Well, I had another singing lesson. It was pretty fun and very interesting!
I mentioned in an earlier blog how “physical” my teacher is when she teaches.
In this class, she worked with one of our students, a 50+ year old software engineer, who really needed help with his voice projection. So she had him lie down on the floor in front of all of us, and then sing a song. As he lay there singing, she lifted his feet to her posterior and literally sat on his feet as he sang. Every time his voice projection got weak, she sat back hard against his feet, which pushed his thighs into his abdomen, which pushed against his diaphragm, which pushed more air out of his lungs, and his voice got stronger. Each time she did that, which was pretty often, she also sent him skidding a foot or two backward across the floor.
What was only a 45 second song turned into a 5 minute song, because he was laughing so hard he couldn't get the words out. During the course of his song, she chased him across the floor by more than a couple of yards.
It was only after class that we pointed out to him the dust and skid marks on the back of his pants. Next time, maybe he should dust-proof himself with Pledge, and bill the school for custodial services.
But there was more. This time, I was an accomplice.
With another student, a tall 40+ elementary school teacher, my teacher asked me to “hang her up by her skull” as she sang! This student tended to jut her head and neck forward as she sang, which constricted her voice. So the teacher had me stand behind this student, clamp her skull between my hands and then lift her as she sang. Not only did this help the student, but I got a really great upper body workout. (Maybe I can sell the concept to Ronco!)
It amazes me how much singing isn't really in the throat at all, but actually tied to the body's breath mechanics. And it's interesting how easily we lost touch with our bodies. In retrospect, I think she was trying to help us get back "into our bodies".
Teachers don't work with students this intensely unless they believe students have potential they aren't using. Althought I was relieved to have been spared this type of intense work in her class, I don't know if I'm happy about it. Did she not work with me because my singing's flawless or because it’s hopeless?
After class, my teacher announced that she was going to New York to audition for an musical play, and that we'll have a sub for the next couple of weeks.
Really, Teach, you don't need to skip town!
Ok, so "break a leg" in New York!
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