How Does Mood Affect the Performance of Singers - Research Paper Example

HOW MOOD AFFECTS THE PERFORMANCE OF SINGERS? Abstract Everybody has the capability to sing. This is an innate sense of fondness that every human individual has upon music. Undeniably, through the years, human individuals could be noted for their capability to use their voices and produce music that they know would suit the kind of thinking that they have. Undoubtedly though, since singing could be observed to have come from certain points of inspiration among the performers of the song, a valid interest on how moods and emotional swings actually affect the performance of several singers worldwide shall be tackled in the paper that follows. The amazing process of how the brain controls the capabilities of humans to express themselves shall be examined herein as well as solution to the best possible ideas and results that the researcher could garner from the procedures taken into consideration within this piece of work. HOW MOOD AFFECTS THE PERFORMANCE OF SINGERS Introduction Background of the study Music is an undeniably fine type of art that has captured the hearts of human individuals around the globe. Ever since the human generation began, the existence of music as a primary source of expression has given a chance for the many human generations passing history to preserve the right kind of mark that they would want to leave as legacies of their civilization. From the different developments of the said entity of the human society, there is one particular contributory element that makes all these things possible, the human voice. Voice is noted as the primary sound that comes out of a person’s mouth as demanded and commanded by the brain. Through this particular element, the thinking of any individual is expressed to others. IT is also the voice of humans that makes the existence of music creation possible. From this particular indication, it could then be identified that as one person sings, there are several procedures being involved before the actual sound of the song comes out of any body’s mouth as a form of music that sends messages to the ears and towards the brains of everyone else hearing it. Statement of the Problem If the expression of one’s thinking through the utilization of the human voice is controlled by the brain, how is the performance of singers actually affected by the emotions that they feel every now and then? Considerably, this is one of the main issues that shall be handled within the context of this research. From this question, it could be expected that the study would revolve on the capability of the brain to control emotional display of failure, anger, distress, happiness, excitement and so on and so forth as seen through the skills and the voices of singing performers. To carry on with the study further, some other questions as follows shall also be given a careful focus: 1. Singers are considered to be among the all-rounded stage performers. Likely as they face their audience, they set the mood for the show. The question then is, how are these singers able to control their emotions especially during times when they have to face a certain performing task while dealing with some emotional difficulties alongside the presentation? 2. Are there any possible proofs showing that emotional distractions actually affect a singer’s performance? 3. Through research and actual observation, how are singers able to create several pieces of motivation before they go on stage to perform their pieces? These questions would serve as the primary foundation of the study that shall be tackled herein. Focusing on these issues shall shed light to the situation that singers have to deal with. Like any other stage presenters, singers do have to balance themselves and be able to cover up for certain emotions that might ruin the show and the mood of their audience. Through these queries, an understanding of the world of entertainment shall also be given careful assessment. Purpose of the Study Many say that the music industry is paid too much than they deserve. Besides the fact that their capital is primary the voices of the singers, singing is more of a relaxing matter than that of work which is usually stressful to many individuals today. However, is that always the case? The purpose of this study is to help human individual learn more about music and how it affects the people performing them on stage. The capability of the singers to balance themselves and their emotions during their presentations shall be given careful attention so as to assure that the readers would be able to have a better view as to how stage entertainers are also humans and that more than just an ordinary worker, an entertainer, or in this case, a singer needs to keep himself or herself constantly motivated to make their audience enjoy their music. No, this is not an easy job as most people think it is. Hence, this study’s purpose would give a better peek on the process by which singers use their voice effectively for the public while keeping their own transgressions inside to make other people happy. Importance of the Research Besides actually creating a clearer understanding on the process by which singers professionally handle their job, this research’s importance is based on the idea of showing how moods actually affect the individuals feeling them. It is then expected by the researcher of this study that human individuals would be able to appreciate singers more and learn from their examples in controlling emotions for the sake of giving others a chance to be relieved from their own transgressions. Meanwhile, this research would also try to help readers understand of the scientific explanation behind the possible performance failures that at times occur among stage performers every now and then. Literature Review What are Mood Swings? Moods are obvious manifestations of the collaboration of the brain cells with other hormones that affect the emotions of human individuals. This is an apparent fact among women within their adolescent stage towards their mid 30’s. Although men are affected less by mood swings it does not mean they do