[Music] [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] I just experienced pure unadulterated
I just experienced pure unadulterated
I just experienced pure unadulterated bliss in front of you
the first time I realized I could do
the first time I realized I could do this
this
this I was driving cross-country having just
I was driving cross-country having just
I was driving cross-country having just graduated from college to the City of
graduated from college to the City of
graduated from college to the City of Angels the city of smog vanity the
Angels the city of smog vanity the
Angels the city of smog vanity the industry and also the place for dreamers
industry and also the place for dreamers
industry and also the place for dreamers after hours on the road my mind got out
after hours on the road my mind got out
after hours on the road my mind got out of the way and I let my voice my body my
of the way and I let my voice my body my
of the way and I let my voice my body my intuition my heart and soul make a sound
I’ve been singing since I could make
I’ve been singing since I could make sound as a baby I’d awake at midnight
sound as a baby I’d awake at midnight
sound as a baby I’d awake at midnight and start cooing in my crib
and start cooing in my crib
and start cooing in my crib my grandmother would say club arielle is
my grandmother would say club arielle is
my grandmother would say club arielle is open and then as a little girl as all of
open and then as a little girl as all of
open and then as a little girl as all of us used to do all of us I’d play with my
us used to do all of us I’d play with my
us used to do all of us I’d play with my voice
when I was seven years old my mom was
when I was seven years old my mom was diagnosed with stage four cancer
diagnosed with stage four cancer
diagnosed with stage four cancer suddenly my world got stressful as I
suddenly my world got stressful as I
suddenly my world got stressful as I noticed the worry of those around me I
noticed the worry of those around me I
noticed the worry of those around me I came to the conclusion that not everyone
came to the conclusion that not everyone
came to the conclusion that not everyone wanted to hear my voice or my expression
wanted to hear my voice or my expression
wanted to hear my voice or my expression and it was also at this age that I
and it was also at this age that I
and it was also at this age that I started to care what other people
started to care what other people
started to care what other people thought of me I wanted to please my
thought of me I wanted to please my
thought of me I wanted to please my parents my teachers and my schoolmates
parents my teachers and my schoolmates
parents my teachers and my schoolmates so I started to subconsciously censor
so I started to subconsciously censor
so I started to subconsciously censor myself with the intention of making
myself with the intention of making
myself with the intention of making others lives less stressful from the
others lives less stressful from the
others lives less stressful from the moment were born we empathically
moment were born we empathically
moment were born we empathically absorbed the internal state of those
absorbed the internal state of those
absorbed the internal state of those around us however at this age our
around us however at this age our
around us however at this age our behavioral development is subconscious
behavioral development is subconscious
behavioral development is subconscious so we feel free to fully express
so we feel free to fully express
so we feel free to fully express ourselves but then around the age seven
ourselves but then around the age seven
ourselves but then around the age seven we start cognitively developing we start
we start cognitively developing we start
we start cognitively developing we start to see others perspectives and we learn
to see others perspectives and we learn
to see others perspectives and we learn to use logic I can see how I applied
to use logic I can see how I applied
to use logic I can see how I applied logic although inaccurate to believe
logic although inaccurate to believe
logic although inaccurate to believe that if I became the perfect child my
that if I became the perfect child my
that if I became the perfect child my mom would get better and life would be
mom would get better and life would be
mom would get better and life would be good well I’m grateful to share that my
good well I’m grateful to share that my
good well I’m grateful to share that my mother is a cancer survivor and she is
mother is a cancer survivor and she is
mother is a cancer survivor and she is here tonight
and you you’re not so different than me
and you you’re not so different than me something likely happened in your
something likely happened in your
something likely happened in your childhood which caused you to stop
childhood which caused you to stop
childhood which caused you to stop freely voicing who you were it could
freely voicing who you were it could
freely voicing who you were it could have been as direct as literally a choir
have been as direct as literally a choir
have been as direct as literally a choir teacher saying you shouldn’t sing you
teacher saying you shouldn’t sing you
teacher saying you shouldn’t sing you have a bad voice or it could have been
have a bad voice or it could have been
have a bad voice or it could have been noticing that you’re dancing playing or
noticing that you’re dancing playing or
noticing that you’re dancing playing or expressing was getting in the way of
expressing was getting in the way of
expressing was getting in the way of someone else’s comfort and so you
someone else’s comfort and so you
someone else’s comfort and so you decided that censoring yourself was
decided that censoring yourself was
decided that censoring yourself was healthier than freely voicing what you
healthier than freely voicing what you
