Voice Lesson #36

Hey Gang! I am getting closer and closer to it being a year since I began Classical Voice training. Yesterday's lesson was great in that, as always, my teacher had great info to share, but unfortunately, my allergies have been acting up and hindered me. We worked on all the usual suspects, but I am having particular trouble with the AH vowel, in all parts of my range. Now, at my last lesson, my teacher snuck a G at the top of the staff, into one of our exercises. When she told me, "that was a G!", I was really surprised because up until that point I couldn't get passed the F. So, yesterday we're going through a particular exercise, going higher and higher and I was thinking to myself, "I wonder if she's gonna take me to the G, again?". Well, we hit the last high note and she pauses, looks at me, and says, "that was an A flat". I said "no kidding?!!" We both laughed because it was surprising and exciting! And the really amazing thing is that it didn't seem that high! It makes me wonder how much top I have up there! Ok, so we also worked on songs, and started a new one. The songs are always more challenging that the exercises because you have conconants thrown in, to deal with. It doesn't seem as though it should make singing that much more difficult, but it does. We also have the summer recital coming up soon, so I am really trying to have something ready for that, but ready or not I WILL be performing in it. I need to, it will be good for me. Oh, how I love this journey! God is so cool, that He would allow me to do something that I love so much. Before I began, almost a year ago, I had no desire to learn classical technique, but He has truly put a passion in my heart for this. I will not give up, but forge ahead, and ahead, and ahead! I want to be the best classically trained singer I can be, for His purpose! And yeah, plus it's just darn fun...challenging, for sure, and requiring a lot of hard work and determination, but just plain fun, too! I know, I know, some of you are asking yourselves, how in the world can learning "Classical Technique" be fun?...well, it just is! Praise Jesus, He is awesome!

Voice Lesson #35

Finally!! I feel like I am making some progress! I figured out, last week, that my tongue was causing me to lose space and height when I would sing. It's as if my tongue causes the sound to cut off. My teacher and I have been talking about this for a couple of weeks, I guess, and I mentioned at this weeks lesson that I do think it's the tongue. She was in full agreement, but I know she knew that already. It was good for me, though, to realize it. We worked on the Passaggio and the top, and the tongue, this week. I feel like it was a great lesson, not only because my teacher had great info, as always, but she said she is hearing some good things...and also, I hit a G! Now, the highest I've been able to hit is an F, but she snuck this G in on me and I didn't even realize it! It really motivated me! The work on the tongue was really good, too...very encouraging. So not only did I have a super lesson, but the past two practice sessions, since my lesson have been great! I can really hear some improvement. Very exciting for me, and I know my teacher is happy about it, too! I am just really feeling so motivated, right now. Of the five new songs, we have been focusing on two, and one of them, I feel like is really coming along..the other is more difficult and I'm not hearing as much improvement but that's ok..there is improvement, overall, and that is awesome! Also, I am finding that I am slowly getting past my issue of not being able to sing at my lessons, like I know I can. Praise God, thank you, Jesus!! I love this journey! Oh, and there won't be a lesson blog for next week because we're off for Easter, but I may comment on my practices. Stay tuned! And speaking of Easter, please remember that Jesus died and rose for YOU! He loves you and wants a relationship with you....so, what are you waiting for? He makes all things new! :)

Voice Lesson #34

I figured out, last week, that I lose space and height when I am singing. I mentioned it to my teacher, so now we are working on my muscle memory. I really think this is a big problem, of many, for me. I have to get those muscles trained so I can consistently keep the right amount of space available for the sound to flow through. When I lose space, the sound drops to chest and gets caught in my throat. Not good! Also, still working on the Passaggio area..always a difficult zone, for me. I do really like the songs we're working and think that at some point they will sound good. They are definitely a challenge, though, which is good. We have the summer recital coming up and I will either be participating in that or singing with my teacher for the old folks, at a home, which would be fun! I am working to sound decent for one of these events. Singing in public is something that I need to do as much as possible, even though it makes me a nervous wreck! The more I do it, the better...and every opportunity gives me a goal to work towards. I WILL get good at this.. it does, and will continue to take time and work, but I sure do love it! Thank you, Lord, for such an amazing opportunity! I am so blessed :)

Voice Lesson #33

This weeks lesson was chock full of great info, which is certainly not unusual. I was singing terribly, though! Trouble with the Passaggio area was not helping and my chest voice is a ham..it always wants the attention and has to try and dominate all the time. Well no more, chest voice...you're outta here! At least, that's my goal :) I was thinking today, that I need to pretend that my chest voice doesn't even exist, because how can I continually pull it up, if it's not there, right? I really have to concentrate on space, height, and head voice! Not that I don't think about this all the time, anyway, but more, more, more! I have Festival in a little under a year and the summer recital, which I think I might do. It's yet another goal for me to work towards and another opportunity to sing in front of a group. It scares me to death to think about it, but that's just another reason to do it. How singing in front of a group of parents and kids makes me more nervous than singing in front of a Festival judge, who is an expert classical singer, and critiquing everything I do, is beyond me...but it does. I believe though, every opportunity is a part of progressing and improving, potentially. I need to take each one, whether I feel comfortable or not, and whether I am afraid or not. I do feel a little weird though, about singing for a group of parents who are there to hear their child perform. I am sure I would be the only adult performance, but this will be good for me. We have 5 new songs to work on and have started 3 of them..I am sure one of them will be for the recital, but so far , they are all a challenge. I suppose though, that if they were not challenging, what would the point be?..I am learning. :) Thank you, Jesus, again, for being so awesome and allowing me to be involved in classical voice. I don't know what your plan is, but I am loving every moment of it, even when I have very bad singing days. Failing will always be a part of improving. Today's practice was much better than it has been in a week, so that is good! It's all a blessing! And I thank again, my teacher and my husband for being so patient and encouraging!