Earlier this summer when I was out on my motorcycle (Ha! There’s something you might not have known about me!) a funny thing happened.

On my first ride of the season I was feeling timid. Which affected my driving — I was more hesitant, jumpy, and had a harder time leaning into the curves and turns. Although this tension was happening because I didn’t feel safe yet, it was actually making my driving less safe.

Riding along early that first day, I had a little talk with myself: “Think about singing — how much better it works when you’re not holding on tight. How you take that breath, relax your throat and trust your brain to take care of the details (the specific pitches / the twists and turns in the road). Think FORWARD. Let it flow!”

Once I made this connection I relaxed and drove so much better! And had more fun.

Then I realized that this was FUNNY! BECAUSE…

How do I often help my singing students with breathing?

I give them this automotive analogy:

The breath you’re inhaling is like gasoline for a car, the muscles in your lower abs are like the engine, and your throat is like the steering wheel.

You’ve got plenty of gas, your engine is engaged and doing the big work, and your job is to steer. But you don’t need to grip hard and crank the wheel, right? When you see the curves in the road ahead, or visualize an upcoming turn, it’s like the steering wheel follows on it’s own and takes you where you want to go. It’s automatically following what you’re seeing and thinking and it feels kind of like magic! It’s not hard work to steer.

You’ve learned to trust your brain and this visualization process with driving, and it’s the same with singing.

It really helps to clearly visualize your notes (with sound this process is called “audiation” – kind of like singing just in your head) and trust your brain to take you there. You don’t need to focus on your throat or vocal chords and MAKE them do anything. In fact, the more you can relax your throat and larynx, the easier and more fun it will be to sing. Think of that breath and the sound you’re making as freely moving forward — let it flow!

This is all in the service of not over-working your throat, which will tighten you up and get in your way!

So the same automotive analogy that works for my students with singing, worked in reverse for me with driving.

I thought that was AWESOME! All these skills are so transferable! Just thought I’d share.

Love ya!

Nancy

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