Direct vs. Indirect Practice - What is it?
So, let’s set the scene: your teacher points out a “problem” during your lesson…
“You’re not supporting the tone.”
“Your tongue is tight.”
“You’re not standing straight.”
“Your vibrato isn’t consistent.”
Or they give you a new directive:
“Lift your soft palate.”
“Keep your larynx down.”
“Keep your shoulders back.”
“Place the tip of your tongue against your bottom teeth.”
The Frustration of Fixing “That Thing”
The next time you go to practice, you’re laser-focused on fixing “that thing.” You remind yourself over and over, “Don’t do it, let it go,” but somehow… it keeps happening.
And let’s be honest – IT’S FRUSTRATING!!
For me, the nemesis of my singing for 20+ years has been my tongue.
It started when my teacher noticed this weird wobble under my chin. I had no idea what was going on – but it had to stop! The problem? I wasn’t given any clear direction on how to actually stop it. I was simply told it was a “problem.”
But why was it happening? When did it start? And why couldn’t I just think it away?!?
The Road to Understanding My Tongue
Fast forward over a decade, and with a new teacher, I learned my tongue was pulling down and back. That weird wiggle? Yep, still there.
We started experimenting with ways to think about directing that stubborn tongue – wide, forward, high – you name it.
By now, I had some serious feelings about this issue. I had stories – a whole narrative attached to how my tongue wasn’t functioning “properly.”
But here’s the thing: my curiosity never faded. I was obsessed with fixing my tongue. I dug into body mapping, anatomy, and even explored how my tongue connected through fascia, understanding how it worked in relation to the whole body and how it affects tonal outcomes in both classical and contemporary singing.
Still, the darn tongue wouldn’t do what I wanted. And when I sang, my attention kept snapping right back to it.
Direct Approaches – The Struggle of Fixing a “Problem”
I’ve tried all the direct approaches.
From thinking about tongue placement and doing vocal exercises, to applying body mapping strategies with tools from Andrew Byrne’s The Singing Athlete book. I even ventured into myofunctional therapy exercises to better understand how the tongue should be at rest versus during singing – and that was a total game-changer!
These methods helped, but they weren’t the magic fix for me.
Here’s the thing: I want to fix problems completely. I’m the type of person who wants to finish the assignment, check all the boxes, and be 100% sure the issue is gone.
If it’s still happening even a little bit, I convince myself that I haven’t solved it properly yet. That nagging perfectionist inside of me just won’t quit.
The more I tried to fix the “problem,” the more I obsessed over it. It became the ONLY thing I could focus on, and practice became this cycle of frustration, shame, and guilt.
After all, I’m a teacher. I teach people how to get rid of these habits… so why couldn’t I fix mine?
How Alexander Technique Can Help
This is where the Alexander Technique has been a total game-changer for me as both a singer and a teacher.
The beauty of Alexander Technique is that a lot of the work we do is indirect.
Rather than attacking the symptoms of a “problem,” we focus on getting the whole system to work in coordination. Because here’s the thing: symptoms aren’t the problem themselves. They’re simply signs that your body’s coordination or your thinking is out of alignment with how it’s meant to function.
The Power of Indirect Practice
So, how does this relate to singing?
Well, if you’re obsessing over releasing tension in your tongue and focusing only on those muscles, guess what? You’re likely just reinforcing the problem. Your brain keeps telling those muscles to tighten, even when you want them to relax. It’s like telling yourself, “Don’t think about the pink elephant!” – and, of course, all you can think about is that darn elephant.
Instead of doing something actively (like trying to force a release), what if you allowed your body to do its thing, without forcing it? Allowing instead of doing is all about letting go and being passive – and it’s exactly what your body needs to achieve better coordination and ease.
A Quick Experiment – Shift Your Awareness
Here’s a little experiment for you. Instead of focusing all your energy on your tongue, try shifting your awareness to other parts of your body. It might sound strange, but trust me, it’s worth it.
Let’s take a moment to experiment together:
Bring your “problem” area – the body part that’s causing you grief – into your awareness.
Sing a phrase or two and notice: Is that issue still present?
Now, let’s turn our attention to other parts of your body. How are your hips? Are they stiff or loose? Are your knees locked or free? How are you balancing on your feet? Are your shoulders relaxed or pulled up? Is your neck easy?
Take a moment and just notice the whole body.
Sing that phrase again.
What did you notice in your singing? Did your awareness shift back to that same old focal point, or did you notice something new? Were you able to bring in some other options, even if just for a second?
The Power of Expanding Your Focus
The truth is, you’ve probably spent hours (maybe years!) training your awareness to focus on the thing you don’t want to do. And guess what? Noticing it has become a habit, too.
What if, instead of zeroing in on the “problem,” you expanded your focus to include the rest of your instrument? What would that feel like?
Give it a shot this week. Every time your mind tries to go back to that same habitual focus, pause. Ask yourself: What else can I notice right now?
Try it and see what happens. It may take time to shift your thinking – after all, it took hours to engrain the old habit. But what’s the harm in exploring something new?
Does it feel like a waste of time to focus on shifting your thinking? I get it. I felt that way, too – like it wasn’t “direct” enough. But trust me, giving yourself space to let go of the “problem” and explore something new can be a game-changer.
Will You Give This a Try?
So, take a deep breath and give yourself permission to approach things differently.
Will you give it a try this week?
What did you notice as you explored?