healthier than freely voicing what you felt in the moment many people have told
felt in the moment many people have told
felt in the moment many people have told me Ariela
me Ariela
me Ariela I shouldn’t sing I have a horrible voice
I shouldn’t sing I have a horrible voice
I shouldn’t sing I have a horrible voice I sound awful we spend so much conscious
I sound awful we spend so much conscious
I sound awful we spend so much conscious and subconscious energy worrying about
and subconscious energy worrying about
and subconscious energy worrying about what others think of us well they’re
what others think of us well they’re
what others think of us well they’re worried about what we think of them
worried about what we think of them
worried about what we think of them we’ve collectively forgotten how to live
we’ve collectively forgotten how to live
we’ve collectively forgotten how to live in our own skin and bones and lymphatic
in our own skin and bones and lymphatic
in our own skin and bones and lymphatic system that love to move and groove and
system that love to move and groove and
system that love to move and groove and so much of the population won’t sing
so much of the population won’t sing
so much of the population won’t sing maybe they’ll sing happy birthday in a
maybe they’ll sing happy birthday in a
maybe they’ll sing happy birthday in a group which is really fun or do karaoke
group which is really fun or do karaoke
group which is really fun or do karaoke after a few drinks but and then those
after a few drinks but and then those
after a few drinks but and then those who do sing will often join choirs and
who do sing will often join choirs and
who do sing will often join choirs and take voice lessons and these are
take voice lessons and these are
take voice lessons and these are wonderful places to express the spirit
wonderful places to express the spirit
wonderful places to express the spirit and to learn things like healthy vocal
and to learn things like healthy vocal
and to learn things like healthy vocal technique but these are also structured
technique but these are also structured
technique but these are also structured settings in which a person learns quote
settings in which a person learns quote
settings in which a person learns quote unquote
unquote
unquote right and wrong ways of expressing it’s
right and wrong ways of expressing it’s
right and wrong ways of expressing it’s often in these settings that people
often in these settings that people
often in these settings that people don’t often learn true authenticity
don’t often learn true authenticity
don’t often learn true authenticity which is the majority of what makes a
which is the majority of what makes a
which is the majority of what makes a singer great a speaker profound and any
singer great a speaker profound and any
singer great a speaker profound and any one of us true to ourselves through our
one of us true to ourselves through our
one of us true to ourselves through our expression so as a vocal empowerment
expression so as a vocal empowerment
expression so as a vocal empowerment coach who’s worked with hundreds of
coach who’s worked with hundreds of
coach who’s worked with hundreds of people and a performer who’s been on
people and a performer who’s been on
people and a performer who’s been on over 400 stages I’ve had the unique
over 400 stages I’ve had the unique
over 400 stages I’ve had the unique opportunity to witness our collective
opportunity to witness our collective
opportunity to witness our collective subconscious forgo authenticity an
subconscious forgo authenticity an
subconscious forgo authenticity an attempt to present ourselves perfectly
attempt to present ourselves perfectly
attempt to present ourselves perfectly and because as I’m sure we all know
and because as I’m sure we all know
and because as I’m sure we all know somewhere down deep inside because none
somewhere down deep inside because none
somewhere down deep inside because none of us can actually be perfect this leads
of us can actually be perfect this leads
of us can actually be perfect this leads to varying levels of nervousness and
to varying levels of nervousness and
to varying levels of nervousness and anxiety so how do we curb this
anxiety so how do we curb this
anxiety so how do we curb this perfectionism and learn to be as we are
perfectionism and learn to be as we are
perfectionism and learn to be as we are in my experience the act of being
in my experience the act of being
in my experience the act of being authentic and presence with ease is
authentic and presence with ease is
authentic and presence with ease is about 30% Technique and 70%
about 30% Technique and 70%
about 30% Technique and 70% self-confidence okay so what is
self-confidence okay so what is
self-confidence okay so what is self-confidence when people come to work
self-confidence when people come to work
self-confidence when people come to work with me they often are coming to enhance
with me they often are coming to enhance
with me they often are coming to enhance their self-confidence around their vocal
their self-confidence around their vocal
their self-confidence around their vocal abilities oftentimes when they open
abilities oftentimes when they open
abilities oftentimes when they open their mouth to sing they begin to cry or
their mouth to sing they begin to cry or
their mouth to sing they begin to cry or laugh instead it’s an honor to be there
laugh instead it’s an honor to be there
laugh instead it’s an honor to be there during this vulnerable moment and I see
during this vulnerable moment and I see
during this vulnerable moment and I see it as a wonderful opportunity to gently
it as a wonderful opportunity to gently
it as a wonderful opportunity to gently discuss what’s emerging emotionally and
discuss what’s emerging emotionally and
discuss what’s emerging emotionally and what I’ve learned is at the core of all
