Category Archives: Mental Training

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

Posted on November 9, 2019 by

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

Roles Singers Play

Posted on August 26, 2019 by

When I started out singing opera professionally, I had some very naïve views of ‘the business’. One of them was that if you sang well, you’d be a success. Simply by the fact, in opera, that you had a bella … Continue reading →

Posted in Archetypes, Authenticity, Coaching, Communication, Concentration, Creativity, Gesang, Gesangslehrer, Gesangspädagogik, Mental Training, Mind, Mind-Body, NLP, Performance Training, Potential, Presence, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Hold on! Let go! Task Positive and Task Negative.

Posted on October 6, 2016 by

I can remember it as if it were yesterday; puberty and that feeling of longing. I had to get a girlfriend. It completely occupied my daytime and nighttime thinking. There was something about this extraordinary, hormone-induced longing which sent out … Continue reading →

Posted in Authenticity, Coaching, Concentration, Congruence, Creativity, Inner Game, Mental Training, Mind-Body, Performance Training, Teaching, Work/Life Balance | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

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

Posted on July 21, 2016 by

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

Caffeinated Calmness

Posted on May 17, 2016 by

You know that feeling of being charged up, ready for action, batteries all at 100%, yet at the same time feeling a profound inner stillness? In younger years, I thought the two states were mutually exclusive. Lately I’ve been experiencing … Continue reading →

Posted in Audition, Authenticity, Coaching, Creativity, Ecstasy, Ecstatic Living, Gesang, Gesangslehrer, Gesangspädagogik, Lessons, Mental Training, Mind-Body, Music, Oper, Opera, Performance, Performance Training, Singing, State, Stillness, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Optimism, Pessimism, the Pursuit of ‘Happiness’ and our own Slice of ‘Reality’

Posted on June 13, 2014 by

Evan Bortnick       http://musa-vocalis.de/ Gesangsunterricht Wiesbaden I’ve always found Freud’s idea of “The Pleasure Principle” fascinating. When I watch myself and those I know make choices over and over and over again, which by any reasonable standards would be considered antithetical … Continue reading →

Posted in Authenticity, Communication, Concentration, Congruence, Emotional Intelligence, Focus, Harmonie, Intelligence, Mental Training, Self Expression, Stillness | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

„Don’t Push”— Pressure Centers Above and Below

Posted on May 12, 2014 by

Evan Bortnick       http://musa-vocalis.de/ Gesangsunterricht Wiesbaden How many times have we singers heard that admonition; “Don’t Push”? Either we’ve said it ourselves (to ourselves or our students) or we’ve heard it a million times from our own teachers. It sure sounds … Continue reading →

Posted in Breath, Breathing, Mental Training, Music, Opera, Pedagogy, Performance, Singing, Teaching, Voice | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Motility and Mobility

Posted on March 11, 2014 by

Evan Bortnick       http://musa-vocalis.de/ Gesangsunterricht Wiesbaden It’s always been a particular fascination of mine how singers move. The raised shoulders, the furrowed eyebrows, the tensed upper lip, the pelvic wave all have both an emotional expression AND a very specific technical, … Continue reading →

Posted in Authenticity, Breath, Breathing, Communication, Concentration, Congruence, Fitness, Lessons, Mental Training, Mind-Body, Opera, Pedagogy, Performance, Self Expression, Singing, Speaking, Stillness, Voice | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Virginia Satir meets Chronos Part2

Posted on January 27, 2014 by

Evan Bortnick       http://musa-vocalis.de/ Gesangsunterricht Wiesbaden After our initial experience using Archetypes instead of people in “Family” Constellations / System Dynamic illumination, we were curious how the participants in that first seminar fared after the experience. All twelve participants reported as … Continue reading →

Posted in Archetypes, Astrology, Family Constellations, Mental Training, Mythology | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Virginia Satir meets Zeus and Chronos Parts Party of the Archetypes

Posted on January 24, 2014 by

Evan Bortnick       http://musa-vocalis.de/ Gesangsunterricht Wiesbaden My foray into the world of astrology began with a high degree of curiosity. The way I  learned it was decidedly descriptive. That is, the astro-symbols animated the astrologer to describe the energies and archetypes … Continue reading →

Posted in Archetypes, Astrology, Family Constellations, Mental Training, Mythology | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment