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It’s no secret that I adore singing, but did you also know about my passion for sports? I frequent a gym, engage in weekly social games of touch football, and my ultimate passion, though not indulged as often as I would love, is snow skiing. Over the years, my immersion in sports activities has imparted seven fundamental insights that have notably enhanced my singing. And no, you don’t need to be a sports enthusiast to benefit fully from the lessons we’re about to delve into. So, let’s dive right in!
Lesson 1: Understanding Our Unique Physical Characteristics
“No athlete can excel at every sport to an Olympic level, and no singer can master all genres to a professional standard.”
I’ve always been an avid sports viewer, especially at events like the Olympics. One observation from watching top-tier athletes is the apparent correlation between body shapes and different athletic disciplines. For instance, 100-meter sprinters are typically muscular, while long-distance runners are slender and wiry. A similar trend is noticeable in the singing world, where different voice types are better suited to particular genres.
Lesson 2: Embracing Genre Exploration for Holistic Vocal Development
Elite sports personnel understand that their bodies benefit from specific and comprehensive workouts. The same principle applies to our voices. You might be partial to indie folk music, but exploring other genres like pop or jazz will undoubtedly benefit your voice. The vocal tones and genre-specific elements across various genres will all contribute to developing a unique sound when it comes to singing in your preferred genre.
Lesson 3: Professionalism Isn’t a Prerequisite for Participation or Enjoyment
In today’s world, we’re often told that there are singers and non-singers, implying that most people don’t qualify as singers. This notion, however, is entirely misleading. Like in sports, there will always be someone with better singing abilities than you. But who set the rule that being the best at something is a prerequisite for enjoying it?
Remember, you might not sound like Adele or Bruno Mars, but you don’t need to be a professional singer to relish your singing journey.
Lesson 4: The Impact of Age on Performance
The reality is that professional athletes retire. By and large, professional and elite sports are considered a young person’s arena. Depending on the sport, peak human physical performance occurs in the 20s and 30s, gradually declining with age. While this might sound ageist, it’s simply a fact of our physical existence, and there’s a similar trend in singing.
Vocally, we can expect to peak in our 20s and 30s. After this period, what might have once come naturally may require more deliberate effort. This means that you won’t be able to treat your 50-year-old voice the same way you treated your 20-something voice.
Lesson 5: Managing Injuries with Empathy and Professional Support
Occasionally, sportspeople suffer injuries. For instance, an athlete might pull their hamstring during a race. This unexpected event can also occur amongst singers—a vocal fold haemorrhage can transpire instantly while the voice is under strain.
Unfortunately, professional singers who have to cancel shows due to voice care concerns often face undeserved shame. This response starkly contrasts with the sports world, where injured athletes typically receive immediate attention and care.
If you ever experience a vocal injury, understand that it’s not your fault. There are healthcare professionals available to provide support and therapy.
Lesson 6: Fostering Mutual Respect
Despite being competitors, athletes often demonstrate mutual respect for each other, understanding the hard work that goes into performing at such high levels. Sadly, the creative industries are highly competitive, and this environment is exacerbated by our insecurities about our art and, more specifically, our voices.
Let’s strive to be a part of the solution, encouraging each other with mutual respect when it comes to singing.
Lesson 7: The Pursuit of Continuous Learning
One admirable characteristic of professional athletes is their recognition of the need for continuous learning. Even after a victory, they often discuss aspects of their game that need improvement.
This relentless pursuit of excellence teaches us that learning is an ongoing process. We must allow ourselves and others the grace to grow and improve.
Conclusion
The intersection of singing and sports provides us with valuable lessons. By understanding our unique characteristics, embracing genre exploration, and fostering an environment of mutual respect, we can unlock our true vocal potential.
Remember, you don’t have to be a professional singer to enjoy singing, and you should always give yourself the grace to grow.
Sing well, Dr. Dan.
For more about the intersection of singing and sports, check out this video…
Disclaimer: This blog post was generated by ChatGPT-4, an AI language model, based on Dr Dan’s video script (original work). For a comprehensive understanding of the topic, we suggest watching the original video above.
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