Choral Zen: Quieting Your Restless Inner Voice

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As we approach the rush that signals the start of a new school year, it is important to think about how to maintain the ability to enjoy successes and triumphs in the classroom and be a positive influence in the lives of our singers.

In a ChorTeach article from Fall 2015, Timothy Glasscock writes: “The first step toward being the positive individual we are all capable of being is to deal with the negative voice lurking inside us.” He suggests that learning to meditate can be an effective way to gain control over “our restless inner voices.”

The article continues to explain that meditation need not be complicated. “What you need is a short period of time set aside for the purpose of relaxation, resetting, and centering. Give yourself permission to stop obsessing over this fall’s repertoire choices, the upcoming solo auditions for Missa Solemnis, or anything else that is clouding your focus at the moment.”

Following are just a few of the tips included in this article on how best to set up yourself, and your school year, for success by setting aside some time for meditation.

1. Find a comfortable place to sit.
2. Concentrate on the breath. Choose the space under the nostrils or the rising of the chest or stomach as your focal point to notice the entrance and exit of your air.
3. Think “in,” “out,” or “inhale,” “release”—any two expressions of breathing that give a focus to the breath.

Glasscock then shares results he has experienced. Here are just a few of those discussed in the article:

1. A lessening of the constant nagging voice.
2. The ability to think about one pressing issue, to truly examine it and to make clear-eyed decisions without feeling like you have to rush through it to get to other things.
3. An increase in patience.

How do you control your “restless inner voice”? What do you think about this article’s suggestion of the practice of quieting your mind through meditation? What are some ways you can set yourself up for success this school year?

To read the full article, click here. (Note: you must be logged in to acda.org as a member). You can also explore the ChorTeach index, which has organized over 150 articles into 17 categories for easy sorting.