The Singing Shaman :: Nerves In My Throat...

Question: “Hi Guy: I’ve spent years being too nervous to speak, let alone sing, in public.  About a year ago, I started playing guitar for a singer, and within that year, practically all of my nervousness about playing in public and even speaking to crowds through a mike has gone.

So now I’m ready to conquer the singing obstacle.  So far, I’ve sung twice, at open mikes. I feel fine when I first step up there, speaking to the crowd, making little jokes, so  I’m thinking this is going to be all right.  But when I start to sing, it’s like the nervousness was hiding in my throat, and everything comes out wobbly.  Any tips to focus in those nerves, particularly when it doesn’t even feel like they’re there until it’s too late?  Thanks”. :: Jackie

Answer: Hi Jackie!  Thanks for contacting me.  I know what it’s like to experience nervousness with something new.  Singing is so intimate and personal.  It seems to be about exposing our emotions, fears, joys, upset, straightening people out, all of it.  The guitar is a beautiful instrument.  Yet it’s still an instrument, something that is separate,outside of ourselves.   Something beautiful presented.  Still a bit removed, a bit outside, a step removed.  Perhaps in someways a bit less intimate.  If I screw up on the guitar.  I can say the guitar was dreadful.  If I sing poorly.  I might say “I” am dreadful.  Does that make sense?  

Technically, two things I would suggest. Always squeeze from the tummy to pressurize your air, not the throat. Everyone makes this mistake and when you do, all tension you place in the neck is immediately transferred to the voice box and it goes right into the microphone, making you sound nervous.  Second,  do not rely on upper chest breathing exclusively  for vocal support.  If you do, your durations of sound will be brief and the upper chest tension will move up into the throat and you will sound nervous n the mike as well.  Belly breathing and squeezing should be your primary source of support.

The Mental Game:  When we sing we are so exposed.  I have found personally that the best way to get over fears is to go in the opposite direction.  To another place.  To a magical place.  To surrender to the experience.  To become the emotion, surrender to the epiphany.  This is an odd thing to say “surrender”.  But when I move in this direction, a sort of fearlessness begins to appear.   And I realize I must let go, strive to get naked, become a servant to “the muse”.  What is the unique opportunity of this magical moment?  What wants to be born?  How can I be more in allowance of whatever shows up and dance with it.  Wow!   Perhaps this is a Shamanistic opportunity.

What is Shamanism?  What is the mystic?  What are we gifting to the audience, the tribe?  I just looked it up.  The Shamans are intermediaries between the human and spirit worlds. They are capable of entering supernatural realms to provide answers for humans.  Are you becoming a Shaman when you sing?  What an adventure…

I believe, the more you sing.  The more fun you will have.  The deeper your experience will become.  At first it will seem strange.  It’s such an intimate act.  I’m proud of you.  Surrender more and more to your “muse”.  What other choice so we have?  The only other choice is to fight.  I don’t recommend that.  It’s not fun.

I hope this is helpful.  Keep singing!  - All my best – Guy