I have had a cold lately. Not doing much singing, but spending a lot of time thinking about what to do now. I am slow to organize my recital. I tried to contact Dulwich today but I akm having trouble with Hotmail. If not at Dulwich then I'm not sure where to hold the recital. I will pray for inspiration. Rob got our Itunes account up and running again, so I need to buy some of my recital pieces and do more listening.
I practiced piano several times in the past few days. Easy Bach is rewarding. I am listening to David Lucas Berg again and loving it. I am going to write more about that next time. It is too late tonight. It feels good to be back to the piano. It quiets my right brain. I love it.
I'm feeling patient with myself these days. I am grateful for my family. I am grateful to be able to do whatever I can do each day...for the detours. They are rewarding at the end ofthe day.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
what have I been doing
So I left Nashville, went back to Utah, and had a great time with Rob and the kids. We did a lot of travelling (you can read about that in the July archives on Our Nine). I didn't sing more than a few tongue twirls and lip rolls in the Provo townhouse. Maybe I missed the great acoustics in our Beijing house, maybe I just didn't want to wake up sleeping kids, maybe we were too busy eating great cheeseburgers, nachos, going to movies, shopping, chasing Grant.
Two Thursdays Rob drove me up to Centerville to have a lesson with a voice teacher named Katie Hill. She is an amazing person, a gifted singer, teacher, and pianist, an encyclopedia of facts and a fountain of insights. I studied with her for about a year or so when Rob was in Law School at the University of Utah. She is retired faculty from the U. We talked about singing into the hard pallette to sweeten the tone. We worked on Wie Melodien Zeit es Mir, talked about the translation and diction and making the notes smooth and connected. I was grateful for Rob and the kids' support with that.
I found a randomly lain (how do you spell that) (is that even a word) magazine at the checkout line at Smith's Yoga and Joyful Living. I thought it must be my destiny to buy it. I was fascinated. Aside from breathing and yoga techniques it had so many interesting articles about Indian culture and philosophy and religion. I read them and was impressed by how their beliefs helped give me a new way of looking at my own. I think developing a peaceful, quiet mind is so important as a singer. I want to spend more time practicing yoga and meditation.
So now the kids are back in school. I'm back to singing in my acoustically live kitchen and practicing with Jessie. We meet today. And, oh dread, back to facing the recital that I have been planning for too long. It just has to be okay to do it myself and not worry about it getting a stamp of approval from someone to be ready to share it. Jessie and I have an approximate date in mind. Next we need a venue.
Two Thursdays Rob drove me up to Centerville to have a lesson with a voice teacher named Katie Hill. She is an amazing person, a gifted singer, teacher, and pianist, an encyclopedia of facts and a fountain of insights. I studied with her for about a year or so when Rob was in Law School at the University of Utah. She is retired faculty from the U. We talked about singing into the hard pallette to sweeten the tone. We worked on Wie Melodien Zeit es Mir, talked about the translation and diction and making the notes smooth and connected. I was grateful for Rob and the kids' support with that.
I found a randomly lain (how do you spell that) (is that even a word) magazine at the checkout line at Smith's Yoga and Joyful Living. I thought it must be my destiny to buy it. I was fascinated. Aside from breathing and yoga techniques it had so many interesting articles about Indian culture and philosophy and religion. I read them and was impressed by how their beliefs helped give me a new way of looking at my own. I think developing a peaceful, quiet mind is so important as a singer. I want to spend more time practicing yoga and meditation.
So now the kids are back in school. I'm back to singing in my acoustically live kitchen and practicing with Jessie. We meet today. And, oh dread, back to facing the recital that I have been planning for too long. It just has to be okay to do it myself and not worry about it getting a stamp of approval from someone to be ready to share it. Jessie and I have an approximate date in mind. Next we need a venue.
Friday, July 17, 2009
pink skies
My last morning in Nashville. I stayed up until past midnight surfing reverbnation and thinking about the lessons. I think that and the long walks I took yesterday helped me sleep past the 3:30 am mark. It is about time to be over the jet lag! What a great thing to wake up to a pink sky at 5:45, a respectable time to be up and about.
