The Study Of Illusion In Vocal Performance

In singing, singers have not only correct perceptions, but also incorrect or even distorted perceptions, about which they are often confused. They just can't explain where those perceptual illusions come from and how to handle them during their singing. Therefore, they have misconception about psychological phenomenon and its vocal physiology, resulting in their vague understanding of certain vocal conceptions and theories, which consequently affects their process of learning vocal music.The paper attempts to make a deep and systemic analysis of perceptual illusions in vocal performance by exploring its roots psychologically, physiologically and philosophically. It comes to the conclusion that those illusions have the characteristic of being universal, occasional, periodic, misleading, controllable, unavoidable and utilizable. The paper first presents the concept of helpful illusion and unhelpful illusion, and then makes a contrastive study of their concrete examples in vocal performance. It makes a detailed analysis of how to overcome those unhelpful illusions and make full use of those helpful ones. Through employing the theory of illusion, the paper explains in great detail some confusing and controversial vocal terms, in the hope that it will help learners understand vocal terms and theories easily and handle problems in performance successfully. Helpful illusion and Unhelpful illusion both play an important role in the process of learning. Learner's overcoming of unhelpful illusion is a process of improving their vocal music while helpful illusion is essential to a good performance.Therefore, the study of perceptual illusion can help learners better understand the relationship between the vocal physiology and its psychology, which leads to the learner's improved control of vocal physiology. It is sure to play an increasingly important role in vocal performance and vocal music teaching.