what I’ve learned is at the core of all
what I’ve learned is at the core of all of our insecurities is a lack of self
of our insecurities is a lack of self
of our insecurities is a lack of self acceptance and self-love when we can
acceptance and self-love when we can
acceptance and self-love when we can truly learn to love ourselves and I mean
truly learn to love ourselves and I mean
truly learn to love ourselves and I mean when we can fully accept where we’re at
when we can fully accept where we’re at
when we can fully accept where we’re at in our personal evolution no matter how
in our personal evolution no matter how
in our personal evolution no matter how imperfect we think we are no matter how
imperfect we think we are no matter how
imperfect we think we are no matter how imperfect we think we are no matter how
imperfect we think we are no matter how
imperfect we think we are no matter how imperfect I think I am it doesn’t matter
imperfect I think I am it doesn’t matter
imperfect I think I am it doesn’t matter what we do in front of another person
what we do in front of another person
what we do in front of another person learning to accept and then love our
learning to accept and then love our
learning to accept and then love our self creates steadfast confid
self creates steadfast confid
self creates steadfast confid so this is a lesson that I had to learn
so this is a lesson that I had to learn
so this is a lesson that I had to learn firsthand and first I’ll step away from
firsthand and first I’ll step away from
firsthand and first I’ll step away from the script and tell you that doing this
the script and tell you that doing this
the script and tell you that doing this TEDx talk brought it all up again there
TEDx talk brought it all up again there
TEDx talk brought it all up again there were tears there was fear there were all
were tears there was fear there were all
were tears there was fear there were all of my insecurities there was doubt there
of my insecurities there was doubt there
of my insecurities there was doubt there I called my mom one day and I said I
I called my mom one day and I said I
I called my mom one day and I said I hate my talk because I didn’t I’d never
hate my talk because I didn’t I’d never
hate my talk because I didn’t I’d never done anything like this before exactly
done anything like this before exactly
done anything like this before exactly even though I’d been on all these stages
even though I’d been on all these stages
even though I’d been on all these stages and so I’m here I got here and it feels
and so I’m here I got here and it feels
and so I’m here I got here and it feels really good so the script so nine months
really good so the script so nine months
really good so the script so nine months before I was about to graduate as a
before I was about to graduate as a
before I was about to graduate as a vocal performance major the vocal
vocal performance major the vocal
vocal performance major the vocal faculty took me aside and they told me
faculty took me aside and they told me
faculty took me aside and they told me we feel it’s best that you choose
we feel it’s best that you choose
we feel it’s best that you choose another major I remember sitting on the
another major I remember sitting on the
another major I remember sitting on the cold apartment floor crying feeling as
cold apartment floor crying feeling as
cold apartment floor crying feeling as though the rug was pulled from under me
though the rug was pulled from under me
though the rug was pulled from under me and the next day I wandered campus and I
and the next day I wandered campus and I
and the next day I wandered campus and I ended up at the Study Abroad Office
ended up at the Study Abroad Office
ended up at the Study Abroad Office where an advisor told me about this trip
where an advisor told me about this trip
where an advisor told me about this trip to Ghana West Africa where I could study
to Ghana West Africa where I could study
to Ghana West Africa where I could study music I’d never been to Africa and I’d
music I’d never been to Africa and I’d
music I’d never been to Africa and I’d never thought I would go but I knew that
never thought I would go but I knew that
never thought I would go but I knew that somehow in this foreign land maybe I
somehow in this foreign land maybe I
somehow in this foreign land maybe I would find my way well that summer I was
would find my way well that summer I was
would find my way well that summer I was immersed in a culture where music was
immersed in a culture where music was
immersed in a culture where music was part of everyday life where we would see
part of everyday life where we would see
part of everyday life where we would see drummers on the side of the road dancing
drummers on the side of the road dancing
drummers on the side of the road dancing and playing with those around them where
and playing with those around them where
and playing with those around them where we passed by funerals and weddings and
we passed by funerals and weddings and
we passed by funerals and weddings and the locals would invite us to join in
the locals would invite us to join in
the locals would invite us to join in and it would be rude of us not to dance
and it would be rude of us not to dance
and it would be rude of us not to dance women and their 80s and 90s would dance
women and their 80s and 90s would dance
women and their 80s and 90s would dance with this relaxed confidence that showed
with this relaxed confidence that showed
with this relaxed confidence that showed me how I want to be when I am an elder
me how I want to be when I am an elder
me how I want to be when I am an elder and the griot our village storyteller
and the griot our village storyteller
and the griot our village storyteller would lead call-and-response
would lead call-and-response