It is exciting to have completed the first chapter in what I think could be a fascinating, entertaining, albeit expensive plan, to travel all over the world and meet with all the voice gurus that I can and then put things together for myself and dare I say...in years to come, become one myself. Is it bad to aspire to guru-dom? I am grateful that Rob is excited about my plan and supportive. He kept reminding me that this trip didn't need to be the end all be all, and that I should just go and have fun. That took a lot of pressure off.
So now, not as criticism but in terms of evaluation, and because I have given Singing Success quite a bit of free publicity to this blog's huge fanbase of three...thank you Mari, thankyou Mitzi Jo, thank you Mom, I really need to begin a more indepth briefing of my experiences. This may be the point where anyone reading decides to click next blog.
A trip to Nashville is always a fun idea. Everyone who I came in contact with at the airport along the way seemed to smile when they said 'going to Nashville today.' It just makes you think about fun times. Music Row is so pleasant, a kind of old-fashioned neighborhood setting, gently rolling streets, lilacs, big trees, songbirds, interesting buildings, historic and new. If you have stumbled upon this blog and you don't know that I have pictures on the Our Nine blog, I do, see Nashville post.
Brett Manning studios is a very friendly environment. It's very friendly and I won't say though I'll just say and clearly everyone is pre or more than pre-professional about a profession where image is almost everything, but still very kind and friendly. I can't stress the pleasant and friendly enough. I would even stress kind. And I would also stress image, again.
When I teach I always think about trying to give my students the most value from their lessons. (I have a lot of room for improvement in that area.) It makes sense that the pre-professional students at BMS would go in there looking for a commercial sound. In Nashville there is a lot of buzz about labels, producers, contracts, I would say a pre-occupation with them in this digital age of greater artistic freedom. But everyone wants to make money, even me with my nine lunch-money-needers, so I agreed that 'when in Nashville' looking for a commercial sound, for myself, would be a good place to focus during my five hours of lessons.
My teacher told me I had a great head voice, but that it wasn't a commercial sound. So, we spent a lot of time using the exercises to "find my more legitimate chest voice" and stay in it all the way up my range. That time was valuable, because whether or not I decide to abandon my head voice, don't worry mom I won't, I still have a desire to master as many vocal coordinations as I can, both for my own artisty and for teaching. So my objections, if any, were more philosophical than technical. I think if I really have a great head voice than I should never abandon it to have a more commercial sound...it's me... it's who I am as a singer. Who says I'll ever get paid a dime to sing? So I'd better sing in a way that I enjoy and that I feel expresses who I am. That's not to say I won't continue to explore and more edgy and contemporary sound. I just won't have "commercial" be the goal. Never, no, never.
Brett Manning has developed an amazing set of exercises. I think those execises, designed to keep the voice out of head voice and stretch the chest voice into the head voice range, using more compression on the vocal chords, actually do amazing things for the head voice. Once you decompress and allow head voice the voice feels amazingly flexible and effortless. I love the squeaky basketball shoes analogy...it is so helpful for accuracy on staccato notes.
I give a trip to Brett Manning Studios a big thumbs up, but it is not the last stop, and I would say go but take your own brain with you. Keep thinking. Keep being yourself. Enjoy the great atmosphere.
So now my goals are to go back and songwrite a bit. Dave Brooks promised it didn't need to be good, just do it to find out what my style is as a contemporary singer. I like that advice. Other goal: to continue using the Singing Success CDs and keep finding that contemporary sound.
Third goal: keep applying the technique to my classical songs, (third and a half: keep thinking about breathing..really honing that breathing technique) and fourth and most exciting start thinking about the next future adventure.
It is exciting to have completed the first chapter in what I think could be a fascinating, entertaining, albeit expensive plan, to travel all over the world and meet with all the voice gurus that I can and then put things together for myself and dare I say...in years to come, become one myself. Is it bad to aspire to guru-dom? I am grateful that Rob is excited about my plan and supportive. He kept reminding me that this trip didn't need to be the end all be all, and that I should just go and have fun. That took a lot of pressure off.
So now, not as criticism but in terms of evaluation, and because I have given Singing Success quite a bit of free publicity to this blog's huge fanbase of three...thank you Mari, thankyou Mitzi Jo, thank you Mom, I really need to begin a more indepth briefing of my experiences. This may be the point where anyone reading decides to click next blog.
