What would you do if I asked you to sing? | Janet Planet | TEDxOshkosh

[Music]

[Music] what would you do if I asked you to sing

what would you do if I asked you to sing

what would you do if I asked you to sing would you jump up and give it all your

would you jump up and give it all your

would you jump up and give it all your God or would you look for the nearest

God or would you look for the nearest

God or would you look for the nearest exit door with your stomach all tied up

unfortunately in this culture the latter

unfortunately in this culture the latter is the most common answer to that

is the most common answer to that

is the most common answer to that question why is it when asked to sing in

question why is it when asked to sing in

question why is it when asked to sing in front of others were overcome with fear

front of others were overcome with fear

front of others were overcome with fear I have some theories based on years of

I have some theories based on years of

I have some theories based on years of working with singers and hearing stories

working with singers and hearing stories

working with singers and hearing stories of early misdirection in their lives for

of early misdirection in their lives for

of early misdirection in their lives for instance when I was in fourth grade my

instance when I was in fourth grade my

instance when I was in fourth grade my choral teacher told me to mouth the

choral teacher told me to mouth the

choral teacher told me to mouth the words or I had a professor who said that

words or I had a professor who said that

words or I had a professor who said that some people have it and some don’t I

some people have it and some don’t I

some people have it and some don’t I have it you don’t after that it’s as if

have it you don’t after that it’s as if

have it you don’t after that it’s as if we build an emotional ceiling over our

we build an emotional ceiling over our

we build an emotional ceiling over our vertical voices our expressive melodic

vertical voices our expressive melodic

vertical voices our expressive melodic voices the voices that were brought into

voices the voices that were brought into

voices the voices that were brought into this world with Roger love a

this world with Roger love a

this world with Roger love a best-selling author and vocal coach is

best-selling author and vocal coach is

best-selling author and vocal coach is quoted as saying your brain doesn’t

quoted as saying your brain doesn’t

quoted as saying your brain doesn’t differentiate between singing and

differentiate between singing and

differentiate between singing and speaking so why should you now I’m not

speaking so why should you now I’m not

speaking so why should you now I’m not here to make you professional singers

here to make you professional singers

here to make you professional singers like anything on a professional level it

like anything on a professional level it

like anything on a professional level it does take time it takes effort practice

does take time it takes effort practice

does take time it takes effort practice but if through these concepts of

but if through these concepts of

but if through these concepts of reconnecting your vertical expressive

reconnecting your vertical expressive

reconnecting your vertical expressive voice to melody using the sensations of

voice to melody using the sensations of

voice to melody using the sensations of words inspires you to jump up at the

words inspires you to jump up at the

words inspires you to jump up at the next birthday party and leave everyone

next birthday party and leave everyone

next birthday party and leave everyone in song then I think we’ve reached our

in song then I think we’ve reached our

in song then I think we’ve reached our goal

goal

goal now we have our vertical voices with us

now we have our vertical voices with us

now we have our vertical voices with us all the time but it seems as though

all the time but it seems as though

all the time but it seems as though we’re becoming a society of mumblers

we’re becoming a society of mumblers

we’re becoming a society of mumblers movers mumblers and it might have

movers mumblers and it might have

movers mumblers and it might have something to do with how we communicate

something to do with how we communicate

something to do with how we communicate today texts email or how we consume

today texts email or how we consume

today texts email or how we consume music earbuds video screens all in word

music earbuds video screens all in word

music earbuds video screens all in word that childlike vertical voice of

that childlike vertical voice of

that childlike vertical voice of expression is covered by that emotional

expression is covered by that emotional

expression is covered by that emotional seal but we can we tracked that ceiling

seal but we can we tracked that ceiling

seal but we can we tracked that ceiling the other day I was in my backyard and I

the other day I was in my backyard and I

the other day I was in my backyard and I overheard a young girl in the adjoining

overheard a young girl in the adjoining

overheard a young girl in the adjoining yard on at an imaginary cell phone

yard on at an imaginary cell phone

yard on at an imaginary cell phone trying to get the attention of an

trying to get the attention of an

trying to get the attention of an imaginary person on the other end hello

imaginary person on the other end hello

imaginary person on the other end hello hello vertical unafraid fearless now we

hello vertical unafraid fearless now we

hello vertical unafraid fearless now we as adults we have our vertical voices

as adults we have our vertical voices

as adults we have our vertical voices all the time how about at a game

all the time how about at a game

all the time how about at a game go team go team go or when the neighbor

go team go team go or when the neighbor

go team go team go or when the neighbor brings over a brand new puppy

brings over a brand new puppy

brings over a brand new puppy [Music]

