The Classical Voice Studio of Diana Farrell

One Size Does Not Fit All

Monday, April 26, 2021 by Diana Farrell | THOUGHTS FROM THE STUDIO

 This may be a super niche post, but bear with me. I was reading some {super judgy} posts in a mom group recently and there were a lot of folks attacking the original poster about their parenting style. Finally, some replied “All kids are different so you can’t assume that applying your parenting techniques to someone else’s child will garner positive results. AMEN! HALLELUJAH! I have two kids and they are similar in many ways, but polar opposites in other ways. They exist in *completely* different times and have very different social experiences (Hello, pandemic baby!) so even with my own children I have to expect that they will have unique reactions and traits. IT’S THE SAME WITH SINGERS! I have students who come from musical families, and others (like myself) who come from families that are not involved in the arts so they have completely different views and experiences in the arts world. Whether it’s teaching a young student starting out or coaching a pro who’s had an elite conservatory education, it’s about the singer and how they receive and absorb information. There is no one-size-fits-all formula to singing. We all experience the physical sensations differently and have our own vocabulary for communicating what’s happening in our bodies. That is why I stress that it takes TIME to learn a common language to discuss our bodies, our sounds, and our achievements. Those “ah ha” moments are totally based on the individual and how they process information, where they are in their studies, and what their life experiences have been prior to working together. Find a teacher who respects and is excited to learn about you and your story. It takes patience, trust, and vulnerability on all fronts to form a relationship with a teacher that will ultimately benefit the student and their progress. This is one reason why I offer trial lessons - we usually do more talking than singing, but when your body is your instrument there is a level of autonomy that is completely different from studying other instruments. If this is surprising to you, ten please take advantage of the idea. TALK to your teacher or your coach. Let them know the way you physically experience music making. Sow the seeds and see what the harvest yields!

PC: Wendy Kathleen Photography