A trip to Nashville is always a fun idea. Everyone who I came in contact with at the airport along the way seemed to smile when they said 'going to Nashville today.' It just makes you think about fun times. Music Row is so pleasant, a kind of old-fashioned neighborhood setting, gently rolling streets, lilacs, big trees, songbirds, interesting buildings, historic and new. If you have stumbled upon this blog and you don't know that I have pictures on the Our Nine blog, I do, see Nashville post.
Brett Manning studios is a very friendly environment. It's very friendly and I won't say though I'll just say and clearly everyone is pre or more than pre-professional about a profession where image is almost everything, but still very kind and friendly. I can't stress the pleasant and friendly enough. I would even stress kind. And I would also stress image, again.
When I teach I always think about trying to give my students the most value from their lessons. (I have a lot of room for improvement in that area.) It makes sense that the pre-professional students at BMS would go in there looking for a commercial sound. In Nashville there is a lot of buzz about labels, producers, contracts, I would say a pre-occupation with them in this digital age of greater artistic freedom. But everyone wants to make money, even me with my nine lunch-money-needers, so I agreed that 'when in Nashville' looking for a commercial sound, for myself, would be a good place to focus during my five hours of lessons.
My teacher told me I had a great head voice, but that it wasn't a commercial sound. So, we spent a lot of time using the exercises to "find my more legitimate chest voice" and stay in it all the way up my range. That time was valuable, because whether or not I decide to abandon my head voice, don't worry mom I won't, I still have a desire to master as many vocal coordinations as I can, both for my own artisty and for teaching. So my objections, if any, were more philosophical than technical. I think if I really have a great head voice than I should never abandon it to have a more commercial sound...it's me... it's who I am as a singer. Who says I'll ever get paid a dime to sing? So I'd better sing in a way that I enjoy and that I feel expresses who I am. That's not to say I won't continue to explore and more edgy and contemporary sound. I just won't have "commercial" be the goal. Never, no, never.
Brett Manning has developed an amazing set of exercises. I think those execises, designed to keep the voice out of head voice and stretch the chest voice into the head voice range, using more compression on the vocal chords, actually do amazing things for the head voice. Once you decompress and allow head voice the voice feels amazingly flexible and effortless. I love the squeaky basketball shoes analogy...it is so helpful for accuracy on staccato notes.
I give a trip to Brett Manning Studios a big thumbs up, but it is not the last stop, and I would say go but take your own brain with you. Keep thinking. Keep being yourself. Enjoy the great atmosphere.
So now my goals are to go back and songwrite a bit. Dave Brooks promised it didn't need to be good, just do it to find out what my style is as a contemporary singer. I like that advice. Other goal: to continue using the Singing Success CDs and keep finding that contemporary sound.
Third goal: keep applying the technique to my classical songs, (third and a half: keep thinking about breathing..really honing that breathing technique) and fourth and most exciting start thinking about the next future adventure.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
here I am in Nashville
This is a picture of the new symphony in Nashville (sorry I forgot the name.)
So here I am in Nashville. This all started when I went looking for voice lesson-related blogs on-line. I googled. I found many, mostly very dry. I found the Singing Success web-site. My first impression was...hmmm, looks pretty slick and commercial. But I kept looking. I forget what exactly impressed me the most. I was intrigued that they promised to increase your range by an octave and a half. I was impressed by the testimonials, from well-known names in the music industry, other things as well, the underlying philosophies. You can go read them for yourself. I chunked out the money and waited for the package.
In the meantime I began using my audio studio to record with Jessie. I did notice a difference in my songs as I listened to the CDs. Use less air I think was the most helpful suggestion. It is intriguing to me how the exercises designed to help more contemporary styled singers avoid using head voice actually made my head voice feel more free and effortless, when I returned to head voice singing.
So one day Rob started talking about an work-related trip to Xi'an and I started to feel like I needed the chance to do some exploring on my own too. It had been thirteen years, nine pregnancies, do I need to go on? Rob was immediately supportive. He has always encouraged me to find what made me happy. All our happiness can't be totally wrapped up in the family. That's too much pressure on them.
I was so enthusiastic about this Singing Success method that I wanted to come see where it all began, meet these guys, find out if I was following the method correctly. And I've never spent time in Nashville. I had thought about going out to meet Roger Love in LA but I've been there many times. I was more intrigued by Nashville.
