Joy is the Driver

That’s what I said to a student yesterday while sitting on the piano bench before a card table, lights, and a laptop.

(I snapped this photo while snow was falling out back of the building this morning.)

That was after I realized something wasn’t right: I’d tried all my tricks, and nothing was working. The gorgeous tone I’d been used to hearing wasn’t there.

So out it came. I heard what was in swimming in my student’s mindstream, then found myself saying the words to this post.

Here’s the science of it according to Tomatis.

When joy is present the ears literally prick up, stand up, go towards the vertex of the head. When this happens, the ears are open; that is, unconsciously processing high frequencies. From high to low—the envelope of the ear opens. This processing enables depth and ring in the voice.

It’s that simple.

And it doesn't even have to be real joy. It can be pretend joy; the kind you have when you’ve been feeling terrible, then sit down to watch a movie and get totally lost in it—and find yourself transformed.

Such is the power of art.

Miss Harshaw would correct those who talked about happiness and singing. No, she said—it’s joy. And she was right. Joy is the driver.

My student got her gorgeous tone back.