When I was young, I loved music, theater, and art. I was always expressive, but never wanted to be the center of attention. I wanted a supporting role, to be a member of an ensemble, but not to be in the spotlight. I was terrified of showing myself to an audience. At one point in time, I was so afraid to sing that I would visibly shake, and would often be in tears after a performance, because my anxiety severely limited what I could share with an audience.
I was overly concerned about other people’s expectations of me. When I went to auditions, I was embarrassed if I was rejected. To pursue a career meant that I needed to be successful, whatever it took. No one pressured me more than myself. I put everyone’s expectations on me, not that which was actually given, but all of the imaginary expectations I could conjure up in my head. This, as you might imagine, was not very helpful.
My conservatory studies taught me a great deal, but it was contemporary music that finally began to liberate me from myself. Extended vocal techniques and improvisation taught me to listen to myself and my environment. Mindfulness helped me to develop a deeper connection with my breath and body. When I developed a better sense of all that I was holding and learned how to release the tension, then WOW!, my voice exploded - opening up in size, depth, color, and range. Now I have had the privilege of performing as a soloist throughout our amazing country and internationally with innovative artists from all over the world, and work with the fabulous students at University at Buffalo where I teach.
I am no longer tied down by imaginary expectations of other people. I have empowered myself to be my own artist. I make "beautiful" and "ugly" sounds without concern of which is which, because I now see how that which might seem ugly in one light can create exquisite beauty in another. I think of myself as a sound painter more than a singer, singing colors and textures in place of notes on a page.
As a singer, I have often heard, “I wish I could sing, but I can’t.” Everyone can sing, but unfortunately, some are too filled with fear to make their voices be heard. This goes beyond singing into personal expression in everyday life. Too many voices are repressed.
My path has not been easy. It has been filled with much anxiety and fear. Now I can look back and see what I have accomplished, and I am filled with gratitude for where my journey has taken me. It has been an incredibly empowering process, and I want to share it with others. I hope that you will join me at the Expression and Creativity Experimental Learning Laboratory so that I can share it with you!
-Dr. Tiffany Du Mouchelle
This program is designed to be applicable to everyone. While many of its first principles were developed through my work with the students at my university, the exercises are valuable to everyone, regardless of previous experience. The program focuses on connecting with each individual's inner creative artist and helps that artist find a voice. It is valuable for those who are active in the arts, those who dream about becoming artists, people who are interested in being more creative and in tune with their desires, those who have difficulty speaking up for themselves or identifying what they want, and many more.
I founded EX.C.E.L.L. in hopes to help people liberate their creative voices. As a professional singer and teacher, I have helped many students gain the skills to become professional artists. I have also encountered many blocked artists, people who wish to sing or create, but who find themselves limited for one reason or another. I have found that many of the same issues that I work on with my professional singers are the same issues that blocked creatives encounter: a disconnect with their inner creative artist; diminished self esteem; tension; misalignment; fear; etc. I don't believe that some people are creative and others aren't. I believe that creativity is an integral part of human nature, but that many aspects of our society hinder our creative natures. Most people who "can't" are really blocked creatives who have just as much potential as any professional artist. The issue isn't one of talent. The question is: how do we help an inner creative entity that has been repeatedly told that they "can't" to finally realize that they "can"?
Participants engage in a variety of creative exercises that are intended to challenge their perspective. Rather than seeing what you can't do, you will identify what you already have. Exercises include sound and body work, creative writing, drawing, and visualization. Each session combines multiple sensory experiences based upon a theme, helping participants come to deep realizations about their creative intentions, including what inspires them and what holds them back. Through this process of realization, participants develop a personal pathway towards artistic fulfillment.
Performance is not the purpose of this workshop. For each exercise, participants will be given a variety of ways to participate to ensure that they are comfortable. In identifying what makes us uncomfortable and facing it, we become stronger. In this safe space participants are encouraged to challenge their personal boundaries of what is normal, comfortable, etc. without fear of judgement.
Participants will learn exercises to help open their creative pathways. They will identify habits in posture and thinking that repress their creative potential, and develop a personalized process to defy this repression and open them up to new growth and possibilities.