Over the years, in developing several stars, we have used a term called “box breaking” to help empower singers to go to the next level. In the performing arts community, there could be different terms used for this with the same intent and goals. As a student of the Australian National Theatre several years ago under the guidance of Joan Harris (OAM), I was privileged to learn many of these skills in “the performance and movement course for singers,” many of the techniques which I use to build elite-level singers today.

Box breaking is the process of releasing and breaking the shackles of negative thinking, breaking the shackles of being physically and emotionally closed or shut down.

Sadly, most singers come into classes around the country and world with limited confidence, a poor mindset, very physically closed in, unable to move, perform, breathe properly, project, and lack dynamics.

It is almost like an invisible but tangible box has created this incredible barrier that suppresses the potential and greatness in an individual.

The greatest singers and actors in the world are able to move and engage audiences on a whole other level. The greatest artists and performers have a brand, a strong sense of identity, confidence, and have this ability to produce magical performance after magical performance, write hit song after hit song. They also often hit incredible notes or produce sounds and vocal embellishments others struggle to produce.

This is the goal of artist development: to “release and free” the singer to reach their full potential. It is where the somewhat generic singer starts evolving into the artist with their own sound, brand, confidence, and strong sense of identity.

This is achieved by a variety of exercises, including relaxation exercises, meditation, and various stretching and movement protocols, many used in some of the leading acting and performing arts schools in the world.

We also incorporate Gospel music as a box breaking tool to free and release artists.

As the singer learns to develop a positive mindset, habits of champions, and also to relax and get physically free, they often explode as artists exponentially.

“We would have no stars or national champions if we simply had to rely on a scales-only approach.”

“Freeing and releasing” is the key ingredient to going deeper to release what I call the “giant within”—the national champion, the recording artist, the world-class singer, or even professional singer. The “art of the heart” is truly a metamorphosis from being closed in to being free to fulfill the potential inside, the greatness inside each one of us.

We have used this approach for nearly four decades to unleash the potential and awaken giants in so many individuals.