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May, 2007
A Case of Passion Please
Always about this time of year, things slow down. People start letting
themselves slide into passive mode. "Hey, it's summer!" "WHAT New
Year's resolution...?!"
I'm not saying YOU are passive. I'm talking about the un-named others. In fact,
it only begins to show on them right about now. Then as summer comes on, they
slide into it like a gator into a hot-tub... By August, they're nearly in a
coma.
They trained us as kids to do this by letting us forget everything we ever
learned from the year previous, by way of 3 months of summer brain sleep--no
school, no challenge, no nothing.
SO WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH SINGING?
If you are actually gigging, you have a definite slump in concerts coming up. If
you are a non-career singer, you face the same "blah" as everybody
else...and it leaves you feeling drowsy until someone rings the bell again in
September.
So why NOT go to sleep? "Hey, it's summer!"
Here's why. We discovered that with just a little passion, your summer can
become the very "edge" that puts you ahead of the crowd. If the crowd
stays asleep for just 3 short months, it gives you time to "stir
yourself," move ahead, quietly, easily, just like the tortoise sneaking
past the hare.
AN ACCIDENTAL IDEA FROM MY KIDS
We discovered...by accident really...that if we required that our children keep
doing just one subject through summer...MATH... their brains stayed alive and
kicking. It helped them stay sharp and they retained NOT ONLY MATH, but all
their other subjects too! So far, just about every one of my kids are ahead of
the "curve" in school.
This brings me back to singing
If you are taking the normal summer break, you NEED something to provide a load
for your "inner learner."
I believe this for a few reasons:
ONE, you were never meant for more than just a little break from meaningful
work.
Have you ever seen those amazing travel photos of some guy in a hammock on a
pristine white beach? It looks SO inviting! And IT IS! Heck...you are
overworked...burnout is nipping at your heels. So you see that picture and it
makes you salivate.
But have you ever actually taken that vacation to the beach where you could
actually do NOTHING for a long time? I HAVE!
It's amazing! The first day, you settle in to just pure relaxation. Then the
next day, it's kind of cool. Then the next day, you miss your email, or your
colleagues, or...something.
Then, about a week into it, you realize that you are just plain bored! The
hammock is a would-be prison.
Idleness is NOT good for you except in short bursts!
TWO, our brains actually need enjoyable challenges.
Why do you think that puzzles are such big sellers? Unscramble this: OUY VELO
LENLGEHCA
When the brain is unhitched from it's load too long, it spins weird. It's like a
race horse...it longs to run. But you THINK you need idleness. Why? Because you
either have no meaningful tasks despite all the busy-ness (meaning, your work is
boring), or you've not been taking short regular breaks, so you're truly
exhausted (this is less common--most people relish their weekends).
Most probably, it's #1, you're bored. Your work hasn't engaged your brain, so
your brain is always complaining about work. And you think, like many, that
idleness is the best way to escape all that awful work. But it's not.
Your brain (and your heart of hearts) longs for something meaningful to DO.
THIRD, our minds are only interested in what they are interested in!!
That brings me back to singing!
Have you ever tried to talk to your non-singer friends about the intricacies of
singing? They are not like you, are they? It doesn't interest them like it does
you.
You are one of those weird people that music stirs and drives. Singing makes you
joyful. Talking about singing, studying about singing, reading about
singing...makes you joyful.
But your friends just like to listen to music...not necessarily make music.
I have friends that are into watching sports. I am one of those very weird
people who DOESN'T care about spectator sports. When people start talking about
watching the big game, my eyes glaze over ...so sue me...
Therefore, you must ENGAGE YOUR MIND IN SOMETHING IT LOVES! You love to sing.
You can get PASSIONATE about singing.
So pick your passion and grab it with your whole heart this summer. (I've made
my biggest breakthroughs in my singing BETWEEN tours.)
THE POWER OF DISCIPLINE
Imposing a systematic approach on my voice was the best thing I ever did. I have
now built, one baby step at a time, a new set of vocal habits. I have muscle
memory working in my favor. I can only sing in a strained voice when I TRY TO
(for illustrating to students the wrong way).
With Brett Manning's exercises, I had a system, not just a hodge-podge of
"helpful" hints. It allowed me to just relax my worries, do those
crazy sounds, and expect the promised results.
Surprisingly, the system just keeps working. I see lots of new students and it
never ceases to amaze me how great the changes in their abilities. And all
through a simple systematic approach to realizing their passion.
If you don't have a desire to sing, then you better get geared up to hit the
couch. "Hey, it's summer!"
Keep singing,
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