Singing at any level requires an intense degree of focus. You must be actively engaged in creating optimal coordination within the body and, at the same time, produce an authentic and emotionally charged performance for an audience.
At it’s most fundamental level, somatic work (such as yoga, meditation, tai chi, and Alexander Technique) is rooted in helping a person get more in touch with their body. The more you can access internal kinesthetic awareness, the more quickly and efficiently you can create and adjust the physical coordinations necessary for singing.
But somatic work can also help a singer on an emotional and mental level
Young singers are often bombarded with advice and directives by stage directors, conductors, teachers and coaches. It’s easy to believe that these people are the gatekeepers to a career, and that you must bend yourself to their ideas to succeed.
But when we focus on what everyone else wants from us, and lose track of what we need for ourselves, that imbalance can create or exacerbate the physical/mental symptoms of stress and trauma. It can also disrupt the required internal focus for performance. The focus then becomes external, on all of the people and circumstances that we have no direct control over.
Constantly living with an external focus can lead to anxiety, depression, lack of internal motivation, increased stage fright, fear of failure, imposter syndrome, and general loss of enjoyment in singing.
So, how can somatics help?
Somatic movements are designed to increase physical awareness and decipher cues from the body. But somatic movements are also an incredible tool for soothing emotional distress and quieting the mind. Learning to focus with intention on your breath, your muscles and your mood, you are able to slow down your thinking and identify the emotions that are causing distress.
Once in a clearer state of mind, it’s easier to refocus your attention on your own experience, thoughts and needs. In essence, we create a quiet “home base” that we can come back to, where we can filter through those directives and decide what will work best for us.
Somatic Therapy is also available from a variety of providers. It utilizes these same techniques, along with talk therapy, to help clients self-regulate during times of emotional distress. In fact, many somatic therapists include vocal work in their sessions!
Fun fact: the breathing techniques we use in singing are naturally soothing to the central nervous system, and can be used to help people during panic attacks.
Somatics in my studio
Ask any of my students, and they will all tell you the question I ask most in lessons is “how did that feel to you?” And most of my students find that a very difficult question to answer, at least at first. But the more I ask it (and the more they anticipate the question), the more they are forced to notice what they feel inside. By incorporating mindfulness practices, breath work and physical movements into lessons, I am able to teach them how listen and adjust to the cues their voice and body are giving them.
In my own experience, this work has been most impactful for students who suffer from high levels of anxiety, and/or are survivors of abuse.
These kinds of students tend to have more complicated emotional connections to their voices. They are students who have been taught in a variety of ways that their experiences need to be filtered through an external source, and validated the same way.
Because somatic movement focuses on one’s internal experience, students are able to use voice lessons as a tool in rediscovering their autonomy. With the help of somatic movement and mindfulness, students are able to pay closer attention to their intrinsic experience, both physical and emotional. In doing so, they learn how to discern, to trust and to name what is happening inside them. Over time, I’ve seen firsthand the results: less fear, increased confidence, kinder self-talk, and joy using their voices again!
The bottom line
While all students are unique, and will need something different on their musical journey, somatics can be a powerful tool for both physical and emotional development along the way. Consider taking a yoga class now and again, or perhaps start meditating in the morning. Whatever you do, remember that listening to your internal experience is vital as you develop. It will be your north star as you learn and grow. So keep listening!
