Of the many fascinating topics in Timothy Gallwey’s book, I want to take a look at his claim that the conscious mind too often gets in the way of the subconscious mind and ruins our intentions.

What does all that gibbltygob mean to us average joes who just want to sing better? A lot of.

Think of it this way: we (our conscious mind) say “I want to sing Happy Birthday.” Imagine how the song should sound and start the process. With the conscious mind guiding the process, the subconscious takes control and begins to vibrate the vocal cords, governs the amount of air needed, controls the diaphragm and other muscles. As the notes change, the subconscious makes the vibrations faster or slower, depending on how high or low those notes are.

Yes, and that part of our mind is also doing other little things at the same time, like keeping us alive.

Ideas come from the conscious mind, but the subconscious turns them into reality by controlling the muscles and organs that make this happen.

When we practice, we are actually “training” the subconscious. During this process, we (our conscious mind) assume a larger role in the process, correcting and perfecting the techniques.

But, when we act or record, we need to let go of that control and learn to trust that our subconscious has learned and will do things correctly.

Think of this as a parent, teaching a child to cross the street. The parent takes the child’s hand when he crosses it many times, telling the child to “look both ways before …” or “watch out for cars coming from all directions”, and so on. Finally the day comes when parents must let the child go alone. This requires great confidence that the child has learned the lessons that you have taught him.

So it is with singing. Our conscious mind is the “parent”, our subconscious, the child. We train him with exercises and songs, and then we trust that he will do what we teach him when we perform.

But all too often this “parent” part of us can’t help but jump into the process. That’s when things can seriously go wrong. For example, you are singing a song that you have practiced. You know it well and you sing it well. Then during the performance, you start to think about that really high note that’s coming out. And what happens? Just before you start singing that note, you (your conscious mind) step in and begin giving advice and instructions to the subconscious (which sang it perfectly well yesterday). Your thought goes something like this: “Ok, subconscious, you have shown that you can sing this note for me, but right now I don’t trust you to do it without my help. Remember, you need to open your mouth and throat more, add more air, tense these muscles ….. “

And what happens then? “The subconscious gets confused by all this external advice and doesn’t get the note. You shot yourself in the foot.

This type of conscious-subconscious interference happens a lot. Be more aware when you are doing it. Let go and leave Subconscious.