would lead call-and-response songs and prayers for the entire village
songs and prayers for the entire village
songs and prayers for the entire village to recite
to recite
to recite here I found a new definition of music
here I found a new definition of music
here I found a new definition of music it was no longer about precision or
it was no longer about precision or
it was no longer about precision or perfection it was about wild joy
perfection it was about wild joy
perfection it was about wild joy connecting with each other and freedom
connecting with each other and freedom
connecting with each other and freedom of expression having been in this place
of expression having been in this place
of expression having been in this place of unique freedom I knew that I would
of unique freedom I knew that I would
of unique freedom I knew that I would build a life that excited me and I
build a life that excited me and I
build a life that excited me and I definitely have my favorite African
definitely have my favorite African
definitely have my favorite African proverb is if you can walk you can dance
proverb is if you can walk you can dance
proverb is if you can walk you can dance if you can talk you can sing if music
if you can talk you can sing if music
if you can talk you can sing if music resides in us and if rhythm resides in
resides in us and if rhythm resides in
resides in us and if rhythm resides in us and it does song and dance are in us
us and it does song and dance are in us
us and it does song and dance are in us to being an expression of music with our
to being an expression of music with our
to being an expression of music with our voices and bodies is our birthright and
voices and bodies is our birthright and
voices and bodies is our birthright and from the moment we’re born until the
from the moment we’re born until the
from the moment we’re born until the moment we die we are music we’re all
moment we die we are music we’re all
moment we die we are music we’re all walking around with the most accurate
walking around with the most accurate
walking around with the most accurate impeccable rhythm within us I invite you
impeccable rhythm within us I invite you
impeccable rhythm within us I invite you to tap on your chest and join me and
to tap on your chest and join me and
to tap on your chest and join me and just for a moment shut your eyes and
just for a moment shut your eyes and
just for a moment shut your eyes and listen
when we were in the womb we heard a
when we were in the womb we heard a sound like this it was the white noise
sound like this it was the white noise
sound like this it was the white noise of the amniotic fluid that calmed us and
of the amniotic fluid that calmed us and
of the amniotic fluid that calmed us and assured us we were safe and some nights
assured us we were safe and some nights
assured us we were safe and some nights I turned my fan on to call me and assure
I turned my fan on to call me and assure
I turned my fan on to call me and assure me that I’m safe and it helps me sleep a
me that I’m safe and it helps me sleep a
me that I’m safe and it helps me sleep a lot so I’d like to try something this
lot so I’d like to try something this
lot so I’d like to try something this room is now a safe space there’s no
room is now a safe space there’s no
room is now a safe space there’s no right there’s no wrong you cannot make a
right there’s no wrong you cannot make a
right there’s no wrong you cannot make a mistake I’d like everyone to sit up in
mistake I’d like everyone to sit up in
mistake I’d like everyone to sit up in your seats put your hands up in the air
your seats put your hands up in the air
your seats put your hands up in the air and take in a deep breath yeah and you
and take in a deep breath yeah and you
and take in a deep breath yeah and you can put your hands down you can roll
can put your hands down you can roll
can put your hands down you can roll your shoulders if it feels good all
your shoulders if it feels good all
your shoulders if it feels good all right we’re gonna do some call and
right we’re gonna do some call and
right we’re gonna do some call and response when I start singing and repeat
response when I start singing and repeat
response when I start singing and repeat after me
after me
after me [Music]
yeah it sounded really fun it sounds
yeah it sounded really fun it sounds like it felt good there may have been a
like it felt good there may have been a
like it felt good there may have been a few the few of you who were thinking why
few the few of you who were thinking why
few the few of you who were thinking why didn’t I prepare an escape plan for the
didn’t I prepare an escape plan for the
didn’t I prepare an escape plan for the and I understand that doing
and I understand that doing
and I understand that doing call-and-response vocal exercises in a
call-and-response vocal exercises in a
call-and-response vocal exercises in a public forum might not feel a hundred
public forum might not feel a hundred
public forum might not feel a hundred percent natural to you if you haven’t
percent natural to you if you haven’t
percent natural to you if you haven’t been singing your whole life like me
been singing your whole life like me
been singing your whole life like me singing might not feel natural to you at
singing might not feel natural to you at
singing might not feel natural to you at all so you might be asking why would I
all so you might be asking why would I
all so you might be asking why would I do it if it’s so uncomfortable my
do it if it’s so uncomfortable my
do it if it’s so uncomfortable my genuine question to you though is why
genuine question to you though is why
genuine question to you though is why wouldn’t you after all
wouldn’t you after all
wouldn’t you after all the act of singing is physically healing
the act of singing is physically healing
the act of singing is physically healing when we sing our vocal cords vibrate
