Metaphors and imagery

For those of us who enjoy the whys and hows of what makes the voice work and work well, using imagery and metaphors as pedagogical and technical tools can seem too vague and subjective to bother with. While the imagined should never replace an understanding of the physiology behind our vocal technique, combining physical actions of the body into a single concept can be extremely helpful in consolidating multifaceted body coordination. By packaging our multitasking technical feats into a single image or idea, we free up brain space to concentrate on something else: musicality, expression, intonation, counting, listening, etc... We need to understand and feel for ourselves how a certain metaphor fits into our technique - each image will incorporate differently for everyone - and we need to practice accessing its coordinated bundle with consistency. The imagery should be an additional tool to help us recall the sensations of our practiced physical technique with more efficiency and ease. 

What imagery do you use and what technical skill does it help you access?

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