is singing natural

Singing; it’s just not natural


Singing; it’s just not natural

There is a prevailing myth, infuriatingly re-enforced recently by a BBC TV talent show judge, that the act of singing is the most ‘natural thing’ in the world and consequently, an apparent lack of ‘natural’ ability is clearly the result of unfavourable genes or a general deficit of god-given talent. Singing induces a level of self-criticism and self-consciousness like no other past-time (with the possible exception of dancing) and lots of people give up at the first hurdle, somehow neatly luxuriating in the certain knowledge that Mother Nature was having a joke at their expense. As a singing teacher, I find myself coaxing my students back into their saddles when they’ve had a go at Becher’s Brook at the Grand National on their first foray out of the starting gate. Singing is not the most natural thing in the world, it requires breath control to sustain long phrases, you need to access a range of notes beyond those used in spoken word, and be able to create a ‘tone of voice' to convey meaning and emotion and different styles of music have specific vocal requirements. The ingredients may all be natural and certified organic, but they need to be blended in exactly the right measure.

PS Check out the microphone* in the picture; made of plastic tubing, party popper, polystyrene ball, pop sock and black paint. Don’t believe everything you hear and see. Just saying.

(*made by Marie Atkins)