not experience it at all. There are different contributory aspects that bring in the possibility of a man having mood swings and at least 34% of these male sufferers of the matter belong to the entertainment industry. “One of the major causes of mood swings are hormonal changes which explains why women become one of the primary targets of the situation. Besides internal contributors, stress could also affect an individual which may cause several mood disorders within a person” (Persson, 2001, 275). This is the reason why most of the people involved in such situations are the ones who are less able to control their emotions leading to a more serious problem of depression which may later on result to several physical problems. How Mood Affects A Person Mood swings are noted to create several diversions of emotional display of thoughts among human individuals. It naturally depends on what particular mood is one person in and how he is able to handle the emotion as it happens to affect his thoughts and his acts as well. “There are actually four types of moods as shown in the diagram herein that could possibly push one to react accordingly to the situation he is facing at present” (Waterman,1996, 57). As described within this diagram, there are four major axis of emotion that is present within one individual. The brain intends to control the thought of a person and how he should feel and react towards a certain situation that he needs to be dealing with (Thayer, 1996, 56). Through this brain control, the person begins to act towards an event based on what emotions he feels for that certain time. Based on the diagram, each axis is divided into three possible display of reaction which could affect the entire mood of the person involved in the situation. The Singers and their Moods “I’m in the mood for singing”; “I’m in the mood for dancing”… these lines are usually heard among human individuals especially when they are feeling positive emotions that they usually want to celebrate and just express themselves and show others what they feel. In the entertainment industry, it is very important that performers become aware of their feelings and their moods so as not to ruin any show that they have to handle in front of audiences. For a singer, feeling the song needs to be considered so as to give the right message of the lyrics they are singing. However, being able to balance one’s characterization on stage and their actual self is not constantly easy to do for many singers today. In fact, it is considered that this particular matter is indeed one of the hardest things to consider for them.(Thayer, 1996) Besides feelings, stage performers need to have courage. They need to have presence of mind simply to be able to create a song presentation that would not only bring out good music but would also reach the hearts of their listeners (Baas, 2008). No, this is not an easy thing to do. It should be noted that singers and other stage performers are people too. They too have problems; they too experience failures and a whirlwind of emotions now and then. However unlike ordinary people, they need to pretend that they are just doing fine just so to ensure that they would be at their most motivated mood so as to be able to provide fine entertainment to their audiences (Thayer, 2001). Yes, in doing so, every singer needs to control themselves and at times even try to hide what they actually feel simply to make it certain that their audiences receive the right entertainment that they expected to receive from the performers. METHODOLOGY Instrumentation With help of research materials, the author of this research was able to gain understanding of the different theories that explain several elements of the study such as mood swings, depression, emotions and the ways by which the human brain works to coordinate with the other parts of the body. Considerably through this, the researcher has been able to draw the basic thoughts that serve as the foundation of the entire study. However, relying on theories alone would not be sufficient enough to handle the concentration needed by the researcher to prove the objectives of this research. Hence, to support the theoretical basis garnered by the researcher, an actual survey and interview on singers and some bands have been created. This process aims to validate the truth that the theories hold for the comprehension of the readers with regards the topic being treated in the study. Sample Population To be able to handle a successful interview and survey among performers in the field of local entertainment industry, the researcher decided to contact at least three band performers and three soloists. Through their help, the researcher tried to observe them in their performance for at least a week for five times during their performing schedules. During the said schedules, the researcher took down notes on the different actuations the performers portrayed while they were on stage and during certain times when the audience reacts to their performances. The singers are most likely in their mid-20 towards the mid-30. The variation on the ages of the performers observed did provide a sense of diversity on the results of the research pointing out one matter that could also affect mood swings, age. Procedures As noted, after taking notes for at least five days, the researcher handled an interview among the performers involved in the research and a survey among randomly picked listeners during their shows. This process allowed the researcher to scale the feed backs received by the singers and the personal perceptions of the performers with regards the said reactions. The interview that has been handled naturally brought about the possibility of giving the performers a chance to explain their reactions during some situations considered within the research. The notes taken shall then be gathered along with the results of the interview and the audience feedback forms to be able to come up with a single result presentation that would clarify the answers to the problems raised by the researcher of this study. Ethical Control TO assure that everything is handled successfully in connection