The Talking Traveller

Last weekend I had my first experience of an activity that is extremely popular in Taiwan as well as in mainland China. This is the fun experience of a karaoke session. Frequently during my scooter rides through the buzzing city I notice signs with the letters K-TV written on them, this means Karaoke – Television. My Taiwanese friend and I met up in front of a big building that had the feeling of a very smart hotel. After some initial astonishment I eventually made peace that this is actually a karaoke house! We were escorted by formally dressed assistants into our private room. There we were welcomed by leather couches, a wide screen plasma-TV, a booming sound system and two high-quality microphones. On the table lay the karaoke guide as well as a remote with which you can select the song you wish to sing. Also, in the corner of the room was a stand-alone keypad with a screen which you can also use to choose a song. It started with a bang and four hours later I had sung numerous hits ranging from artists such as Elvis, Wham, Backstreet Boys, Phil Collins, Michael Jackson and even a Madonna somewhere. Let’s just say that the experience taught me that I can be a great entertainer with certain songs, and also that I should really carefully judge which songs NOT to sing, for the sake of my own ears and those of my companions :) .

Of course it is also a widely known fact that PWS (persons who stutter/stammer), do not stutter when they sing. And I think that Gareth Gates has made this fact even further known. The reasons behind that I have not yet fully heard explained (or maybe just cannot recall). From my own experience and understanding I think there are numerous physical and psychological reasons. First of all the breathing of a singer is much stronger and more deliberately controlled, and a different part of the diaphragm is used. The same part of the diaphragm that the McGuire-program focuses on. This causes air to flow much stronger and smoother over the vocal chords and that prevents any speech blocks from occurring. I also believe that a different brain functions, and even more brain functions are used when singing as rhythm, resonance, melody, volume etc is much more complex that in normal conversation. From the psychological and emotional side I can personally say that singing has always been a fun, liberating experience to me. The are no feelings of stress, anxiety, fear or any other negative feedback or associations. I can say that singing, even to myself, has always been a effective way to convey truth.

If there are any PWS or knowledgeable individuals reading this that can add to my understanding of singing and stammering please do, and if I am providing erroneous information or conclusions please help me to become aware of them, to learn from them. And to all the other caring individuals I know that you are thinking "Well, then why doesn't a PWS just sing out everything he wants to say!". I, and I'm sure other PWS, have had this honest advice given to us numerous times. The fact is that it will work, but .......... think about social acceptance and embarrassment.....imagine that you have to choose between singing or stammering in front of a total stranger, quite a choice isn't it?

I give to you two exhibits for today, the first photograph proves that I am in Taiwan, teaching small angels, and happy to do it. The second should convince anyone of the emotions I experience when I finally hit that perfect note!