how about the intonation of frustration

how about the intonation of frustration I can’t believe I dropped this cell

I can’t believe I dropped this cell

I can’t believe I dropped this cell phone in the toilet again yes ladies and

phone in the toilet again yes ladies and

phone in the toilet again yes ladies and gentlemen life is a pitch pitch now

gentlemen life is a pitch pitch now

gentlemen life is a pitch pitch now earlier I said in our culture

earlier I said in our culture

earlier I said in our culture most people are fearful of singing in

most people are fearful of singing in

most people are fearful of singing in front of others but that’s not

front of others but that’s not

front of others but that’s not necessarily true in other cultures

necessarily true in other cultures

necessarily true in other cultures around the world I had the amazing

around the world I had the amazing

around the world I had the amazing opportunity to visit South Africa a

opportunity to visit South Africa a

opportunity to visit South Africa a couple of years ago and at the end of

couple of years ago and at the end of

couple of years ago and at the end of our tour we entered the poorest and

our tour we entered the poorest and

our tour we entered the poorest and smallest town of all named Dylan Tata in

smallest town of all named Dylan Tata in

smallest town of all named Dylan Tata in the mountains

the mountains

the mountains the event was at a church and when we

the event was at a church and when we

the event was at a church and when we got to the venue there was a sound

got to the venue there was a sound

got to the venue there was a sound coming out of the doors like I had never

coming out of the doors like I had never

coming out of the doors like I had never heard before

heard before

heard before hundreds of people lifted their voices

hundreds of people lifted their voices

hundreds of people lifted their voices in joyful expression it was a after the

in joyful expression it was a after the

in joyful expression it was a after the event we had lunch with the pastor and I

event we had lunch with the pastor and I

event we had lunch with the pastor and I said pastor in our country when you ask

said pastor in our country when you ask

said pastor in our country when you ask someone to sing most often the responses

someone to sing most often the responses

someone to sing most often the responses people in your me or I don’t sing and he

