Megon McDonough
"Connecting You with the Soundtrack of Your Life"
  • Home
  • Upcoming Shows
  • Book Megon
    • What the World Needs Now
  • Voice & Songwriting lessons
  • About Megon
    • Blog
    • In the Press
    • Buy Music
    • Music Licensing
  • Contact

Right Brain Left Brain Singing

10/14/2013

6 Comments

 
Picture
Last month I taught a workshop called “Left Brain Right Brain Singing” at the Sound Connections Music Conference, and I passed along some important tools that singers can use to help them let go of inhibitions to have a fuller, richer voice.

My voice teacher, Doug Su Su Mago, was the first one to teach me about how our left brain gets in the way of our signing. I learned that the left brain is a task master. It likes order, logic and rules, which is terrific for keeping our bank accounts in order, but not much for letting go and creating.

The right brain, on the other hand, just wants to sing, create and play, and when we can let the right brain take over, we can truly sing our hearts out.
  
In my “Left Brain Right Brain Singing” workshop, I explain that if you want your singing to be clearer and more present, one of the best things you can do is give your left brain a task to do to keep it occupied so your right brain can be freed up to sing. 
 
For example, I often use Doug's method and have my voice students sing the Star Spangled Banner and replace each consonant with the letter “d.” By giving you something challenging to think about while you’re singing, your left brain stops worrying about how you look, how you sound and what other people are thinking of you and instead frees your right brain to just sing.
 
Another tool I sometimes use for voice students is to sing nonsense lyrics, make up their own lyrics to a song, or even play improv theater games to get them out of their heads and into the moment. In fact, one of my friends, improv teacher Jimmy Carrane, recently discussed in his blog how he uses similar techniques in his improv classes, as well.

If you are interested in learning more about how we can stop letting our left brains shut down our creativity, I am planning to have a Vocal Master Class this year where we will dive right into this left brain/right brain issue. It will be a three week class, culminating in a concert. Contact me if you are interested and I will keep you posted!
6 Comments
Christy Ogilvie
10/14/2013 08:12:55 am

Great method. Keep me posted on the workshop!!

Reply
Molly
10/14/2013 10:47:10 am

I've appreciated your voice and music for a long time-I'd love to be part of this master class! Please fill me in-thank you, and take care.

Reply
Sally Potter link
11/10/2013 03:15:59 am

Megon,

Sally Potter here - booking manager for the Ten Pound Fiddle (Booker Fiddle) and a fan of your for many years (C-U concerts from 78-82..."a hot line to heaven...").

Right - Left brain similar to Inner Game of Tennis - self one and self two?

I book 'The Fiddle' and am interested in your performing sometime in the future. www.tenpoundfiddle.org

Also, maybe a workshop at the Mid-Winter Singing Festival?
www.singingfestival.com

Let's keep in touch, esp if you have booked things in MI.

Thanks,

Sally

Reply
daf
8/10/2018 04:52:51 am

fs

Reply
superiorpapers com link
8/10/2018 05:03:10 am

I used to write for <a href="http://www.superiorpaperservice.com/">superiorpapers com</a> and I can say that both parts are beneficial to me. Left for thinking of words, sequencing, linear thinking, mathematics, facts and logic. Meanwhile, the right is for feelings visualization, imagination, intuition, rhythm, holistic thinking and arts. And regarding to that topic of singing, this is my first time hearing that Doug's method. I have stage fright and usually conscious of how I look when singing so trying that method might help. Thanks to this article! Very helpful and insightful.

Reply
webstagram link
6/9/2020 12:21:26 am

Great post I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this interesting and knowledgeable article. PLease search "webstagram" to discover nice photos and videos on isntagram.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    About Megon

    Megon's thoughts on singing, performing, and spirituality.

    Archives

    March 2020
    February 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    September 2018
    July 2018
    December 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2014
    September 2014
    June 2014
    March 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly