Revisiting the Basics

I am writing this blog to record my experience applying the Alexander Technique to a new singing project.

I have just completed a 3 year full time teacher training course in the Alexander Technique in Melbourne, Australia.  I completed a 2 years full time music performance course in jazz and popular in 1997 with my main study being singing and a second compulsory study in piano.

I haven't been singing professionally whilst involved in the Alexander Technique teacher training course as there wasn't enough time available.  I am now embarking on a new singing project with an old musician friend which will involve learning songs in a style which i have always loved listening to but have not ever learned.  I am keen to apply what i have learned from the Alexander Technique to this new challenge and record my experiences.

Here goes ...

I have been listening to new repertoir for the past few weeks and decided last night to make a start on one.  The introduction has been rattling around in my head and i decided to transcribe it.  I discover that i have been singing it away from the recording a minor third below where it actually sits.  I could drop the key but it would not suit the main body of the song.  It's just high in the introduction.

The intro is about daydreaming and has this lovely floaty, relaxed feeling to it.  Ah, but when i sing it at the correct pitch (D5)  it sounds anything but dreamy.  Over the next couple of hours i lip roll the opening phrase and sing it with various syllables which suit higher pitches.  I again sing the words and disappointingly the tone is still disconnected and the words difficult to relate to.

Later in the evening, whilst singing in the shower, i consider applying the Alexander Technique. I decide to apply the basic directions and realise that by doing this i will create a different sound.  So i realised that i must not 'endgain' the sound, ie. must not have preconceived ideas about the sound i will create.   So I experiment.  I think:- neck free, head forward and up, torso to lengthen and widen, knees forward and away.  I go into a 'little monkey' and allow a new and possibly unfamiliar tone to occur.  Hey presto, the phrase emerges with a much-improved tone and the words clearer, i can hear them and they have meaning, they speak. 

Directing is fundamental to the practice of the Alexander Technique.  We direct to improve the 'primary control'.  It is basic, I should know this by now but I have applied the alexander directions so many times in recent years and am still amazed by the outcome.

The thinking of the directions is the true introduction to this tricky little number.