Being aware, being able to focus and being able to shift your focus by choice is very much a mental activity
Becoming aware of mental resistance, such as fear – whether it is fear of making a fool out of yourself or the fear of singing a high note alone in a room – is very much a mental exercise.
Every athlete who excels at a psychical move has become good at it because of the mental capacity to be aware and recognize the movement and balance in the body.
Everyone who has ever become successful at something has done it because of the mental activity involved in being able to focus on a tasks, choosing the activities to engage in, facing challenges, facing their fears, motivating themselves, developing passion and discipline, and we can go on and on.
What is your right foot doing right now? What about your jaw right now? What is your right hand doing?
Ah, isn’t it fascinating that you can do that?
Hey what are you thinking right now?
Now, “mental” doesn’t necessarily mean “thinking” (quite the contrary actually).
As an athlete I was very much involved in advanced mental training and still am to this day. In all honesty, that is not what the Sing With Freedom program is about. (Maybe I’ll create a real mental training program on learning advanced skills in your mind one of these days?)
The good news is that increasing the awareness of body and mind is a developed skill.
And skill development, as you probably know already, is my passion. Physical or mental - call it what you want, I think we are amazing.
Aren’t we amazing?!
I so very much agree! and I thank you warmly for what you just expressed. Like what I felt early the other morning, going out and seeing the flood of stars in the sky, and then yesterday, looking into the face of an elderly neighbor I visited, as I sang and (mostly) played the guitar, hymns and a few cowboy songs. (Right now, I don’t sing as well as I play…) I had to agree with the one who said looking into faces can give us glimpses of heaven.
Voice is indeed so amazing a creation.
Isnt it amazing just how many variations you can have with just your voice, the dynamics that can be achieved with combinations of resonance, range, texture, volume, modulation, style.
Think of a mimicry artist- the different perceptions he creates with just his voice..
Thank you Per for the ‘Sing with Freedom’ program!
Discovering finer aspects to my voice that I once thought is not doable due to whatever reasons is such a wonderful experience that I cannot express enough in words.
I am much grateful to you for opening up the barriers I had once created for myself.
I can only imagine how deeply satisfying it must be for you to be in the profession you are!
Thank You again for the wonderful person that you are and what you do. It is a Blessing to have you as my coach.
We ARE amazing! I personally thank God for this and for my opportunites, but no one has to if they don’t believe. Everyone can benefit from His creation, regardless.
Unfortunately, many of us spend time telling ourselves ‘we can’t’. So, we won’t or we don’t. So much of what we do are choices to act: choices to grow or decline, choices to love or to hate. Of course, we can’t control everything, but we have the power to choose to act for the good of our own growth and life in all situations.
So much of what I needed to know to live in life, I learned in kindergarten. And the little train that said, ‘I think I can…”
This evening, while you folks were leaving comments, we had the incredible privilege of hearing the Choral Art Society sing the Latin accompaniment “Voices of Light” to the 1924 silent film “The Passion of Joan of Arc.” The audience was riveted breathless through the whole hour-long black-and-white event, so focussed on the mental aspect of the singing by live voices and orchestra sans electronics and loudspeakers. Everyone was in tears. Mental vs. physical. Wins every time!
Jincy, you’re absolutely right. The voice is amazing! God gave us a true gift by allowing us to evolve our voice into the heart rending form that it is today. Beautiful!
We are very much amazing ‘creations’. It’s all a question of commitment; and somewhere in there is the question of ‘time’ and whether the likely outcome is worth it!
I just had this conversation with my son this morning on this same subject regarding getting a great job. I told him he could get the job of his dreams if only he believed that he could do it, and never give up. Thank You Per for helping others to believe.
i will be 80 on may 2 2013, i still sing on my kareoke machine i don’t have the range i used to have so now i sing western music instead of ballads like i used to. i’m pretty good, but; i would like to get back to the songs that i love. thanks for listening. jim
There is nothing I would love more than a program on ‘Advanced Mental Training’
I personally have always believed it is mind over matter,and what we are thinking and visualising play a hugh part in our success or failure!
Mental vs Physical in voice training sounds wonderful!