"There's an old Sufi story about a man who dropped his keys on the dark side of the street at night, and then crossed the street to the lamppost where it was bright to look for the keys. When a friend asked why he was looking under the lamp instead of where he had dropped the keys, he replied, "I'm looking here because there is more light."
"Nothing Special"      Charlotte Joko Beck

We're used to thinking, stewing and analyzing; very busy DOING the old familiar patterns. We eventually get very frustrated and gather more and more information. Strange as it may seem, this does not help. We must find the key in the dark - NOT in the light of the INTELLECT.

Singing is not intellectual. It is a balance of dark and light - chiaroscuro. Ignoring the dark means singing ONLY in the light. Then the voice has no unique COLOUR. Both are crucial to a free sound - effortlessly produced. Lung breathing produces a light but shallow sound. Air down to your toes adds the darkness. Drink in the sound from the low breath - the open diaphragm.

EMBRACE YOUR DARK SIDE!

Tom Schilling, June 8, 2020