Time for another Angel Azzarra Teacher/Singer Soapbox: singers- why are you practicing actively when you have bad mental health days? Passive practice is so beneficial, and if you’re walking into the studio already frustrated your voice is going to remember that shit.

If you have great mental health maybe ignore this, but I absolutely have bad days and I try not to sing in practice on those days. Study your score, play some piano. Give yourself some kindness and don’t sing when you’re seconds away from crying or screaming in frustration.

And “singing over it/singing through it” is valid. But know thyself. Sometimes i walk into the studio feeling awful and with breathing exercises or singing something simple that I love I can reset. But sometimes I know I won’t be able to get my body into a neutral place

And on those days I take a break. Have I sung performances on incredibly bad days? Yes. Did they sound great? Yes. You don’t have to constantly sing through a freaked out nervous system/stressed body to be able to sing over it when you have bad days. you need good technique.

And good technique doesn’t come from mental breakdowns in a practice room. Be nice to yourself. Your autonomic nervous system (esp SNS) REMEMBERS the paths it travels. Let it be trained to do what your voice needs with kindness and patience. Okay I’m done. Bye!