with ethical measures, the researcher made it a point that the sample population would give permission on the different procedures of the research to be done during the time span when they are to be involved in the completion of the entire research. The researcher also assured that everything in the plan is laid for the sample population to understand their primary role in the study and how that particular role is primary appreciated by the researcher. Besides that, the names of the performers were withheld so as to protect their identity and their name in the industry of local entertainment. Results Based from the study results garnered from the survey and the interviews performed, the researcher was able to understand the different issues connected with the topic on the effects of moods on the performance of professional singers. The three bands and soloists who were interviewed showed that moods have a great effect on the ways by which they performed in their shows. Likely, the said individuals utilized their moods to be able to perform well with the songs that they present to their audiences. Through the interviews, the performers noted that when they have negative feelings with regards a particular situation in an earlier time before their actual performance, they have got to balance their views so as to set themselves for their set [performance schedule]. This particular implication notes the fact that the different moods of singers also contribute to the changes of their voice. Through observation, the researcher noted that when the balance of moods could not be done by the singers, the situation shows in the voice and even the facial expression of the performers, at times, they even need to cancel performing appointments just to be able to deal with the issue resulting to jeopardy of their job. Understandably, the results of the survey and the questionnaire interviews handled by the researcher actually creates a fine understanding as to how the performances of the singers are affected by their moods and how that particular mood is passed on to their listeners as they perform on stage. It could be observed that through these results, making a clear implication on the idea where the involvement of the performers and the audiences collide together makes a clear display on how moods could be changed and used to motivate people to perform well and affect others positively as well. Discussions From the results gathered, an explanation of the issue between the relation of moods to the performance of the singers on stage had been clarified and resulted to the understanding as to how singers have and continuously need to control their emotions as part of their job professionalism values as entertainers. It is also from this research that the importance of controlling moods had been given clear focus. From the research and the observatory procedures, the researcher was able to understand that both positive and negative emotions that one need to meet with everyday makes a certain impact on the reactions that he shows when dealing with situations in his daily life. From the diagram presented herein, it could be noted how the human moods operate to change the thoughts and reactions of individuals towards the regular situations that they need to face every day. It is with these particular behavioral changes that the performers interviewed in this study were deeply affected in their job presentations. Hence, the recognition of the need to control emotions is suggested to be recognized by every stage performer concerned about the issue discussed. Conclusion Understanding how mood affects a person entirely is essential not only for stage performers but for everyone. Most people today let their moods take over their personalities. Undeniably, this is a fact less given care by the individuals who get involved in the situation. However, with this research, the realization of the importance of knowing how mood occurs and how they should be controlled has been given careful overview based on the experience cases of the primary interviewees who stood as the sample population for this study. It could then be noted that through the study presented herein, the understanding of the topic that has been attended to by the researcher has been well handled so as to ensure that the entire topic would be presented in a way that is most relative to the major stakeholders of the research herein. References Persson, R.S.,2001 ‘the subjective world of the performer’ in P.Juslin and J.Sloboda,eds., Music and emotion: Theory and research. Oxford : OUP, pp.275-289. Waterman, M., 1996: ‘emotional responses to music: Implicit and explicit effects in listeners and performers’, psychology of music. 24, 53-67. Thayer, Robert E. (1989). The biopsychology of mood and arousal. New Yok, NY: Oxford University Press. Thayer, Robert E. (1996). The origin of everyday moods: Managing energy, tension and stress. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Thayer, Robert E. (2001). Calm Energy. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Baas, M., De Dreu, C., & Nijstad, B. (2008). A meta-analysis of 25 years of mood-creativity research: Hedonic tone, activation, or regulatory focus? Psychological Bulletin, 134, 779-806. APPENDIX: Questionnaire for Singers: 1. How many times do you rehearse before your actual performance? 2. Why do you rehearse? 3. What are some of the results of your rehearsals on your performance? 4. Do you believe in the thought that leaving problems behind for the sake of better performance is possible for your profession in the entertainment in the industry? 5. To set your moods before performing on stage, what do you usually do? 6. Is mood important to your performance as a singer in a band or as soloist? SURVEY QUESTIONS for Audience 1. How many times do you watch the show of this particular band? Once Twice More than four times 2. How do you rate their performance as a band? 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest rate… 1 2 3 4 5 3. How do you rate the performance of the vocalist? 1 2 3 4 5 4. Do performances of the group and vocalist differ every now and then? Yes No Read More