5 ways to be emotionally prepared for your performance | voicecouncil magazine

4/20/16, 10:44 AM5 Ways to Be Emotionally Prepared for Your Performance | VoiceCouncil Magazine

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April 20th, 2016 | by VoiceCouncilApril 20th, 2016 | by VoiceCouncil

5 Ways to Be Emotionally Prepared for Your5 Ways to Be Emotionally Prepared for YourPerformancePerformance

It ’s time to stop questioning every part of your performance and tap into a better emotional state –It ’s time to stop questioning every part of your performance and tap into a better emotional state –says Ron Browning.says Ron Browning.

The crumbling performance is a scenario that all singers dread, as it is a thief of inspiration andthrows confidence and self-esteem into a state of flux.

Here are a few tips that I have shared with singers who want to know how to get a toughercontrol on their emotional state when it comes to performances, auditions, recording, andcompetitions.

I do not guarantee that attention to these points will up your performance level any, but I havenot seen failure so far from any singer who has mastered these.

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Working on new vocals with WynonnaJudd

1. 1. Know Your Songs WellKnow Your Songs Well

I have found that performers feel better and do their best when they have done an in-depth study of their songs. The study should go beyond mere memorization of the wordsand melody. Find the string of dramatic events and examine how they build. Study the



intervals in the melody and notice how they follow the dramatic action. This will allow youto phrase better, but more importantly, it makes you feel as if you are contributingsomething of value because your heart is in it. It is the first step in feeling trueconfidence because you are really present.

2. 2. Get Plenty of Rest, Eat Well, and Do a Daily Vocal WorkoutGet Plenty of Rest, Eat Well, and Do a Daily Vocal Workout

This is a no-brainer! The voice is a living instrument that must endure the stresses of theworking day. It needs good rest and it needs to be fed well in order for the voice to workefficiently. It also needs to be well hydrated. Singers also need a good vocal workoutprogram that they do every day, prescribed by a voice coach and/or teacher for yourvoice type and your level of ability. When the singer falls short of taking full responsibilityfor these, performances start to decline.



3. 3. Think PositivelyThink Positively

Affirmations can be extremely helpful for some performers in focusing energy in the rightdirection. Affirmations like, “I surrender myself every moment to be the best that I can bewith my music.” If you say it enough, you start believing it and eventually you’ll startdoing it. Write it on Post-it notes and place them everywhere. Always try to see the glassas half full. Never half empty! Remain hopeful! Avoid being self-critical, especially whenyou are in artist mode. There is no time for “the critic” when it’s time for you to becreative! Also, visualizations can be a powerful tool for the performer. Spend timeeveryday imaging what you want. See it! Believe it! Have it!



4. 4. Stay Calm, Cool & RelaxedStay Calm, Cool & Relaxed

Besides sleeping and eating well, the body needs exercise. This is true for everyone, butit is crucial for performers. The body is your instrument from head to toe. The entire bodyneeds to feel a sense of ease in order for you to be able to fully surrender it to singing,dancing, acting, and speaking. The body should be relaxed, yet energized and ready foraction. If you have physical tension, you will doubt your ability to do well from the verystart of your performance. Do not go through your entire show wishing you hadscheduled a deep tissue massage the day before, or that you had taken that walk in thepark to chill. Do what you must to take care of body tension.



My Reaction to This Week's Singing Competition EntryMy Reaction to This Week's Singing Competition Entry

Betty Groovelle - 2013 Spain

You definitely have a lovely lyrical voice for jazz! Sometimes you sound abit like Julie London. I would love to hear you do this tune by memory andstanding up. It is difficult to perform with the lyric in front of you, and

especially on a difficult song such as this. But from what I can tell, I’d work on the rhythms and

5. 5. Control Your BehaviorControl Your Behavior

Before a performance you will want to see to it that nothing happens to throw you anemotional curve ball. Monitor your phone calls and text messages, responding only tothose that are necessary. It is best to watch how you react to situations so that you arenot moved to anger or other negative emotions. Pressing issues must be put on the sideand not thought about until your performance is over. Avoid getting in tiffs with toughpersonalities on your production team or the venue staff. Stay detached from anypotential drama. Nothing will throw you off any quicker than a little drama right beforeyour opening number.

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phrasing more, until they spark. Allow the words to be more percussive instead of so melodic–by keeping all the words down in front of the teeth and lips. If a consonant can make noise,then let it, play it, like castanets or finger cymbals. Don’t be afraid to stress a special word hereand there. That will keep the listener pulled into the story. Get into the juicy details! But themain thing is—let those words dance in a Latin-kind-of-way. Take advantage of all the funsyncopation. You might consider practicing at a much slower tempo so you can work out therhythms with the guitar so you are better in sync. And have fun! Let us feel your joy when yousing, paper or no paper.

Ron BrowningRon Browning is internationally known as the “VoiceCoach to the Stars.” His clients include all levels ofsingers from beginners to Grammy-winning celebrities inall genres of music. Ron works with the major recordlabels producing vocals and preparing artists for radio,concert tours, and special television appearances. He isa voting member of the Grammy Foundation and theCMA Awards. Ron has been seen and heard onEntertainment Tonight, The Voice, Oprah Network, andBBC’s Simply Classics, to name a few. He is asuccessful songwriter, jazz pianist, painter, and iscurrently writing a series of voice and performancemanuals, which will include interviews with many of his

students and celebrated clientele. His solo jazz piano CD, In a Sentimental Mood, is availableon iTunes and CD Baby.

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5 ways to be emotionally prepared for your performance | voicecouncil magazine

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