when we sing our vocal cords vibrate
when we sing our vocal cords vibrate throughout the entire body and supplies
throughout the entire body and supplies
throughout the entire body and supplies of oxygen are delivered to our brain
of oxygen are delivered to our brain
of oxygen are delivered to our brain this calms our nervous system and causes
this calms our nervous system and causes
this calms our nervous system and causes us to get out of fight-or-flight mode
us to get out of fight-or-flight mode
us to get out of fight-or-flight mode and enter relaxation and singing
and enter relaxation and singing
and enter relaxation and singing connects us with each other when we sing
connects us with each other when we sing
connects us with each other when we sing and our voices vibrate and unison or
and our voices vibrate and unison or
and our voices vibrate and unison or harmony we share a vulnerability and
harmony we share a vulnerability and
harmony we share a vulnerability and thus we are endeared to one another
thus we are endeared to one another
thus we are endeared to one another singing is also good exercise it works
singing is also good exercise it works
singing is also good exercise it works our abdominal and intercostal muscles
our abdominal and intercostal muscles
our abdominal and intercostal muscles and singing is a global language every
and singing is a global language every
and singing is a global language every historical culture that I’ve studied has
historical culture that I’ve studied has
historical culture that I’ve studied has vast evidence of chant and song for
vast evidence of chant and song for
vast evidence of chant and song for prayer communication and social
prayer communication and social
prayer communication and social gatherings dancing so then if it’s so
gatherings dancing so then if it’s so
gatherings dancing so then if it’s so good how do you unleash your most
good how do you unleash your most
good how do you unleash your most authentic voice and healthfully
authentic voice and healthfully
authentic voice and healthfully expressed self
expressed self
expressed self get out of the mind and into the body
get out of the mind and into the body
get out of the mind and into the body when we’re over thinking when we’re in
when we’re over thinking when we’re in
when we’re over thinking when we’re in our mind it makes us anxious and this
our mind it makes us anxious and this
our mind it makes us anxious and this actually tenses our muscles which causes
actually tenses our muscles which causes
actually tenses our muscles which causes us to have poor breath support contract
us to have poor breath support contract
us to have poor breath support contract our muscles and strange projection but
our muscles and strange projection but
our muscles and strange projection but when we relaxed even just a little in
when we relaxed even just a little in
when we relaxed even just a little in our body and our mind our body just
our body and our mind our body just
our body and our mind our body just knows what to do and then set a positive
knows what to do and then set a positive
knows what to do and then set a positive intention it might sound easy but it you
intention it might sound easy but it you
intention it might sound easy but it you got to focus on what you’re thinking are
got to focus on what you’re thinking are
got to focus on what you’re thinking are you thinking my voice is gonna crack any
you thinking my voice is gonna crack any
you thinking my voice is gonna crack any minute or are you thinking I don’t know
minute or are you thinking I don’t know
minute or are you thinking I don’t know how but I know I can do this
how but I know I can do this
how but I know I can do this and then practice practice when you feel
and then practice practice when you feel
and then practice practice when you feel good and practice when you don’t the art
good and practice when you don’t the art
good and practice when you don’t the art of showing up and practicing and doing
of showing up and practicing and doing
of showing up and practicing and doing it anyway shows us that so much more
it anyway shows us that so much more
it anyway shows us that so much more than we ever thought is possible this is
than we ever thought is possible this is
than we ever thought is possible this is about you and your story your unfolding
about you and your story your unfolding
about you and your story your unfolding no one sounds exactly like you because
no one sounds exactly like you because
no one sounds exactly like you because no one is you your authentic voice and
no one is you your authentic voice and
no one is you your authentic voice and self are your gift to the world so
self are your gift to the world so
self are your gift to the world so please do your best to accept it and
please do your best to accept it and
please do your best to accept it and love it and then give it I now invite
love it and then give it I now invite
love it and then give it I now invite you to do it do it with me I’m gonna
you to do it do it with me I’m gonna
you to do it do it with me I’m gonna give you a vocal line it’s it’s pretty
give you a vocal line it’s it’s pretty
give you a vocal line it’s it’s pretty simple straightforward so you’re just
simple straightforward so you’re just
simple straightforward so you’re just gonna repeat this vocal line over and
gonna repeat this vocal line over and
gonna repeat this vocal line over and over again you’re gonna get into the
over again you’re gonna get into the
over again you’re gonna get into the groove of it it goes like this
groove of it it goes like this
groove of it it goes like this [Music]
[Music]
[Music] yes keep going
when I sing you just keep holding that
when I sing you just keep holding that down
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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