When you wake up in the morning do you start thinking about all the things you 
were worried about yesterday?  

Unfortunately, before we jump out of bed we are back in yesterday, thinking about whatever was draining our energy and joy.  I had to learn how to spend the energy that I have today for today.  What does that have to do with singing you ask, EVERYTHING! 

A singer must learn how to focus! To direct his energy to the audience.  He has to know that as he is singing he has a message to share and must be willing to be 100% present. If he is thinking about things like “I hope they like me”, or “I can’t remember the words”, or “I am so nervous”, this takes away from the actual message of the song.  An unfocused singer will give a fragmented performance as the audience may not know exactly what the problem is, but they will feel that something is wrong and not be able to fully receive the true message of the song.  

Singing is NOT like driving a car where you can drive from one place to the next and not know how you got there because you were on auto pilot.  You must be fully present, physically and emotionally, in order for the message of the song to be clear!  YOU have to know that you are directing traffic. You are thinking only about the message that you are singing.  Feeling the emotions attached to the song while courageously sharing with the audience your creative expression.  As you continue to develop through vocal exercises, the body (due to your subconscious mind) takes care of the mechanics of singing, and all you have to do is be present and focus on the message.

As you learn how to focus while you sing, you will in fact be learning how to apply this particular skill to your daily life; when speaking with co-workers, family, friends and strangers.  You will start saying what you mean and mean what you say all because you worked on perfecting a song.

Let me leave you with an exercise that will assist you in your endeavour of focusing by Wayne Dyer who said, “give yourself a gift of five minute of contemplation in awe of everything you see around you.  Go outside and turn your attention to the many miracles around you. This five-minute-a-day regime of appreciation and gratitude will help you to focus your life in awe.”

When you learn how to do this simple but extremely affective exercise, whether you are singing or speaking, you will be able to focus your energy on delivering YOUR message.

Keep on singing,
Roxanne Goodman