July 2011
48 posts
musicahumana asked: Just a few thoughts from my limited reading on vocal pedagogy and production.
Pulling in your gut doesn't change the diaphragm. It's a voluntary muscle. Stiffening the abdominal walls gives support to the breathing mechanism and allows the singer to control the function of the lungs more freely.
I'd recommend reading The Functional Unity of the Singing...
Pulling in your gut doesn't change the diaphragm. It's a voluntary muscle. Stiffening the abdominal walls gives support to the breathing mechanism and allows the singer to control the function of the lungs more freely.
I'd recommend reading The Functional Unity of the Singing...
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Since I'm not the most eloquent writers...
I found some quotes supporting my training with breath technique.
But, I couldn’t find any that support the other school of thought (contracting your low abdominals in while losing breath) Who wants to find them for me???
“In order to maintain the air flowing up from the lung, the inhaling muscles have to remain in expansion and which will form the breath supporting or diaphragm...
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It should always be staged this way →
June 2011
64 posts
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For a singer, learning new music
Is like opening presents on Christmas morning
For a singer, translating new music
Is like french kissing The Grinch
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I wonder why I curse so much... →
Oh yea, I watched this show everyday for 2 years straight
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I should start selling out... →
…and do only “Italian” themed recitals/concerts
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American folk sung classically. I can dig it. →
Jake Heggie has an arrangement to this song I want to get my paws on
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I’m thinking of trying a “Baked Alaska” for 4th of July.
It may be my downfall.
Should I try it?
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I can't wait. Liza is on one of the promos. →
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Since a lot of my followers are classical...
I have a question for you all!
I’ve been aware for only about a year now of the “two schools of thought” when it comes to breath support.
1. (The one I practice) While losing air keeping diaphragm and chest pushed out and buoyant
and
2. While losing air physical pushing/pulling air up/in from your lower abdomen.
But it was only until this past month I actually was in lessons...
londonhope asked: I absolutely love your blog! I am a struggling young soprano in college trying to find the motivation to keep going in a world where nobody has your back. Thanks for being an inspiration to me :)
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One of my favorite things at the moment →
The Portsmouth Sinfornia
I can’t explain this magic, go to their wiki page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsmouth_Sinfonia
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Dear Juilliard,
First of all let me start by saying I love you and thank you for creating me.
When I first auditioned for you and you made me crawl around on the ground acting like an Elephant while reciting Titania’s monologue, I had a feeling you were testing me…
Then I knew the second time I paid you 100.00 to notice me and you rejected my pre-screen, things were a bit rocky (I admit, my...
Comments from teachers this month about my voice
“Your voice is metallic” “You don’t need a coaching you need a voice lesson” “Its an interesting sound” “Its big” and my favorite “Youre a good actor”
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Hey 70 followers! Happy Pride! →
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If you've got the money honey, I've got the time →
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I want to figure out this stomach issue I’m having…
So I can start drinking again
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WatchThis is almost as gross as an R&B video
Also, Will Forte’s facial hair made the video
brettgelman:
Dear Woman from FOD
Starring Will Ferrell and Will Forte
Featuring: Tim Heidecker, Jon Daly, Nick Kroll, Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer Seth Morris, Scott Gairdner, Ryan Perez, Brandon Johnson, many others, and me.
Directed by: Matt and Oz
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An hour to translate...
….At least an hour to read through the italian fluently with comprehension and intent
….Half hour to learn the notes, beats, phrases
….15 minutes to put my technique in
and 2 hours and 45 minutes worth of work on a 5-person Handel recit comes down to….
….About 7 minutes of performance time and singing through it twice in class
(with less than 10 people in the...
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"If they kill me"
I say:
This all seems funny
Nothing seems to stick
My clothes feel very loose
Eat meat and drink
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I've been writing a lot lately
Mostly poetry (gaaaay)
But, it’s been helping to put some things into perspective and it’s something to look forward to during the day….
…..yea, my life has been deteriorating for the past year
Anyways, here’s something I wrote a few days ago
(Disclaimer: No Mom, I’m not suicidal)
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Master’s degrees don’t raise the talent level
they raise scholarship opportunity
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Death and Dickheads
Just choked for a second on an apple I was eating while by myself in the dorm room
First thought: Good thing I’m lying down
One more “thought” before bed,
You know that silence that follows right after a performer is done with their song/ monologue/dance and some idiot who is SO filled with emotion has to audibly steal the spotlight with their doofy sigh or groan just to make...
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Watchpaulscheer:
CRYING IN PUBLIC
So Good.
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“Well, of course Aunt March prefers Amy over me. Why shouldn’t she?...”
– Jo March
Watchidontgiveafach:
Nathan Gunn on The Colbert Report
Stephen is worried that Nathan Gunn is sending the wrong message by singing opera without a shirt.
“Big voices take longer to cook.”
– Sondra Radvanovsky (via idontgiveafach)
As shitty as I feel about my life...
…I’m not married, I don’t own property and I don’t have a baby.
Life is pretty good right now
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Sang my Manon for Martin Katz today....
To quell my nerves I just imagined him looking like this:
All feline jokes aside, he is a very thoughtful and energetic musician.
We spent time working on “silences” and “delusion”
Aka, Manon.
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This is very similar to what I imagine my first... →
This should win “cutest music video of all time” award
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If you've ever been curious about my artistic... →
juliemakesthings asked: Q: Are your parents opera singers, or is it coincidence that you have a perfectly Operay sounding name?
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I'm ending my next recital with this song...Sure...
I know what you must be saying to yourselves.
If that’s the way she feels about it why doesn’t she just end it all? Oh, no. Not me.
I’m in no hurry for that final disappointment.
For I know just as well as I’m standing here talking to you, when that final moment comes and I’m breathing my last breath, I’ll be saying to myself,
Is that all there is, is that...
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I listened to "Pop music" for the first time in...
And when I say “Pop music” I mean Animal Collective
My brain isn’t working musically anymore
Notes are starting to sound like trees and singer all look like bookshelves
Spiders?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnKfC8wQACg
(Note on the video, if he wasn’t wearing a beanie he may not be sweating so much)
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This is pretty great. →
But can we please please stop writing music to be sung completely out of your nose
“My ability to turn good news into anxiety is rivaled only by my ability to turn...”
– Tina Fey
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As I've been listening to poetry for 12 days...
I feel obliged to write my own
Composers, feel free to set it to music.
Staring at a wall for 20 minutes by Garbage Mirabelly
My bitterness is brewing
Brewing then bubbling then bursting
But it’s better to be bitter than to be bent over burning
Burning and biting, my belly is breaking
Barfing is better than burning below
Bag it all up and tie it with a bow
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Dear Acne,
I know it’s been a while and I can tell how violently you must have missed me by your ravenous return but please, leave me alone.
Sincerely,
A 23-year old (I’m not 16 anymore, btw)
Also, I wish I had a beard to cover up half my face
Also, I wish I was a dog
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Weird: Al →
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I wish I could explore Malibu more!
It’s strange being in a new city/area but being stuck in the same spot.
We did go off the “compound” that is Pepperdine today and had dinner
but I most likely won’t get off again for another week (when we go to L.A. for a concert)
Anyways, where are all the celebs????
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I had a pretty emotional day today and I mostly just want to write down some things I was feeling so that maybe a singer out there in cyber land will read this and not feel so crazy about their own situation.
It’s really hard connecting with people in this “line of work” and finding genuine honest musicians who want to create beauty and human connections on-stage.
But when you...
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