VOCALS
SINGING WITH( AND THROUGH) EMOTION | Renée Maranan
Worship music can be so powerful, and the experience of singing praise can be so deeply moving. As worship singers, we carry the responsibility of singing with intention and authenticity. At the same time, we are responsible for reining in our hearts and minds so that our voices can continue to function well during the service.
It’ s a delicate balance to strike. It takes practice, vulnerability, support, and strategy. Here are a few practical ways that we can learn how to lean into our emotions during singing, so that we can be more present during worship.
PRACTICE THE TECHNIQUE UNTIL IT BECOMES AUTOMATIC. Optimize your vocal function through exercises and technical adjustments to songs and then practice these skills until they are second nature. That way, when you start learning to let your heart influence the song, your vocal performance will be less likely to suffer.
FIND A PRACTICE ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU FEEL FREE TO FULLY EXPERIENCE YOUR EMOTIONS DURING SINGING. This might be the privacy of your own home. It could be during worship team practice. It might be during your voice lessons. Wherever it may be, identify a space where you can feel safe and supported in your singing, among people you trust. It’ s crucial to practice in this type of environment before you try performing with intense emotions in front of an audience or a congregation, so that you can be free to learn how to navigate the experience skillfully.
IF AND WHEN EMOTIONS ARISE, PRACTICE OBSERVING RATHER THAN FIXING. The effort of trying to hide or minimize intense emotions often results in tension around the shoulders, the neck, the face, even the throat, all of which usually stifles the voice. Rather than fixing the feelings, practice noticing or even naming them. This can feel very exposing to some, which is why it’ s so important to practice this in an environment where you feel comfortable and safe.
GROUND YOURSELF IN YOUR BREATH. Practice breathing slowly and quietly. Avoid raising your shoulders, chest, and collarbone. If needed( and if possible), modify the tempo or speed to accommodate slower breaths. Focus your mind on the sensation of the air flowing in and out of your body. If singing feels too challenging, pause and take a slow inhale and then exhale into a nice long sigh or even a yawn. Once you have used this tool enough times to be familiar with how it feels in your body, try imagining or aiming for the same feeling as you sing through emotional songs.
GUIDE YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SENSATIONS IN YOUR BODY. Are you noticing any tension or gripping in your shoulders or neck? Can you feel yourself clenching your jaw or furrowing your eyebrows? Do a mental scan of your body and notice what needs to be released. If and when you do notice yourself gripping or tensing, try gently thinking of the word“ RELAX,” or try moving your body to prompt it out of its held state.
FIND SUPPORT IN YOUR SURROUNDINGS. When emotions get too intense, sometimes it can be helpful to shift our focus outward, away from our own thoughts. Take a moment to reconnect with the feeling of the microphone in your hand, the ground underneath your feet, the warmth of the lights on your skin, the sounds of the instruments and voices singing around you. Let these sensations serve as an anchor when you feel like your thoughts and feelings are becoming too big or distracting.
BE PREPARED WITH SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE CUES. Prior to taking your song to the stage or the service, write out a cue that can help ground you in your vocal performance. It needs to be succinct, practical, and specific to you. Some examples might be:“ slow, quiet breaths,” or“ drop your jaw.” These cues can help reconnect you to the mechanics of your singing and can be very helpful for moments when you feel like your emotions are overtaking your vocal function.
It’ s an art form to sing with authentic emotion, and it requires vulnerability, courage, and lots of practice. But all that work can result in an experience of worship that is fuller, freer, and more intrinsically rewarding for the worship singer. It can also transform the experience of worship for the congregation, as they are led with more than just the singer’ s voice, but with the singer’ s heart as well.
Got a singing question? Send an email to hello @ reneemaranan. com with“ WM Vocals Question” in the subject line!
Renée Maranan Renée Maranan is a vocal instructor, voice teacher trainer, and life coach, with over 20 years of experience working with singers, vocal instructors, and performers from all over the world. For more vocal help, visit her www. reneemaranan. com or follow her on Instagram(@ reneemaranan). www. ReneeMaranan. com Instagram @ reneemaranan
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