So many thoughts!

 I've finally caught up with the module 3 skype I missed on data and analysis with Helen and Pedro and it was just what I needed at this point. I've finished my data collection which was my two focus groups and now begins the terrifying but exciting process of finding themes, analysing, finding new literature, reflecting on the whole process and then getting organised and writing it all up. 

While squeezing in some study on my lunchbreak at work, I found myself just writing 'what qualifies as a theme??' and feeling a bit daunted. Helen cleared that up by explaining that something needs to appear across all data sets to really be a theme. 

She also spoke about literature in module three being there to extend the conversation rather than to 'backup' what the participants have said. 

I think it was very useful in general to hear the same advice we've been hearing since module one repeated again as it really is starting to sink in now. The fact that we aren't looking to answer questions but to find out more, to take note of our assumptions and to remember that our BA is in our professional practice and not the research topic itself. I find that it's very easy to forget that, and to get carried away in other people's experiences and practices. 

As for my actual data, I think like a lot of people I got a lot of unexpected responses and my assumptions were definitely challenged. The groups also differed a lot on certain things. One group seemed to talk a lot about the power that each musical theatre actor has over their own vocal health. They didn't lay any blame on their performance schedule's, or the contracts they were on for vocal injuries but instead agreed that it's up to the individual to be disciplined, to choose how they sing and if injured, whether or not to exit a contract or to find a way to carry on. This empowered approach really struck me as I hadn't come across any literature beforehand that expressed this. All the interviews and studies I had read had talked about the extreme vocal demands and how musical theatre performers were consistently expected to over-sing and overuse their voices. I want to explore this different outlook a bit more..

Another element that cropped up more than I was expecting was the mental challenge of looking after vocal health. Participants talked about the difficulties that arise in their singing from mental blocks and how they've coped with that. I hadn't thought to prepare any questions about this but thinking back, it's definitely something that has affected me and my voice. I mentioned in another blog the vocal issues I was experiencing in my last job which was musical theatre teaching for children. I believe there were a few things going on but a big one was STRESS. I remember at the time, speaking to my singing teacher about it and how best to combat the constant vocal fatigue and strain and she said the best thing I could do was manage my stress levels as that was causing my breath to get more shallow, tension in my entire body and constriction. I remember warming up before those classes on a Monday, listening to music to relax myself as much as I could beforehand and doing breathwork. But once I stepped into that space I would just lose it all because everything about it stressed me out. ( thankfully I left that job!) . But I think it's a very interesting area to look into, as we are in a highly competitive industry and we are humans at the end of the day who go through lots of emotions and somehow we have to not let that interfere with our voice and perform.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on how much power you feel you have over your own health as a performer, whether its as a singer dancer or actor? x