Def of Learning Org LO4528

Ray Evans Harrell (mcore@soho.ios.com)
Mon, 1 Jan 1996 01:20:57 -0500

Replying to LO4491 --

On 12/31/95 Carold.whisnant@astd.noli.com said:

>Over the Christmas Holiday my grand daughter helped me relearn that in
>the beginning we had no fear. At 13 months, she tries things I would
>not try - why? I have fears a 13 months old never knew. Our fears
>keep us from enjoying life and growth.

Dear Carol,
here is a small addition to your excellent comments:

As a teacher of performers who sing in high tension situations,
I stress that fear is simply one of the four masks that we
choose to put on our adrenaline in high energy situations.
Sorrow, Fear, Joy, Anger.

As children we imitated and explored from a place of
inexperience. Rapid change, i.e. falling, pushing, jarring
etc. CAN teach fear, but often the child's response is to
release the energy of the change in some kind of
multi-expressive action such as crying, rage, cooing,
noises and physical movement.

This "noise" is then "fixed" by modifying the behavior
without understanding its use in the child's system.
Performers who are inhibited have to unlearn this taught
response and rediscover the wisdom of the original system.
This original expressivity can then be channeled into
"intention" with the most appropriate emotional "mask"
being chosen to complete the task desired.

--
Ray Evans Harrell
Artistic Director/Conductor/Master Teacher
Magic Circle Opera Repertory Ensemble, Inc.
200 West 70th Street, Suite 6c
NYCity, 10023-4324
212 724-2398/ <mcore@soho.ios.com>
"America's only full-time Chamber Opera Co."
Resident Company for New York City's 
International Theater of the Avant Garde, 
LA MAMA E.T.C.