Creating Your Outdoor Studio
How do you get your work completed and also get outside?
Nowadays many people have been feeling they've had enough with being cooped up. With more people getting vaccinated and businesses opening up folks have also been feeling an increase in activities and personal as well as work commitments. As a result I have been hearing more students say “I didn’t get a chance to practice much this week”
For most musicians (as well as visual artists) we often spend a great deal of time inside practicing on an instrument, rehearsing new music and recording. During the winter months this probably was a welcome salve but nowadays you are ready to get out! So how do you meet your need to improve your singing, experience more freedom in your body and get outdoors? My suggestion is to combine all aspirations in an intentional way.
Here are a few suggestions for how to heed your call for the wild:)
Create a Mindful Movement session. If you have access to a clean, quiet space such as a nearby park and or backyard, bring your yoga mat, notebook and go out for 10-20 minutes. Set a timer and explore 2 explorations that allow you to slow down and observe your movement habits. You could try lying on your back with knees bent and two books to support your head while raising your arms up and down or walking slowly. Notice when and where you overtighten and see if you can slow down to pause right before the grabbing, then continue moving while focusing on ease. Use your notebook to log your findings.
Take a singing bike ride. This can be done while biking or rollerskating. Go somewhere safe where you don’t have to worry about cars and or traffic and use the momentum of movement as you explore sounds in your head voice. Notice the sensations of the wind and air around you and the feeling of going fast. What’s it like to sing outdoors vs. indoors? What’s it like to sing while moving vs. standing still? Remember to open and close your mouth fully so that your jaw is easy.
Try a Vavavoom session. If you like to run, dance or swim, try a form of vigorous movement outdoors and immediately afterwards return home to warm up your voice with your lesson recording. What do you notice about your breathing, volume and even the energy in your sound after aerobic exercise? Want to take it up a notch? Try running in place or dancing while vocalizing. What got easier and what was more difficult?
Take a mindful music walk. For songwriters/composers take a walk or go sit in nature and let whatever comes to you bubble up and record without editing. You don’t need an instrument such as a guitar or piano for this initial music download. You can use the power of your voice, your creative ideas and a good old handheld recorder (like the voice memos section on your phone which I use ALL the time for composing). Going on a walk is also a great time to listen back to music you are in the process of writing. How does it sit with you while walking in your neighborhood, in a park, sitting on the grass or walking by a body of water?
Remember to listen. There are so many times that students say they didn’t get a chance to practice and forget to just listen to their voice and movement lessons. One of the MOST valued skills we can train as musicians (and people in general) is in the art of listening. Even if you can’t practice or don’t feel up to it, listening to your lessons reminds your brain and body of how to produce sounds in the new way that we are cultivating, it also trains your ear to match pitch and hear the nuances in your own vocal production. So take a walk, bike ride or solo picnic and enjoy the sound of your own voice. Afterwards listen to the sounds around you. What’s it like to fully surrender to sound? What happens to your breath and body?
Let me know how it goes building your outdoor studio. And if you are inspired, please send a photo or you can tag me @pyengthreadgill on social media with the hashtag #outdoorstudio
As always thank you for being a part of living music!