So I have been to three out of the five hours of lessons that I bought with Dave Brooks. He is very kind and encouraging, and an extremely talented singer. We have worked on some interesting new exercises to bring my voice in to a more commercial sound, that is less vibrato and more chest voice in to the higher notes. We haven't approached at all the classical pieces. We've focused on my more com temporary sound...however we should call that. Do I love the very commercial compressed sound? I'm not sure. But I am happy to be able to learn how to do what other singers do. I've always wanted to be able to be versatile. I'm not sure that my popular sound is really that good. Dave suggested I write my own songs to find my voice and my style. Finding myself as a singer has definitely been on my mind. Writing songs...that's big homework.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
I am grateful to my friends and my family who went to my reverbnation page to listen to my recordings. Rob found reverbnation on-line. We used it to power my songs for my blog. I wasn't concerned about chart positions. But after we made the new recordings I felt ready to invite friends to see the page. It's been fun to watch my position go from about 450 to number 65, today. I'm not sure what to do next...now that I've troubled my friends to go listen. Wait for inspiration, I guess.
I've been preoccupied with getting ready for our trip, both packing and thinking about preparing for the lessons in Nashville.
Tuesday Jessie came out to Shunyi. We are still rehearsing our songs for our recital in the fall. They are starting to feel more polished. Memorizing is a trick for my brain!
I was grateful that Rob sent the my invitation e-mail around work. His co-worker, and friend from church, suggested that we prepare an evening of folk songs to sing for Chinese college students. So Rob and I need to start working on that. We can gather some material in the States.
I've been preoccupied with getting ready for our trip, both packing and thinking about preparing for the lessons in Nashville.
Tuesday Jessie came out to Shunyi. We are still rehearsing our songs for our recital in the fall. They are starting to feel more polished. Memorizing is a trick for my brain!
I was grateful that Rob sent the my invitation e-mail around work. His co-worker, and friend from church, suggested that we prepare an evening of folk songs to sing for Chinese college students. So Rob and I need to start working on that. We can gather some material in the States.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
helpful kids
The kids were so cute today. I asked them to pick partners and do homeschool. They couldn't decide who to pair up with so they made stations so everybody could have a turn to work with the other. What does this have to do with this blog? I actually had a big chunk of time to sing up for singing success on-line. So I got to watch some recorded lessons. I like it better than real lessons. Instead of having to sit there and look interested and polite and can listen and do sit-ups or something else useful. My multi-tasker's dream! William rolled around on the floor to keep me company.
Yesterday I went to a local recording studio to record the music that I've been working on with Jessie. I have pictures but I'm too tired to post them now. It was a lot of fun and hard work too. I haven't been able to hear the finished product yet. Looking forward to that.
Yesterday I went to a local recording studio to record the music that I've been working on with Jessie. I have pictures but I'm too tired to post them now. It was a lot of fun and hard work too. I haven't been able to hear the finished product yet. Looking forward to that.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
no more big chunks
I look at last week and how busy I was, just keeping up with everyone at home, and I feel grateful that I was able to practice as much as I did. A couple of reasons...my wonderfully helpful son Sam was cooking and helping out. The other kids keep Caitlin and Grant entertained. And I followed some advise from the Artist's Way; stop looking for big chunks of time. When I thought about practicing...piano, guitar or singing I just did it, even just a few scales or one song.
I got to the third vibrato CD and found it very helpful. The excerizes aren't fun because vibrato is such a tricky thing...but I can apply them to the arias and they seem to help. I also did a lot of breathing exercizes that I made up myself while doing some similiarly self-made-up yoga positions, pulled a few muscles, but kept up with it. I hope they help! I'd like to be a good breather. Haha.
I've been trying to "coerce" some original material out of myself...not with much success. But today I made some progress on a piece of music I am arranging from a friend's hymn. We'll see.
I got to the third vibrato CD and found it very helpful. The excerizes aren't fun because vibrato is such a tricky thing...but I can apply them to the arias and they seem to help. I also did a lot of breathing exercizes that I made up myself while doing some similiarly self-made-up yoga positions, pulled a few muscles, but kept up with it. I hope they help! I'd like to be a good breather. Haha.
