Voice and the human system, the canary in the coal mine: examining the benefits of holistic performance practice

Abstract

Through the voice pedagogy of practitioners such as Kristin Linklater, Patsy Rodenburg, and Catherine Fitzmaurice, the role of voice as a barometer for the health of the human system emerges. In working on voice with people from varied cultural and linguistic origins, the undeniable truth of Kristen Linklater’s assertion that to free the voice is to free the person, becomes subjectively apparent. As a third-culture person, I’m curious about the impact of people’s cultural/environmental context on their ability not only to perform well, but also to experience the joy of performance. Each person has common and unique challenges. I’ve discovered that the most direct way for me to help business professionals and artists to excel in presenting, performing and sharing their message, is to start with the voice itself and work outwards from there. Shine a light on the voice and you discover what has been blocked and oppressed. Unlock your voice and you unlock your full potential to achieve your highest goals. Voice is not only physical, voice is agency, integrity, confidence and empowerment. This article attempts to concretely address subjectively perceived truths which give rise to such hyperbole: an examination of the ‘how’ and the ‘what’ and even, the ‘why’. Firstly, by defining holistic and highlighting the importance of the holistic and somatic (the study of how our bodies, thoughts and actions interact) in interdisciplinary performance training, concluding with a phenomenological framing of voice as the canary in the coal mine. It will be noted that significant research in the field of psychology identifies particular vocal habits as expressions of trauma, reflective of certain psychological mindsets, or otherwise signifying dis-ease within the human system. The observable connection between the autonomic and sympathetic nervous systems, and the physiological and psychological underpinnings of the voice, will be explored.

Keywords

• Acting Training
• Birth Trauma
• Holistic Approach
• Holistic Health
• Pelvic Physical Therapy
• Performance Pedagogy
• Performance Practice
• Somatic Training
• Voice Training

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