Singing as a Path to Well-Being and Connection
The Power of Singing in Waldorf Education: Discover Your Supple Voice
Singing is more than just an artistic endeavor—it’s a powerful tool for well-being, connection, and inspiration. For those inspired by Waldorf education, cultivating a healthy, expressive voice can enhance classroom dynamics, nurture both teachers and students, and foster deep connections within families.
Rudolf Steiner highlighted the transformative power of singing, describing it as a means of aligning the physical and energetic bodies. In this blog post, we explore how singing can create a harmonious environment in the classroom, strengthen relationships, and help parents connect more deeply with their children.
At A Supple Voice Singing School, we invite you to unlock the true potential of your voice—whether for teaching, parenting, or personal growth. Through gentle, soul-centered practices, discover how your supple voice can bring clarity, warmth, and resonance into every interaction.
Read more about how singing can inspire transformation in your life and how to begin your journey towards a more confident, connected, and expressive voice.
Originally Published in Waldorf Today Newsletter January 13, 2025
A Supple Start to 2025 Illuminating the New Year Through Song
“What a Wonderful World”: A Song for These Times
When What a Wonderful World was written in 1967, the world was in a state of upheaval. War, civil unrest, and division filled the headlines. Amid the noise and chaos, a small group of creators dared to bring something radically different into the world—a song of reverence, wonder, and hope.
Creating this song was no simple task. Louis Armstrong, a jazz legend in his twilight years, poured his soul into it despite opposition from record executives and logistical challenges. Against the backdrop of societal discord, the song’s creators held a clear vision: to unite people in appreciation of the beauty all around us, even in the midst of hardship.
Today, we find ourselves in a similar time of division and uncertainty. How can we meet this moment? Perhaps, like Armstrong and the creators of this timeless song, we can choose to listen deeply, cherish beauty, and create connections.
Why this song Matters Now
This song reminds us to notice the small miracles around us—trees of green, red roses, blue skies, and the kindness of people. It invites us to listen, not just with our ears, but with our hearts. In a time when conversations often feel like battles, this kind of listening is a radical act.
Singing this song is more than reciting its words; it’s an act of connection. When we sing, we practice listening—not just to the melody, but to ourselves, the space around us, and the tone that emerges. Valborg Werbeck-Svärdström, founder of the School of Uncovering the Voice, calls this expectant listening. It’s a way of listening that is open, curious, and free of judgment.
This kind of listening is essential for healing the divides in our world. It allows us to truly hear one another and hold space for something new to be born in our relationships.
The Musical Wicked and the Journey to Uncovering Your True Voice
The Musical Wicked and the Journey to Uncovering Your True Voice
The story of Wicked speaks deeply to the journey we embark upon in Uncovering the Voice. For me, the tale of Elphaba and Glinda is not just an entertaining narrative—it's a reflection of the profound struggles we face when stepping into the truth of who we are, especially when that truth is unconventional, raw, and misunderstood by others.
When we meet Glinda at the beginning of the story, she is a character very much connected to her identity. She is popular, admired, and focused on being perceived as "good." She doesn't like Elphaba at first, seeing her as a threat, an outsider who doesn't fit the mold. But something changes when Elphaba, despite everything, does an unexpected kindness for Glinda—helping her gain entry into a class she desperately wanted to be in. This simple act of kindness opens Glinda to the possibility that there may be more to Elphaba than she initially thought. She begins to question, to stretch beyond her superficial perceptions, and in doing so, she steps into the beginning of a journey of higher consciousness. This middle level of awakening is what we call Astral Consciousness—it is where someone is willing to question, sacrifice, doubt, and evolve, though it still carries some degree of self-interest.