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Does anyone else do this?

Hi all, 2 quick questions for you.

1. When I sing I find myself moving my hand like a conductor to the music. While I might not follow it correctly, I just find that it helps me. I don't know when I picked it up, I sang in the choir at church and played the clarinet in middle school. Does anyone else do this?

2. The other thing that I noticed the other day was when I sing I find myself imitating the vocal style of the person I am listening to. I don't do it intentionally, but it always seems to happen. What I mean is it's still my voice (obviously) but I will take on a bit of accent or tone so that I am copying the singer, is this "normal"?

Thanks everyone for reading/answering me. :)

3 Answers

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  • ?
    Lv 7
    4 years ago
    Favourite answer

    Moving your hand as you sing phrases is a natural musical gesture - it probably stems from your desire to be accurate, since these eurhythmic gestures ( yes, it's a real word - not just the name of an old band) are helpful to many people. As far as copying vocalsounds - that too is often done without realizing it. I am originally from Boston, and have lived in NY for many years - and now have far less of the "pahk the cah ovuh heah!" accent I used to have - but one Ben Affleck/Boston movie, and it starts to creep back for a little while - I say things like "umbreller" and "bananner" - and almost think of rooting for the Red Sox again - but that is not allowed in this house.

    People often comment that no-English native speakers, when they sing American-style pop music, have NO ACCENT. That is because they learned that style of singing by - listening to American groups! Mila Kunis has NO ACCENT - she learned all her English from American TV! It is just human nature. Unless you do what you do to the point where people tell you that it is affected - stop worrying. And keep singing! (I taught voice and choral music for over 30 years - EVERYONE should sing, and sing out like it comes from your heart!)

  • ?
    Lv 7
    4 years ago

    Happy Holidays, 'Liz. Good to see you out here again.

    You sound like you really enjoy it all, which is delightful. It could be worse. As an old stoner guitarist, I might do a little "air guitar" to a really good solo. The heart and soul are where it all ends up.

    Gravity, indeed.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo4746XZgw8

  • ?
    Lv 4
    4 years ago

    You definitely aren't alone. I almost can't sing unless I'm holding a guitar or bass, it just feels so wrong not to have something to do with my hands.

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