EMBODIED KINAESTHETIC MOTOR IMAGERY FOR SINGERS
Nicola Harrison is Lecturer in Singing and Interpretation, Pembroke College, Oxford; vocal coach; author; performer and researcher.
‘Imagery can be used to awaken dormant imaginations and forge wider connections with the world around us.’
Nicola Harrison
Nicola Harrison
Information
All Nicola’s writing and research of a lifetime has been into the imagination and how to harness this wonderful, inventive tool in the teaching of singing, the interpretation of text and the performance of song.
Her two books The Wordsmith’s Guide to English Song, Poetry, Music and Imagination were published by Compton in 2016 to widespread critical acclaim.
Her research into the use of motor imagery in training singers has been carried out over 7 years at the University of Oxford and has been tested in a number of ways in collaboration with neuroscientists, anatomists, singers and leading pedagogues. Her research has drawn in top professionals, voice professors and students of singing from three conservatoires and four universities as well as a wide range of subject volunteers and famed soloists. Their generous assistance is furthering the understanding of vocal science and artistry and contributing to new developments in technical training and medical rehabilitation.
In the last 4 years Nicola has worked closely with Dr Alan Watson, University of Cardiff, Wales in researching and testing the use of motor imagery in singers. They are currently co-writing a series of books for singers: Anatomy with Imagination.
The work of the Embodima project into assessing and investigating the effective use of motor imagery for singers has been tested on around 90 subjects so far. Results have been objectively assessed by some of the country’s top vocal pedagogues.
Her two books The Wordsmith’s Guide to English Song, Poetry, Music and Imagination were published by Compton in 2016 to widespread critical acclaim.
Her research into the use of motor imagery in training singers has been carried out over 7 years at the University of Oxford and has been tested in a number of ways in collaboration with neuroscientists, anatomists, singers and leading pedagogues. Her research has drawn in top professionals, voice professors and students of singing from three conservatoires and four universities as well as a wide range of subject volunteers and famed soloists. Their generous assistance is furthering the understanding of vocal science and artistry and contributing to new developments in technical training and medical rehabilitation.
In the last 4 years Nicola has worked closely with Dr Alan Watson, University of Cardiff, Wales in researching and testing the use of motor imagery in singers. They are currently co-writing a series of books for singers: Anatomy with Imagination.
The work of the Embodima project into assessing and investigating the effective use of motor imagery for singers has been tested on around 90 subjects so far. Results have been objectively assessed by some of the country’s top vocal pedagogues.