Practice makes permanent

I recently read this quote from Carol Kirkpatrick shared in the Classical Singer Newsletter:

"Practice doesn't necessarily make perfect, it makes permanent...The way we practice, what we practice, and how well we practice are what ultimately will carry over to our performance...How we practice matters. We have to make our practice perfect. We can't just go through the motions and put in the time. It takes effort and execution."

I think many of us have gotten into the habit of mindlessness, that is, not really focusing on what we are doing. We eat (but don’t really taste) food while watching TV, we listen to (but don’t really hear) music while we’re doing homework, we have conversations with people while texting someone else. As a result, it seems we have difficulty doing just one thing at a time.

As an undergrad I remember reading “The Miracle of Mindfulness” by Thich Nhat Hanh as an assignment for my first vocal pedagogy class. The book encourages being in the moment in all activities. One exercise he describes that has always stuck with me is mindfully washing the dishes. Try this sometime, wash the dishes without any music or other media playing, without being on the phone or talking to someone else, without going over lines or singing a song in your head--just wash the dishes and give it your full attention. You may notice the texture and color of each dish. You may remember how it was you acquired each coffee mug or plate (maybe there is a person or association this brings up). You may be reminded of how your food choices that day may have impacted your routine or your health.

It’s really hard to do this simple task with full focus.

Similarly, when we practice singing, it can be easy to let our minds wander and just go through the motions. But part of my emphasis this year on shorter practice sessions is that, besides practicing more often, I would like all of us to be more mindful of how we are practicing. Do it with full attention and full intention. Can you notice subtle differences? How does the F-sharp feel differently than the F-natural? What does it feel like when you use a different vowel? Does your posture change when you sustain notes? Are you maintaining a good connection to the appoggio? 

Mindful observation is a crucial aspect of singing but it’s also important when consuming the arts. When we go to a show we silence our cell phones, stop our conversations, and sit in a dark room together to (hopefully) take in as much as we can about what we are seeing, hearing, and feeling.

Try experimenting with bringing this attitude to your practicing. Silence your phone, remove the distractions, and see what you notice.

Happy observations!

Now go practice.

Frustration. Or, the slog blog.

One unavoidable aspect of practice is frustration. First there is the frustration of not being able to practice because something comes up in your schedule. There is also the frustration of getting to your lesson and wishing you had practiced more the previous week. 

But then there is the frustration of just trying to make the voice work the way you would like. Sometimes we can go through prolonged periods of stagnation. With voice, we are constantly looking for a balance among muscles, which takes time, finite coordination, and physical growth. When we feel like we are doing everything we ought to be doing but don’t notice any progress, it is easy to get frustrated. 

After starting the year with some great momentum, I’ve felt like I’m back in a little bit of a vocal rut again. It’s not bad, I don’t feel like I’m getting worse. But I also haven’t felt like I’ve been growing over the last few weeks. 

Now that I’ve started rehearsing Threepenny Opera, my routine is all different. Actually, I haven’t found a routine yet—every day is different. So as long as I’m already unsettled, I’m going to try and use this as an opportunity to do some things differently with my singing as well: a new set of exercises, practicing at different times, and trying some new repertoire. I think we need that change of routine sometimes, especially if we feel stuck or like we’ve plateaued.

Like any discipline, singing can become a slog sometimes. It’s not fun when it’s not working. But, though frustration is probably inevitable, it doesn’t have to lead to discouragement. Stay focused, keep exploring, and keep putting in your time. You are ALWAYS moving somewhere, even if it isn’t where you thought you were going.

Peace and happy singing.

Now go practice.