• About WordPress
    • WordPress.org
    • Documentation
    • Support
    • Feedback
  • Log In
  • SSL 8
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • Jeanie LoVetri Bio
    • Benefits
    • Origins of Somatic Voicework™
    • Testimonials
    • Core Principles
    • Strategies
  • News
    • Articles
  • Workshops
  • Institute
  • Photos
  • Join Us!
  • Members
    • Login
    • Edit Profile
    • SVWTA Member Directory
    • Archives
    • Members’ Links
    • Add Listing
    • Teacher Locator Help
  • Find a Teacher
  • Contact

Somatic Voicework™ The LoVetri Method Teachers' Association

The LoVetri Institute for Somatic Voicework™

Those Who Refuse To Learn

October 12, 2012 By Jeannette LoVetri

In spite of the fact that I am always championing students, placing the responsibility of learning to sing squarely on the shoulders of the teachers, I must reluctantly admit that are some people who just cannot learn.

I have had various students over the decades who have spent lots of money on lessons, have made progress in lessons and in fact, have sung quite well in exercises, who cannot or will not make the effort to apply any of what they have learned in a song. I find this baffling because I was always eager to apply what I was learning in my lessons as soon as possible. I wanted to make adjustments and changes because I found it exciting.

Still, these people often do not realize they are not singing in a way that makes it sound like they had ever had any training at all. I could better understand this if I could not get the student to make progress in the lessons, but that is a different situation and is very very rare in my studio. Those people usually don’t stay very long. The folks I’m discussing do make progress in the lessons, sometimes really amazing progress, and then proceed to sing the same way they always have.

I had a woman who was intelligent, talented, and dedicated, with experience in performing, who was musical and expressive, study with me for over two years. She went from one workable octave to two and a half, sometimes three. She got smoother, louder, more resonant, easier and freer vocally and sounded wonderful in the exercises. She could do almost every pattern easily and it was really encouraging to hear her.

Every performance she ever did, however, was just like the first one I saw before she had taken any lessons. NOTHING changed. Her range was very low and short, the sound was uninteresting and repetitive and it had no real connection to any kind of emotional expression. It wasn’t wrong, exactly, as there was no constriction or distortion, but it was just blah. After two years, I encouraged her to “try another teacher” because I was at an end.

I have even had “heart to heart” talks with some of these people, telling them that they are not really using what they have learned and that they must make some connection between the sounds they make in the exercises and the ones they make in music, but often that doesn’t work either.

Clearly, this is a mental block of some kind. The throat is ready, willing and able, and so is the body. Only the mind can create this kind of disconnect.

I don’t have any answers, just raising the issue. Perhaps it will help younger teachers to understand that it isn’t them…….I hope so!

Filed Under: Jeanie's Blog, Uncategorized

Primary Sidebar

Video: Jeanie LoVetri Sings in Various Styles



Click here for More Videos and Comments.

Authentic “Crossover” Singing: Maria Damore, Rachel Williams

https://vimeo.com/780734282?loop=0

Testimonials

  • Somatic Voicework™ Testimonials
    “I have worked with Jeanie LoVetri and Somatic Voicework™ for twenty years and have found her method to be incredibly efficient and scientifically sound. I have been able to consciously work on technique while continuing to develop my artistry and my personal style. I credit Jeannie with the freedom I feel when I sing.” Luciana Souza, ...
More

SOMATIC VOICEWORK™ TEACHERS

Somatic Voicework™ teachers believe that the body and the voice are not limited and that it is possible to train anyone who wishes to sing in a variety of styles in a healthy and responsible manner. They are caring, excellence-driven, live in the USA and 10 foreign countries, and have varied backgrounds in:

Jazz ~ Musical Theatre ~ Pop/Rock ~ Classical ~ Gospel ~ Choral ~ World Music

Many hold masters and doctoral degrees and are in positions of responsibility in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) at local, state, and regional levels.

Many are heads of departments in voice at universities and conservatories, published authors of books, research papers and pedagogy articles in voice and music journals.

Many are acknowledged professionally as singers, having performed in major venues in all styles of music all over the world.

Find a Somatic Voicework™ teacher today!

Copyright © 2023 · Somatic Voicework· Log in

Change Location
Find awesome listings near you!