Technique and theory must become embodied
When performing, the practitioner shouldn’t think about technique or theory—that’s what practice is for. Practice is for exercising technique until it becomes embodied, until it becomes a feeling. This is especially helpful for singing. Marian taught me not to listen to or think about my voice but to feel my voice.
When the brain is learning new things, it creates a new perception-and-response behavioral pattern. These patterns become stronger the more you use them by a process is called myelination. Myelin is a fatty substance that coats nerve axons to increase the rate at which they transmit electrical signals.^[ The Science of Practice: New Ways to Develop Your Musical Skills] This is what some people call “muscle memory.”
In the same way, Theory is for practice.