I've been trying to "coerce" some original material out of myself...not with much success. But today I made some progress on a piece of music I am arranging from a friend's hymn. We'll see.
Monday, June 15, 2009
First week of summer vacation
I've made it to the end of the 12 CDs and I've moved on to the vibrato CDs. I'm going to listen to it either while making dinner, or organizing my drawer, which ever comes first. I went on the Singing Success website and spent some times reading the tips of the week. I think I will join Singing Success on-line after I finish the CDs and DVD.
My appointments and reservations for plane and hotel are all scheduled...thanks to my "manager" Rob. He is very supportive and I am very grateful for that. I am excited but now a bit concerned about doing all that I can to prepare..so I don't get tips that are already in the back of my mind. I want to do the things I am thinking about doing now...so they can give me new suggestions.
So material is a big issue for me and just knowing what style to move towards.
My appointments and reservations for plane and hotel are all scheduled...thanks to my "manager" Rob. He is very supportive and I am very grateful for that. I am excited but now a bit concerned about doing all that I can to prepare..so I don't get tips that are already in the back of my mind. I want to do the things I am thinking about doing now...so they can give me new suggestions.
So material is a big issue for me and just knowing what style to move towards.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
style CDs
This week I focused on the style CDs. I particularly like the lessons on improvising over chord progressions.
I set up appointments for voice lessons in Nashville. Now to make the other arrangements.
I managed to practice guitar several times during the week.
I need to be better about keeping up with the classical practice. I also want to prepare program notes for the next time we perform the recital.
I set up appointments for voice lessons in Nashville. Now to make the other arrangements.
I managed to practice guitar several times during the week.
I need to be better about keeping up with the classical practice. I also want to prepare program notes for the next time we perform the recital.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
grateful for friends and family
I am grateful that the recital went well. I have happy memories of preparing the room, buying flowers with Sam and the kids, making banana bread and cookies and buying juice and cups. The room looked so spacious and clean. I turned Grandpa Alden’s picture in my direction….also thinking of Uncle Ed and knowing my mom would
love to be there as well. I am grateful for supportive parents, husband and children, and the sweet friends who took the time to come.
There were a few songs that made me feel a bit nervous. I felt like I had too much weight to carry them off gracefully. I need to lighten up a bit on them or maybe practice them more. I am thinking of the Dove Sono especially. I always wish that it were over when I’m only mid-way through. Heavy songs that don’t move much are what I need help with.
I moved on to CD#7. I am excited that it is a bit more challenging. I didn’t finish it all before getting tired…it was almost eleven o’clock at night. I’ll go back to it today.
I am eager to hear back from BMS…excited to set up an appointment for lessons.
love to be there as well. I am grateful for supportive parents, husband and children, and the sweet friends who took the time to come.
There were a few songs that made me feel a bit nervous. I felt like I had too much weight to carry them off gracefully. I need to lighten up a bit on them or maybe practice them more. I am thinking of the Dove Sono especially. I always wish that it were over when I’m only mid-way through. Heavy songs that don’t move much are what I need help with.
I moved on to CD#7. I am excited that it is a bit more challenging. I didn’t finish it all before getting tired…it was almost eleven o’clock at night. I’ll go back to it today.
I am eager to hear back from BMS…excited to set up an appointment for lessons.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
one day to my living room recital
I have had a hard time getting myself motivated to practice the arias for the recital tomorrow. Maybe its because I've been working on them for over a year now so I don't feel the need to cram. I also didn't want to wear my voice out and there's the whole time constraint thing.
In the morning I put on CD#6 again, I didn't want to focus on new things since I am performing tomorrow. I really find the last few exercises a good challenge. Practicing keeping the edge in the head voice helps me maintain a sensitivity even when I go legit on the classical pieces.
I have been pleased that I haven't felt my usual pre-performance feelings of dread....just kind of eager. Now I am getting a little nervous because I just watched Susan Boyle perform Memory on Youtube and felt both excited by her performance and vicarious nervousness. Also, Sam is riding the overnight train with his sixth grade class tonight. They are coming home from their trip to Shanghai. So I feel a little anxious about that. But I feel fairly confident that after a few songs I will feel comfortable. It was great to see Susan Boyle overcome her few moments of stage fright and really give a powerful performance with great connection to the audience. The smile on her face was like she was sharing it with one person...very honest.
I practiced guitar and sang today for William and got a few scales on the piano in before the kids started getting up for school. Tonight I made a ton of banana bread (tomorrow I'll make cookies) for the recital. We moved the furniture around in the music room so the piano is in the right direction etc. I practiced ebben n'ndro lontano a little and listened to the itunes version....I forgot the woman's name.
In the morning I put on CD#6 again, I didn't want to focus on new things since I am performing tomorrow. I really find the last few exercises a good challenge. Practicing keeping the edge in the head voice helps me maintain a sensitivity even when I go legit on the classical pieces.
I have been pleased that I haven't felt my usual pre-performance feelings of dread....just kind of eager. Now I am getting a little nervous because I just watched Susan Boyle perform Memory on Youtube and felt both excited by her performance and vicarious nervousness. Also, Sam is riding the overnight train with his sixth grade class tonight. They are coming home from their trip to Shanghai. So I feel a little anxious about that. But I feel fairly confident that after a few songs I will feel comfortable. It was great to see Susan Boyle overcome her few moments of stage fright and really give a powerful performance with great connection to the audience. The smile on her face was like she was sharing it with one person...very honest.
I practiced guitar and sang today for William and got a few scales on the piano in before the kids started getting up for school. Tonight I made a ton of banana bread (tomorrow I'll make cookies) for the recital. We moved the furniture around in the music room so the piano is in the right direction etc. I practiced ebben n'ndro lontano a little and listened to the itunes version....I forgot the woman's name.
Monday, May 25, 2009
more CD#6
My access to Blogger has been off and on so I haven't written much lately.
I have been going over CD #6 and the second style CD lately.
It interests me that the exercizes help my classical sound as well. Even the ones that are designed for the more popular sound.
I managed to get to the piano this morning...just for about fifteen minutes of scales. Then the field trip, then I played guitar and sang for about one hour while Caitlin played nearby. I've started into CD#6 but got distracted by baby William. I'll try to get back to that. One morer day until my open house/ recital. I hope a few people will come.
I e-mailed BMS about coming out for a visit in the summer.
I have been going over CD #6 and the second style CD lately.
It interests me that the exercizes help my classical sound as well. Even the ones that are designed for the more popular sound.
I managed to get to the piano this morning...just for about fifteen minutes of scales. Then the field trip, then I played guitar and sang for about one hour while Caitlin played nearby. I've started into CD#6 but got distracted by baby William. I'll try to get back to that. One morer day until my open house/ recital. I hope a few people will come.
I e-mailed BMS about coming out for a visit in the summer.
Monday, May 18, 2009
digrastic muscles
Tuesday I put on the Singing Success CD#6 while I made shepherd's pie for dinner. So here are some notes.
-rapid scales help build agility and vocal freedom, free up tension in the neck, sing through the bridges without consonants
-sustain vibrato above the bridges
wee wee, pure head voice to chest voice
a "a shading exercize"
could change to gwee
squeaky head to chest voice, use edgy sound to keep from breaking into falsetto
digrastic muscles- disengage outer muscles of larynx
vocal chords vibrate freely
squeaky sound to open vowel sound
cancel out outer muscles
my voice is going legit-not staying edgy
Later I practiced Ebben n'andro lontano
-rapid scales help build agility and vocal freedom, free up tension in the neck, sing through the bridges without consonants
-sustain vibrato above the bridges
wee wee, pure head voice to chest voice
a "a shading exercize"
could change to gwee
squeaky head to chest voice, use edgy sound to keep from breaking into falsetto
digrastic muscles- disengage outer muscles of larynx
vocal chords vibrate freely
squeaky sound to open vowel sound
cancel out outer muscles
my voice is going legit-not staying edgy
Later I practiced Ebben n'andro lontano
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
almost out of hiding
Saturday morning Rob went off for a jog. I tried to do some writing as the entropy began. We were all kind of half diapered, half fed etc. My Saturday morning voice student arrived unexpectedly. I had kind of given up thinking that the high school kids had reached that busy time of year. Two of them came. I was glad to have the chance to go over some of the new exercises. I didn't feel focused or prepared though. And there was much chaos in the house. We did our best.
