VocalQuarters
… with renowned voice coach Diana Yampolsky
Dyslexia is not only a condition that affects readers but also vocalists, as our regular vocal columnist explains.
As a world-renowned vocal coach, voice repair specialist, and author, there are few things Diana Yampolsky doesn’t know about the human voice and how to get it to perform at its peak.
Having helped a myriad of stars achieve their vocal potential, including Our Lady Peace singer Raine Maida (US Top 10, Canada No.1), Canadian Idol winner Brian Melo (Canada Gold), singer-songwriter Anjulie (US Dance No.1), and recent Interscope signee Cindy Gomez, she is on hand to help you too whatever your ability! According to Ms. Yampolsky, while 25% of a singer’s performance is grounded in talent, 75% relies on coaching.
Anatomy and Psychology of Vocal Performance
by Diana Yampolsky
“When a dyslexic person tries to read, the words appear all jumbled … Vocal dyslexics have a similar problem, only in their case the misalignment in their conscious and subconscious minds has a detrimental effect on their voice.”
As someone that writes extensively on the subject of singing often I am asked how I manage to come up with so much material. I write for several music publications and have written two books on the subject that do not borrow or use any of the standard ideas of other writers and theorists.
The truth is my deep well of material comes from having to teach so many students how to sing. Almost everything I have ever written on the topic of singing has come to me because of an experience with a student or group of students. In this article, I would like to talk about something that has afflicted quite a few of my students over the years, ‘vocal dyslexia’.
Dyslexia is defined as a disturbance in the ability to read. Essentially, when a dyslexic person tries to read, the words appear all jumbled and mixed up.
Vocal dyslexics have a similar problem, only in their case the misalignment in their conscious and subconscious minds has a detrimental effect on their voice.
The result of a ‘short circuit' in the connection between the speech centre in the brain and the voice, vocal dyslexia is in many ways similar to a mild form of epilepsy and attention deficit disorder (ADD).
I have taught quite a few people with ADD and it has resulted in the improvement of their singing abilities, but also their school studies and work performance.
By doing special repetitive exercises, I establish a precedent (picture) in the brain and train the brain to give the signal to the voice without any gaps, so that the thought and response work on a parallel track simultaneously and in synchronicity.
In effect, this puts the person in balance and ensures that they will think and act in unison. This method also cures both chronic procrastinators and overly manic personalities alike.
Indeed, due to my profession, I meet a lot of different people and different personality types. I’d like to share with you some observations that I have made over the years.
People with light inner energy benefit from my method the most. They are usually very easy going, take directions very easily, absorb the information well, and, most importantly, are able to ‘fly to the universe’ without any obstructions.
They take off very easily (lift the sound off their physical body), enjoy the flight and land safely.
Usually these people are already very balanced and ultimately make good singers further down the road.
Another category are the people who have heavy duty inner energy (the physical weight has no relevance to the issue). To get these people to release their voices from their physical bodies is nearly impossible.
During the lessons, I feel like I am trying to lift two three hundred pound dumbbells. Of course, they can still become singers, but in the same way that figure skaters can flawlessly skate their given programmes but still look like ‘hippos on ice’! I prefer to watch a figure skater who might make a mistake or two, but is nonetheless ‘flying above the ice’.
Several years ago at the Juno Awards I saw the Canadian artist Amanda Marshall perform. Yes, I was able to pinpoint some technical flaws in her singing – after all I can’t help it, due to an occupational hazard of being a vocal specialist – but what I was amazed with was her stage presence. She was literally flying above the stage or at least it seemed to me that she was. I could see that other people in audience were also ‘blown away’ with her performance. Her performance was the perfect definition of a ‘flight to the universe’.
Essentially, I use a ‘Pavlovian’ approach to voice training. You're probably familiar with the story of Pavlov's dog. In the early 1900s, Dr. Pavlov, a Russian chemist and physiologist, was studying the digestive process in dogs and the interaction between salivation and the action of the stomach. He realised they were closely linked by reflexes in the autonomic nervous system.
Without salivation, the stomach didn't get the message to start digesting. Pavlov wanted to see if external stimuli could affect this process, so he rang a bell at the same time he gave the dogs food. After a while, the dogs - which previously only salivated when they saw and ate their food - would begin to salivate when the bell rang, even if no food was present. He called this a ‘conditioned reflex’, an action that has to be learned. Pavlov called this learning process ‘conditioning.’
I approach vocal instruction in a similar manner – the exercises I have developed are meant to ensure that my students develop conditioned vocal reflexes so that they will eventually work on automatic pilot upon command.
It is for this reason, that I describe my Vocal Science method as a scientific approach to vocal mechanics - I work mainly on the brain to better the voice.
To conclude, the important components that I believe will make an exceptional singer are good physical vocal abilities, a proportional body, balanced personality, well-rounded intelligence, light inner energy and the capability to receive and then process the proper instruction. When these components are firmly in place, a beautiful performance is guaranteed!
Besides writing a regular column for HitQuarters, Diana Yampolsky is available for a special Q&A session to answer any specialist questions you might have about vocal performance, technique, care etc. Please send any questions to Diana here
Read On ...
* Balanced physical training is necessary to achieve a perfect balance of sound
* True dedication is required to become a singer - but what kind of dedication?
* A nasal singing style is not one to be encouraged
* Vocal talents are only a gift if you can see beyond your own reflection
* Voice problems a positive occurrence for aspiring singers?
* How NOT to Become a Singer
… and work harder at doing it
* Vocal Parts – Vocal Assembly
… and how that contributes to total vocal performance
* Vocal Science - Flight to the Universe
* Vocal Insurance – Secure Your Investment!
* The Technical Elements of Vocal Style
* Psychology of Performance - Pavlovian Conditioning
* Vocal Speaking - The Cutting Edge
* Introductory Interview with Diana Yampolsky
