As a singer and teacher, I’ve come to deeply appreciate the delicate dance between contrasts in music and life. For example, the balance between freedom and discipline, risk and caution, doubt and certainty. These dualities exist in all of us, and they shape how we approach everything—whether we’re singing, creating, or living. Expressive voicework is all about this: welcoming it all.
Embracing the Contrasts
This appeals to me as a recovering black-and-white thinker. I always had a tendency to see things as either right or wrong, good or bad. But over time, I’ve learned that life—and singing—doesn’t work that way. There’s beauty and growth in the balance between opposing forces, and they don’t have to cancel each other out. In fact, they complement each other in profound ways.
Yin and Yang in Singing
This balance is like the Yin and Yang—two forces that are interconnected and interdependent. Neither side exists without the other, and both are essential for harmony. In singing, we must embrace both freedom and structure, risk and caution, uncertainty and confidence. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about moving with the flow, finding that sweet spot where all these contrasts can coexist.
An example
Even when it comes to something as seemingly basic as resonance in vocal technique, for every resonant singer (e.g., Adele, Aretha Franklin), you will find a beautiful non-resonant singer (e.g., Billie Eilish, Nick Drake, Cat Power). This doesn’t mean we don’t work on resonance, but it highlights that we can choose how we use it. Each voice is unique, and the beauty lies in how we make these choices. (Celebrating your unique voice).
The Rhythm of Our Voice
There is no final “right” way, no absolute answer. Instead, we learn to listen to the rhythm of our own heart, our voice, our own soul, and create something thats ours.
The Goal: Balance, Not Perfection
Perfection isn’t the goal. The goal is balance—acknowledging that sometimes we need to take risks, sometimes we need to step back, sometimes we need to let go, and sometimes we need to focus. This balance will shift and flow, like a dance, but it’s always there, guiding us forward.
Honour Both Sides
In my work as a teacher, I see students struggling with the same push and pull: they want to be free but also need structure; they fear making mistakes but long to take risks. But what I’ve learned over the years is that we don’t have to choose one side or the other. The key is to honour both, to allow them to exist together, and to let the dance between them shape us.
A Fluid Process
Balance is not a static state—it’s a fluid, ongoing process. It’s something we cultivate over time, with each note we sing, each step we take. And when we find that balance, we can truly begin to express who we are as singers and as human beings.
If you’re exploring how to balance technique with freedom and want support developing your true voice, I offer expressive vocal coaching and artist development in London and online. Reach out and let’s have a chat!
