Listen

There’s so much noise right now. 

And though I generally classify myself as a teacher, 90% of my job is listening. The second a new student says “hello", I am logging the health and approximate range and size of their instrument. I’m asking questions about their musical experiences. I’m noting their comfort level. When they sing through their first scales on “ah”, I’m making as many mental notes as possible in order to make the most out of our session. I know that the faster I get acquainted with them, the sooner we can make progress together.

Often times a student comes in claiming to have one problem, and as I listen, I begin to realize that the problem they describe is really a symptom of something else. They’re not wrong. I just have a different understanding than they do. It’s this listening skill that makes up half of the equation of a successful voice lesson. 

Then comes the process of helping them to listen in a new way. They no doubt have been listening to things like pitch, tone and rhythm, but I need them to listen to the underlying function that is creating the effect of pitch, tone and rhythm. If they could just “sing in tune”, they wouldn’t be in my studio. So we listen. We do an exercise, and I point out aspects of the sound they just produced, and we try again, and we are both listening, harder. This is the other piece of a successful voice lesson. Their ability to listen. 

Through all of this intense listening I keep refining my directions and they keep refining their responses, and we move closer to our target. Not only that, but we find freedom by way of acknowledging these underlying causes. We do not force or push our way into an attempt at being correct. That would only cause further problems down the line. We honor the body, and the body’s timing. We do not constrict or manipulate. We don’t even judge “good” and “bad”. We judge balanced, strong and free. We know that this will lead to “good.”

There is a lot of talking right now in America. There is a lot of news. A lot of anger. Sadness. Ignorance. Passion. Love. Everything is out there. 

Artists, I encourage you to listen. 

Listen to the things people are not saying. Listen to the fears they are subconsciously communicating when they do speak. To the things they love that are threatened, all people on every side of things, especially the ones you disagree with. Then, listen to yourself. 

A brilliant woman told me once that listening is part listening “out” (to the person in front of you), and part listening “in” (to yourself). It may take time to find that voice inside you— the one that’s not just a repeat of others’ voices, but is really yours— or it may be very loud already. Whatever the case, listen and honor it. Honor it in it’s time without forcing or judging it. When it is ready to speak, make sure it is free, meaning that it is representing you 100%. Because somebody, somewhere needs to hear your declaration of freedom in order to find theirs. Yours may be the lyrics that run through their head as they risk their lives in protest or as they risk their emotional safety speaking up to their family or boss. Do the work inside yourself to encourage freedom, strength and balance. Listen out and listen in. 

Often times a student comes in claiming to have one problem, and as I listen, I begin to realize that the problem they describe is really a symptom of something else. They’re not wrong. I just have a different understanding than they do. It’s this listening skill that makes up half of the equation of a successful voice lesson. 

Then comes the process of helping them to listen in a new way. They no doubt have been listening to things like pitch, tone and rhythm, but I need them to listen to the underlying function that is creating the effect of pitch, tone and rhythm. If they could just “sing in tune”, they wouldn’t be in my studio. So we listen. We do an exercise, and I point out aspects of the sound they just produced, and we try again, and we are both listening, harder. This is the other piece of a successful voice lesson. Their ability to listen. 

Through all of this intense listening I keep refining my directions and they keep refining their responses, and we move closer to our target. Not only that, but we find freedom by way of acknowledging these underlying causes. We do not force or push our way into an attempt at being correct. That would only cause further problems down the line. We honor the body, and the body’s timing. We do not constrict or manipulate. We don’t even judge “good” and “bad”. We judge balanced, strong and free. We know that this will lead to “good.”

There is a lot of talking right now in America. There is a lot of news. A lot of anger. Sadness. Ignorance. Passion. Love. Everything is out there. 

Artists, I encourage you to listen. 

Listen to the things people are not saying. Listen to the fears they are subconsciously communicating when they do speak. To the things they love that are threatened, all people on every side of things, especially the ones you disagree with. Then, listen to yourself. 

A brilliant woman told me once that listening is part listening “out” (to the person in front of you), and part listening “in” (to yourself). It may take time to find that voice inside you— the one that’s not just a repeat of others’ voices, but is really yours— or it may be very loud already. Whatever the case, listen and honor it. Honor it in it’s time without forcing or judging it. When it is ready to speak, make sure it is free, meaning that it is representing you 100%. Because somebody, somewhere needs to hear your declaration of freedom in order to find theirs. Yours may be the lyrics that run through their head as they risk their lives in protest or as they risk their emotional safety speaking up to their family or boss. Do the work inside yourself to encourage freedom, strength and balance. Listen out and listen in.