Heal your Mind, Body & Spirit with Classical Voice Training

A young man once went to a renowned psychologist with a small problem that had wreaked major havoc in his life – anger. He had lost a significant client; his wife had left the house with their infant daughter, and his best friend refused to talk to him. After about an hour of hearing out the man’s problems, the psychologist just smiled and said, “Son! You don’t need any medication or therapy. Just go and get yourself some music lessons for the next one month.” The man gave a flustered look to the Doctor, and spurted out, “Doctor, my life has turned upside down, and you are asking me to sing?!” The Doctor only said, “Do as I say, everything will be alright.”

The man started searching for online music lessons – from the western symphony and opera forms to the Indian Hindustani music and Carnatic music. After just three weeks of taking music training, he came back to his psychologist and exclaimed, “Doctor! It’s a miracle; you have saved my relationships and my career! I feel so much more in control of my emotions in a span of just three weeks!” The psychologist laughed and explained, “Son, singing is not just an art form or a pastime hobby. The human brain waves work at a certain frequency.

You may have noticed, when you get angry, your head starts throbbing with pain after a while, and your temple is pulsating. This is because the waves are at a certain frequency. Singing helps you normalize these waves. You may have seen that when you are singing, you cannot be angry at the same time. You can eat and sing, talk and sing, work, and sing. But can you shout and sing at the same time? That combination doesn’t work! Do you understand, young man?!”

Singing is an activity that brings one very close to nature, one’s own nature. It has both – a cerebral and an emotional connection. From legends to celebrity singers to amateurs to music lovers, the form of art is more than a skill for one and all; it is a transcendental experience. And therefore, learning this art form and taking voice lessons with the right technique from accomplished masters is truly a fulfilling experience for a lifetime.

Here are some known and lesser-known benefits of classical singing for overall health and wellbeing:

Breath Support

Classical singing helps a singer open up his voice to the fullest capacity. He or she is taught how to harness the breath in order to withstand various lengths, dynamics, and intensities of vocal phrases. This is also an excellent exercise practice for the lungs.

Voice Range and Flexibility

Voice training, especially in classical music, pushes a singer to break out of his comfort zone, expand his voice range, and access seemingly unreachable notes. Furthermore, a student who has a strong foundation in classical training can confidently explore other genres and techniques from slow phrases to swift runs and everything in between.

Discipline

Like any art form, singing requires sincere effort and practice to achieve mastery. From posture training to releasing every note patiently at the right rhythm, vocal training has a profound impact on both the physiological and the subconscious levels. It instils discipline in a student, which can eventually help him or her in all walks of life.

Brain Health and Memory

Rhythmic breathing that you learn as part of classical vocal training helps supply sufficient oxygen to your brain cells. As a result, the nervous system does not degenerate with age and prevents a person from acquiring diseases like Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

Emotional Control

Lastly, voice training is a potent tool in helping one control their emotions. According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every four individuals will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their life. And a primary factor of this is our inability to control and stabilise our emotions. Singing is a scientifically tested and proven method that has a healing effect on both the body and the mind.

The language of music is universal. A student who learns this language enriches himself – both emotionally and intellectually. Singing teaches an individual the art of harmony, with every syllable, note and rhythm, and ultimately with nature.