See It and Believe It: An Investigation into Singers' Imagery Use
Abstract
Sport and dance psychology researchers have shown, time and again, how imagery improves performance in their respective fields. In singing, imagery has a long history in the bel canto (beautiful singing) tradition but it is more linked to using metaphor and simile as teaching aids rather than a mental practice technique to improve performance. Because of this, imagery in singing is even broader than imagery in athletics or dance. Moreover, imagery in singing psychology has not been as thoroughly examined in an empirical setting, especially not from a sport and dance psychology perspective.
This monograph aims to outline the term “imagery” in its many forms and applications to sport, singing, and other fields to better understand the term across disciplines. For the purposes of this monograph, the author is operating under the definition of imagery from a sport and dance psychology perspective, whereby imagery is an experience that mimics a real experience. It occurs in the mind’s eye. It is multi-sensory, meaning that it is not limited to visualization, but encompasses all five senses as well as the kinesthetic sense.
The guiding questions of this study were concerned with the individual singer’s use of imagery and how this differs between professional singers and student singers. This study was based on the author’s previous work where singers used imagery for vocal technique, performance anxiety and goals, and characterization, i.e., portrayal of characters, in their own personal singing. This research used a study-specific survey to explore the nature and function of singers’ imagery use with respect to vocal technique, performance anxiety and goals, and characterization. 130 singers were surveyed to determine the nature and function of their imagery use. Findings of the study revealed that no group differences exist between professional and student singers’ imagery use. There was a significant difference between males and females on the characterization subscale, suggesting that female singers may use imagery for characterization more so than males.