This week I reviewed CD #4 and 5 and the style CD. Here are some notes:
"Drinking up the sound"
"chest to middle to head- no pushing or pulling" "tone thins out and releases"
I like the mum for bringing down the larynx, yawn to feel it drop, open the resonating cavities, mouth, head and throat
slightly dopey sound
The no no no on a long scale encourages the head voice because it is narrow. Broad vowels pull you down to chest.
nueh good for mixed
I made my flyer for the mini recital I want to do. I'll attach it...now to actually show it to someone who could come. I need to reconfirm with Jessie today and send it out as an e-mail after. Now to practice these songs...the time?
Rob made a great contact at work. I'd been praying to know how we could learn more about recording. He met a man who does recording at local universities. Great! We want to get any experience we can. I can't wait to learn more about this.
This week I reviewed CD #4 and 5 and the style CD. Here are some notes:
"Drinking up the sound"
"chest to middle to head- no pushing or pulling" "tone thins out and releases"
I like the mum for bringing down the larynx, yawn to feel it drop, open the resonating cavities, mouth, head and throat
slightly dopey sound
The no no no on a long scale encourages the head voice because it is narrow. Broad vowels pull you down to chest.
nueh good for mixed
I made my flyer for the mini recital I want to do. I'll attach it...now to actually show it to someone who could come. I need to reconfirm with Jessie today and send it out as an e-mail after. Now to practice these songs...the time?
Rob made a great contact at work. I'd been praying to know how we could learn more about recording. He met a man who does recording at local universities. Great! We want to get any experience we can. I can't wait to learn more about this.
Friday, May 8, 2009
tongue twirls
I went back to the third Singing Successes CD. My high note now is g above high c. I didn't really imagine that his exercises would go above that. The soprano sings up to c above high c. Pretty amazing. I'm trying to think about releasing to get higher.
I am in love with the tongue twirl. I've never done this before. Bethany, loves it too. At first I couldn't do them on breath. I had to focus on keeping my breath flow smooth and consistent to keep the twirl going. I think about the tongue twirl when I am singing arias to keep the sound free and spinning.
I also love the nasty sounding 'ne' for closing the vocal chords properly. This is a popular style exercise but it helps the classical too. I don't know how to explain why right now.
The emphasis is on 'the least amount of strain'. I think singing should be vicariously relaxing for the listener...or releasing if the mood calls for it.
I am in love with the tongue twirl. I've never done this before. Bethany, loves it too. At first I couldn't do them on breath. I had to focus on keeping my breath flow smooth and consistent to keep the twirl going. I think about the tongue twirl when I am singing arias to keep the sound free and spinning.
I also love the nasty sounding 'ne' for closing the vocal chords properly. This is a popular style exercise but it helps the classical too. I don't know how to explain why right now.
The emphasis is on 'the least amount of strain'. I think singing should be vicariously relaxing for the listener...or releasing if the mood calls for it.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
my notes on the first CD
Its been several weeks since I started listening to the Brett Manning Singing Success CDs. I've gone through about four CDs, still appreciating them very much. Its a great way for me to learn. I don't have a teacher available. I don't have a lot of free time. I get anxious doing just one thing. I have the CDs in the kitchen so I actually look forward to doing dishes and cooking because I know I can listen and sing along.
Tonight I went back and listened to the first CD again. I decided I wanted to go through them one time again, taking notes, before I go on to the other technique and style CDs. I wrote down a few things. These are my notes.
-Speech level singing
-importance of "the God given unique facial structure" gives us our own resonance or unique sound
-different coordinations make different sounds...i.e. chest, middle, head
-middle voice has "deeper vocal chord compression" and an "edgier sound"
-inner and outer larynx muscles..use inner to sing with less effort
-deliniation...gradual blend
-when larynx is too tight we are using the swallowing
muscles..want to find a middle ground
-don't lift soft pallet too high...don't want to distort natural bell shape
-if voice lacks power..don't shout...don't force the voice "let it blossom"
Tonight I went back and listened to the first CD again. I decided I wanted to go through them one time again, taking notes, before I go on to the other technique and style CDs. I wrote down a few things. These are my notes.
