Q & A: TEACHING STYLE
Questions:
Hi Jacinta,
What is your teaching style? What does holistic mean?
Answers:
Best answered by a student!
“Jacinta has a loving strength of presence mixed with a hilarious cheekiness that encourages your inner child to come out, play and be curious. She encourages you to be brave and explore the unknown wilderness that you are.”
What is your teaching style?
I am a holistic voice, singing and music teacher. I guide and support each student to connect to their wild nature, natural breath and music. I awaken individuals to the wonder of their voice and music so that they can remember; their true nature is music, rhythm and tone.
Each student comes for lessons for different reasons. Therefore, private lessons are designed specifically for each individual and what they are curious to explore.
I do not limit my teaching to just technique and science. I weave together the knowledge and skills I have gathered and embodied over the last 25 years. I have trained in Contemporary, Jazz, Improvisation, Opera, Western Classical music and Indian Carnatic and Dhrupad styles. I have chanted and held singing circles for many years. I have sung in choirs and improvisation groups. I have performed as a singer and actor, directed and composed music. I have studied the science, psychology and philosophy behind the voice and body and spent many years studying yoga in all its forms.
These are the foundations of my teaching; I only teach what I know and have embodied.
What does holistic mean?
To me, holistic means to unite the body, mind and spirit/breather.
I teach music taking all these dimensions into account. I teach students to become aware of how the psychology of the mind affects the body and how the body’s resistance or relaxation affects the breath.
Breath is life; we would be dead without it. Breath is the vehicle for our sound and expression. How we allow the body and mind to inhale; will be the expression of our exhale. If we are stressed, the breath is shallow and tight; relaxed, the breath is expansive and easeful. These states affect our sound and singing. One must learn to trust the meeting of the body, mind and breath as they magically weave together to express our emotions and thoughts in the world. Once we understand this, we can learn how to play the instrument of the voice or allow it to play itself without controlling or dictating the outcome.
Our past experiences; social and cultural conditions all play a role in how we hear and express our voice and music. They create patterns in the breathing and neuro-muscular-skeletal systems, which affects how we communicate and sing. I slowly address these patterns through my teaching method, bringing them back to a more harmonious state. Once we allow this harmony, the voice and body can liberate itself, and one’s expression of life can move freely through them.
If you are interested in voice, singing and music lessons, please contact me for more information and booking details.
In Love and Sound,
The Sound Weaver