people in your me or I don’t sing and he

people in your me or I don’t sing and he leaned over and looked at me with all

leaned over and looked at me with all

leaned over and looked at me with all sincerity and said do they not breathe

sincerity and said do they not breathe

sincerity and said do they not breathe in your country but you’re starting but

in your country but you’re starting but

in your country but you’re starting but how do we get there

how do we get there

how do we get there a great teacher of mine the late great

a great teacher of mine the late great

a great teacher of mine the late great tide new fun once said when we problem

tide new fun once said when we problem

tide new fun once said when we problem solve we need to look at solving

solve we need to look at solving

solve we need to look at solving problems in a spherical way if it

problems in a spherical way if it

problems in a spherical way if it doesn’t work this way look how about

doesn’t work this way look how about

doesn’t work this way look how about down from the top how about up from this

down from the top how about up from this

down from the top how about up from this angle

angle

angle now because I’m an interpreter of lyric

now because I’m an interpreter of lyric

now because I’m an interpreter of lyric inside I like to think of singing as

inside I like to think of singing as

inside I like to think of singing as words with melody rather than melody

words with melody rather than melody

words with melody rather than melody with words because words have rhythm

with words because words have rhythm

with words because words have rhythm words have rhythm words have rhythm

words have rhythm words have rhythm

words have rhythm words have rhythm words have rhythm words have rhythm

words have rhythm words have rhythm

words have rhythm words have rhythm words have you as their words have

words have you as their words have

words have you as their words have breath Amin words have music who could

breath Amin words have music who could

breath Amin words have music who could ask for anything more

ask for anything more

ask for anything more or how about greeting a beautiful

or how about greeting a beautiful

or how about greeting a beautiful morning walking out on your front porch

morning walking out on your front porch

morning walking out on your front porch silence coming up oh what a beautiful

silence coming up oh what a beautiful

silence coming up oh what a beautiful morning oh what a beautiful day

morning oh what a beautiful day

morning oh what a beautiful day I’ve got a beautiful feeling

everything’s going my way oh what a

everything’s going my way oh what a beautiful time

beautiful time

beautiful time vertical words also have sensation take

vertical words also have sensation take

vertical words also have sensation take two fingers blow on them I can see take

two fingers blow on them I can see take

two fingers blow on them I can see take two fingers blow on them blow on them

two fingers blow on them blow on them

two fingers blow on them blow on them again and again now using these words

again and again now using these words

again and again now using these words see if you can expel the same amount of

see if you can expel the same amount of

see if you can expel the same amount of air on your fingers the best things in

air on your fingers the best things in

air on your fingers the best things in life aren’t things the best things in

life aren’t things the best things in

life aren’t things the best things in life aren’t things again the best things

life aren’t things again the best things

life aren’t things again the best things in life aren’t things now add pitch the

in life aren’t things now add pitch the

in life aren’t things now add pitch the best things in life aren’t things there

best things in life aren’t things there

best things in life aren’t things there you go

think of sensation before pronunciation

think of sensation before pronunciation what parts of the words blow dig pop

what parts of the words blow dig pop

what parts of the words blow dig pop buzz I’ve heard it said that the sound

buzz I’ve heard it said that the sound

buzz I’ve heard it said that the sound that the sound of the vowels is the

that the sound of the vowels is the

that the sound of the vowels is the sound of the individual but the

sound of the individual but the

sound of the individual but the consonants the sound of the heart also

consonants the sound of the heart also

consonants the sound of the heart also through my years of working with singers

through my years of working with singers

through my years of working with singers I have discovered that desperation is

I have discovered that desperation is

I have discovered that desperation is the mother of invention

while teaching at a jazz camp a few

while teaching at a jazz camp a few years ago a group of people whose ages

years ago a group of people whose ages

years ago a group of people whose ages range from 18 to 78 inconsistencies in

range from 18 to 78 inconsistencies in

range from 18 to 78 inconsistencies in aged vocal background ranges there was

aged vocal background ranges there was

aged vocal background ranges there was one consistent trait I couldn’t

one consistent trait I couldn’t

one consistent trait I couldn’t understand a word they were singing so I

understand a word they were singing so I

understand a word they were singing so I went into survival mode I said okay

went into survival mode I said okay

went into survival mode I said okay next time you sing your song no loops

next time you sing your song no loops

next time you sing your song no loops now not many people welcome to that

now not many people welcome to that

now not many people welcome to that concept initially but those that did

concept initially but those that did

concept initially but those that did found that if you can apply breath to

found that if you can apply breath to

found that if you can apply breath to sensation and kind of bypass some of the

sensation and kind of bypass some of the

sensation and kind of bypass some of the large moving parts the accessibility of

large moving parts the accessibility of

large moving parts the accessibility of the vertical voice came alive it was

the vertical voice came alive it was

the vertical voice came alive it was amazing so here’s the evolution of that

amazing so here’s the evolution of that

amazing so here’s the evolution of that technique you are marionette down the

technique you are marionette down the

technique you are marionette down the string to your jaw it’s broken you have

string to your jaw it’s broken you have

string to your jaw it’s broken you have your breath your hard palate where the

your breath your hard palate where the

your breath your hard palate where the peanut butter sticks your tongue and

peanut butter sticks your tongue and

peanut butter sticks your tongue and your upper teeth to communicate how are

your upper teeth to communicate how are

your upper teeth to communicate how are you gonna do it let’s make it a game for

you gonna do it let’s make it a game for

you gonna do it let’s make it a game for every consonant that you would typically

every consonant that you would typically

every consonant that you would typically need your lips or job you’re gonna bring

need your lips or job you’re gonna bring

need your lips or job you’re gonna bring your tongue to your teeth when in doubt

your tongue to your teeth when in doubt

your tongue to your teeth when in doubt stick it out

now I’d like to practice what I preached

now I’d like to practice what I preached and we’re going to do a song from the

and we’re going to do a song from the

and we’re going to do a song from the musical The Music Man which is

musical The Music Man which is

musical The Music Man which is appropriate and because we’re jazz

appropriate and because we’re jazz

appropriate and because we’re jazz musicians tell people by the way a jazz

musicians tell people by the way a jazz

musicians tell people by the way a jazz musician we’re going to take it upbeat

musician we’re going to take it upbeat

musician we’re going to take it upbeat and a little more upbeat and give it a

and a little more upbeat and give it a

and a little more upbeat and give it a bebop feel

bebop feel

bebop feel Gary Gary Indiana Gary Indiana let me

Gary Gary Indiana Gary Indiana let me

Gary Gary Indiana Gary Indiana let me say it once again

say it once again

say it once again Gary you gotta get Indiana Gary Indiana

Gary you gotta get Indiana Gary Indiana

Gary you gotta get Indiana Gary Indiana that’s a Tamil movie then if you’d like

that’s a Tamil movie then if you’d like

that’s a Tamil movie then if you’d like to have a lot of innovation I have

to have a lot of innovation I have

to have a lot of innovation I have another so we can take a dancer I’m

another so we can take a dancer I’m

another so we can take a dancer I’m saying that my mother is a taster

saying that my mother is a taster

saying that my mother is a taster there’s his own place stuck in my face

there’s his own place stuck in my face

there’s his own place stuck in my face getting in the end of Gary Indiana now

getting in the end of Gary Indiana now

getting in the end of Gary Indiana now easy answer it’s never go the carry me

easy answer it’s never go the carry me

easy answer it’s never go the carry me on the carrying me on the Gary Indiana

on the carrying me on the Gary Indiana

on the carrying me on the Gary Indiana [Music]

now it wasn’t perfect no out of the box

now it wasn’t perfect no out of the box absolutely into the sphere I think so

absolutely into the sphere I think so

absolutely into the sphere I think so accessible indeed I really believe that

accessible indeed I really believe that

accessible indeed I really believe that if you can speak and rediscover who that

if you can speak and rediscover who that

if you can speak and rediscover who that vertical voice you can sing now another

vertical voice you can sing now another

vertical voice you can sing now another beautiful song from the Great American

beautiful song from the Great American

beautiful song from the Great American Songbook was written by Hoagy Carmichael

Songbook was written by Hoagy Carmichael

Songbook was written by Hoagy Carmichael and lyric by Johnny Mercer

and lyric by Johnny Mercer

and lyric by Johnny Mercer Colby kar komak Hoagy Carmichael music

Colby kar komak Hoagy Carmichael music

Colby kar komak Hoagy Carmichael music lyric John Mercer now the story goes

lyric John Mercer now the story goes

lyric John Mercer now the story goes that Johnny Mercer wrote the words for

that Johnny Mercer wrote the words for

that Johnny Mercer wrote the words for Judy Garland

Judy Garland

Judy Garland because he was secretly in love with her

because he was secretly in love with her

because he was secretly in love with her now you can just imagine Johnny Mercer

now you can just imagine Johnny Mercer

now you can just imagine Johnny Mercer penning these words using the consonants

penning these words using the consonants

penning these words using the consonants of his heart now am i speaking or am i

of his heart now am i speaking or am i

of his heart now am i speaking or am i singing

singing

singing this is Skylark

skylark have you anything to say to me

skylark have you anything to say to me singing or speaking won’t you tell me

singing or speaking won’t you tell me

singing or speaking won’t you tell me where my love can me

where my love can me

where my love can me is there a meadow in the mist where

is there a meadow in the mist where

is there a meadow in the mist where someone was waiting to make his singing

someone was waiting to make his singing

someone was waiting to make his singing or speaking with come to Skylark have

or speaking with come to Skylark have

or speaking with come to Skylark have you seen a valley green with spring

you seen a valley green with spring

you seen a valley green with spring using the countenance of his heart where

using the countenance of his heart where

using the countenance of his heart where my heart can go a journey over the

my heart can go a journey over the

my heart can go a journey over the shadows and the ready to up us some

shadows and the ready to up us some

shadows and the ready to up us some cover the lane singing we’re speaking

cover the lane singing we’re speaking

cover the lane singing we’re speaking and in your lonely flight how did you

and in your lonely flight how did you

and in your lonely flight how did you heard the music in the night wonderful

heard the music in the night wonderful

heard the music in the night wonderful music feet as the wish crazy loon said

music feet as the wish crazy loon said

music feet as the wish crazy loon said gypsy singing or speaking serenading the

gypsy singing or speaking serenading the

gypsy singing or speaking serenading the moon

skylark I don’t know if you can find

skylark I don’t know if you can find these things but my heart is riding on

these things but my heart is riding on

these things but my heart is riding on your wings so if you see them anywhere

your wings so if you see them anywhere

your wings so if you see them anywhere would you lead me now this is just the

would you lead me now this is just the

would you lead me now this is just the beginning of rediscovering your melodic

beginning of rediscovering your melodic

beginning of rediscovering your melodic self unleash the vertical expressive

self unleash the vertical expressive

self unleash the vertical expressive self reach tracked that emotional

self reach tracked that emotional

self reach tracked that emotional ceiling look up and feel free to sing up

ceiling look up and feel free to sing up

ceiling look up and feel free to sing up let’s get back to the basics of

let’s get back to the basics of

let’s get back to the basics of communication you have it in you bring

communication you have it in you bring

communication you have it in you bring it up and share it with the world

you

you [Applause]