-Speech level singing
-importance of "the God given unique facial structure" gives us our own resonance or unique sound
-different coordinations make different sounds...i.e. chest, middle, head
-middle voice has "deeper vocal chord compression" and an "edgier sound"
-inner and outer larynx muscles..use inner to sing with less effort
-deliniation...gradual blend
-when larynx is too tight we are using the swallowing
muscles..want to find a middle ground
-don't lift soft pallet too high...don't want to distort natural bell shape
-if voice lacks power..don't shout...don't force the voice "let it blossom"
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
my first tunepack widget
This is the first widget we created from reverbnation. Jessie and I recorded it on April 15, 2009.
Okay, my comments. The Fantasticks is my favorite musical. I find myself thinking about "plant a radish get a radish not a brussel sprout" in regards to my own children. Soon its gonna Rain has been our bedtime song for a few years. I wish I could make good recording of it, if only for posterity.
Quel Guardo il Cavaliere....not such a great beginning. I wish I could feel more confident and have a smooth consistent vibrato. I hope it sounds better live...my recording limitations may be even greater than my vocal limitations. The high notes felt better than they sounded. There again I am inexperienced with recording, especially classical. The little tantrum in the background is my sweet daughter, Mary, who is home early on Wednesdays. I am committed to leaving household sounds in the background for authenticity...but I had to cut out my own tantrum...if you want to be a nicer parent just record yourself talking to your children...
The first song, A Hard Rain is Gonna Fall, is something I recorded with my husband. He loves Bob Dylan. I don't think I'll go on and on here about the others. I'll just hope to see some improvements in my next recordings.
(This widget is having issues. You can find a working player on my other blog.. our nine.)
Okay, my comments. The Fantasticks is my favorite musical. I find myself thinking about "plant a radish get a radish not a brussel sprout" in regards to my own children. Soon its gonna Rain has been our bedtime song for a few years. I wish I could make good recording of it, if only for posterity.
Quel Guardo il Cavaliere....not such a great beginning. I wish I could feel more confident and have a smooth consistent vibrato. I hope it sounds better live...my recording limitations may be even greater than my vocal limitations. The high notes felt better than they sounded. There again I am inexperienced with recording, especially classical. The little tantrum in the background is my sweet daughter, Mary, who is home early on Wednesdays. I am committed to leaving household sounds in the background for authenticity...but I had to cut out my own tantrum...if you want to be a nicer parent just record yourself talking to your children...
The first song, A Hard Rain is Gonna Fall, is something I recorded with my husband. He loves Bob Dylan. I don't think I'll go on and on here about the others. I'll just hope to see some improvements in my next recordings.
(This widget is having issues. You can find a working player on my other blog.. our nine.)
A package from Nashville!
April 8, 2009
My first day to listen to the Brett Manning Singing Success vocal system I ordered on-line. Rob was a missionary in Tennessee. We’ve traveled through several times. We both love it. So we were happy to get a package from Nashville. So far I am really pleased with his philosophy…inclusive. His style is entertaining and informative…in fact, I will need to listen to the part I listened to this morning several times to be sure that I’ve understood everything.
He talked about using zipping up to high notes, a technique I also read about in Roger Love’s Set your voice free. It works for me. Also, he spoke about using less air to move through the registers. I didn’t listen to as much as I would like because I needed to get moving on to other parts of the house…the kitchen, my practice room, was clean. I can’t wait to hear some new exercises.
Jessie came today and I concentrated on using less air. I am eager to smoothen out my vibrato…just to make the sound less tense and more pleasing to the ear…like Alison Krauss..only opera.
My first day to listen to the Brett Manning Singing Success vocal system I ordered on-line. Rob was a missionary in Tennessee. We’ve traveled through several times. We both love it. So we were happy to get a package from Nashville. So far I am really pleased with his philosophy…inclusive. His style is entertaining and informative…in fact, I will need to listen to the part I listened to this morning several times to be sure that I’ve understood everything.
He talked about using zipping up to high notes, a technique I also read about in Roger Love’s Set your voice free. It works for me. Also, he spoke about using less air to move through the registers. I didn’t listen to as much as I would like because I needed to get moving on to other parts of the house…the kitchen, my practice room, was clean. I can’t wait to hear some new exercises.
Jessie came today and I concentrated on using less air. I am eager to smoothen out my vibrato…just to make the sound less tense and more pleasing to the ear…like Alison Krauss..only opera.
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