Category Archives: Emotional Intelligence

Labyrinths and the Eleusinian Mysteries The Virtues of the Mystic for the Post-Modern Thinker

Posted on November 9, 2019 by evanb54

The term “Magical Thinking” has often been used derogatorily. When we find ourselves in very practical moods or around very practical people, what we refer to as magical thinking often seems childish and immature. Yet at the same time, when … Continue reading →

Posted in Archetypes, Astrology, Authenticity, Ecstatic Living, Emotional Intelligence, Inner Game, Lucid Dreaming, Meditation, Mental Training, Mind-Body | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Thermals. A Metaphor for “Ease” in Singing and in Life.

Posted on July 21, 2016 by evanb54

I doubt if there’s anyone who would deny that life is hard, at least sometimes. Yet these same individuals will also doubtlessly admit that on some hours, on some days, things flow with ease. One of my voice teachers, one … Continue reading →

Posted in Authenticity, Coaching, Creativity, Emotional Intelligence, Gesang, Gesangslehrer, Gesangspädagogik, Inner Game, Learning, Mental Training, Mind-Body, Pedagogy, Performance, Performance Training, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

INSTANT KARMA

Posted on May 30, 2016 by evanb54

The idea of “Karma” as it was probably originally intended seems foreign to how we live our life. The idea that there is some mechanism by which our deeds come back at us is anathema to many of us, especially … Continue reading →

Posted in Authenticity, Communication, Congruence, Creativity, Ecstatic Living, Emotional Intelligence, Singing, Speaking, Voice | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Cheerleader Effect

Posted on March 26, 2016 by evanb54

Who is the “Cheerleader” in your life? Do you have more than one? Are you thinking; why should I even need one? We get criticism from others and from groups, for some of us, it’s almost constant. Wouldn’t you say, … Continue reading →

Posted in Coaching, Communication, Creativity, Emotional Intelligence, Enthusiasm, Gesang, Gesangslehrer, Gesangspädagogik, Learning, Lehren, Lehrer, Lessons, Music, Pedagogy, Performance Training, Stimme | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tool or Crutch? Support, Independence and Integration in Singing.

Posted on January 24, 2016 by evanb54

Remember when you learned to ride a bicycle? You either had “training-wheels” or your father ran alongside you, holding the bike steady. How long were these tools necessary before the wheels came off or dad faded smiling in the distance? … Continue reading →

Posted in Anatomie, Authenticity, Coaching, Concentration, Congruence, Creativity, Emotional Intelligence, Gesang, Gesangspädagogik, Kommunikation, Lessons, Music, Musik, Oper, Opera, Pedagogy, Performance, Performance Training, Presence, Teaching, Vocal Pedagogy, Voice | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Strengths, Weaknesses and Power. Thinking out loud about the Contexts of Vulnerability.

Posted on December 30, 2015 by evanb54

There have been a lot of discussions online recently about what makes a good teacher. It’s probably pretty much the same question as… ‘what makes a good mentor?’…’what makes a good trainer?’… and ‘what makes a good coach?’. Many of … Continue reading →

Posted in Authenticity, Coaching, Communication, Congruence, Creativity, Ecstatic Living, Emotional Intelligence, Emotional Transparency, Gesang, Gesangslehrer, Gesangspädagogik, Inner Game, Kommunikation, Learning, Lehren, Lehrer, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Gifts of Pain. The Rewards of Fear.

Posted on August 16, 2015 by evanb54

A provocative title! Pain and fear are usually understood as things to avoid. Our survival is based on the instincts we’ve evolved to avoid pain and fear. How then, can there be gifts in pain and rewards in fear? I … Continue reading →

Posted in Coaching, Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Potential, Voice | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

LOOKING FORWARD The Virtues of Anticipation

Posted on March 11, 2015 by evanb54

Evan Bortnick       http://musa-vocalis.de/ Gesangsunterricht Wiesbaden I love looking forward to things. There’s something so sweet and grand about somehow being fully in the here and now and, at the same time, tasting a future event fully. There’s something about that … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Authenticity, Communication, Concentration, Congruence, Emotional Intelligence, Fitness | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Communal Orgies of Emotion

Posted on December 21, 2014 by evanb54

Evan Bortnick       http://musa-vocalis.de/ Gesangsunterricht Wiesbaden I don’t exactly know where I heard this expression for the first time; an article, a speech, a dream? I wrote it down as a metaphor for good singing and promised myself I’d blog about … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Communication, Congruence, Emotional Intelligence, Family Constellations | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Games Voice Students Play — Past Teachers’ Failure

Posted on August 21, 2014 by evanb54

Evan Bortnick       http://musa-vocalis.de/ Gesangsunterricht Wiesbaden I’ve been noticing lately an increasing tendency, in blogs, in facebook and on singing/teaching sites in general, towards indignantly commenting about how many ‘bad’ voice teachers there are out there. This tendency seems emphasized by … Continue reading →

Posted in Audition, Authenticity, Congruence, Emotional Intelligence, Lessons, Music, Opera, Pedagogy, Performance, Performance Training, Presence, Singing, Teaching, Voice | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment