A Soprano On Her Head: Chapter 4
Emily Cottam
Chapter Summary: Musicians oftentimes need a reminder to loosen up and remember the original feeling you had when you first started to play your instrument or practice--otherwise, every time you enter the practice room, you’re drilling in a way that builds tension. This can become dangerous because then you associate producing the correct sound with fatigue/pain. Practice shouldn’t be dependent on quantity, but quality. Sometimes, it’s healthy to take a step back and review the basics and make sure that those are in good condition. It’s better to think of the desired result than how to get there to make for a smoother sound (much like Muscle Learning Theory!).
Key Concepts: Practice in such a way as to prevent tension--extended periods of tension-filled practice can result in an association of music with discomfort. Sometimes, thinking of the result, rather than the precise movements to get there, will be more helpful in reaching your goal.
Making Connections: This chapter was extremely relatable for me because when I practice, I have a hard time not tensing up. I tend to try and force my body to do certain things in order to hit a note. However, I have recently discovered that if I’m just casually singing the song to myself (outside of the practice room usually), I find that I’m relaxed enough and free enough to hit notes that I normally would struggle to hit without effort. So I took this concept into my practice room and tried to replicate the way I’d sing if I was alone in my car and casually going over my music, and I found that I was able to sing in a much healthier way than I had done before.
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