Duke Voice Care Center "Care of the Singing Voice Workshop: How to Make Your Voice Last a Lifetime"

Greetings,

This post is intended to supplement the linked PDF of the Powerpoint presentation used at the “Care of the Singing Voice” Workshop presented by Duke Voice Care Center at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh on 4.14.12.

The pdf of the presentation was provided to me to share with you by Leda Scearce, MM, MS, CCC-SLP, at the Duke Voice Care Center. It is full of great information on this topic!

I bolded pages to major topics to serve as an index and included highlights, referenced videos which won’t appear on the PDF, and some additional notes and comments [in brackets].

Thanks, Leda! It was a great workshop! Thanks, also,  to Yuri Yamamoto for organizing the event.

I hope you find this useful! Please let me know!

Best always,

Catherine

Highlights, Additional Notes, Comments and Referenced videos

from

“Care of the Singing Voice” Workshop presented by Duke Voice Care Center at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh on 4.14.12

Page 9-17: Normal Voice Production

In human voice production, lungs are the actuators of the power supply.

Page 12

Excess, prolonged pressure on the vocal folds causes damage to the vocal folds.

Page 15

The consistency of healthy vocal folds is like Jello.

Video of healthy vocal folds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv4evDGLgjQ

Page 17

Stroboscopy: video of female vocal cords at high and low pitch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpOXecWC5Dw

Page 18-30: What Happens When Things Goes Wrong?

Page 21

Caffeine, alcohol, smoking and second hand smoke are all harmful to the singing voice. Drink LOTS of water all day! At least eight 8 oz. glasses of water each day!

Page 31-55:  Management (Behavioral, Medical, Surgical)

Page 33

Vocal Hygiene: The things we do to keep the voice healthy

·      Taking care of the body

·      Using the voice well

Page 56- 68: Vocal Pacing

Page 57

Vocal Pacing Golden Rule!

Warm up your voice before singing, cool down your voice after singing.

Page 67

Special Considerations for Music Directors/Choral Conductors

•Warm up your voice before rehearsal

•Use amplification for your voice during rehearsal

•Use printed signs or hand signals to communicate messages that you say over and over

•Minimize using your voice to teach the music

Recommended use of:

Spokeman Personal Voice Amplifier

Can be purchased here.

Page 69: How will I know if I Have a Voice Injury?

Page 72-81: Singing Styles and Techniques

·      Mechanics of Singing  (General, Classical, and Belting)

Page 82-89: Acoustics of Singing/ Physics of Sound

Page 91:  Speaking and Singing Voice Exercise

Emphasis of proper skeletal alignment and good body use. [I recommend study of the Alexander Technique and/or Feldenkrais to improve ease and quality of singing and playing!]

Page 86

Referenced video: Joseph Callejo: Nessun Dorma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn16xQxo0vc

[I prefer this perfermance: Jussi Bjorling "Nessun dorma" Live 1958]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdL483b4kao&feature=fvwrel

Page 87

Referenced video: Adele: Rolling in the Deep 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ckIulg1DfQ&feature=related

Page 90-111: Vocal Exercise for Singing

[Lots of great suggestions. We spent 30 minutes in the workshop practicing these.]

Early flute recordings on Robert Bigio's website

Greetings,

I am grateful to Robert Bigio for posting on his website early recordings from Christopher Steward's collection.

These recordings are truly inspiring-- a reminder of a time when tone and technique were synonymous--a time when and elegance and beauty reigned. I've bookmarked this page and enjoy listening to at least one recording before I practice each day.

While typing this post, I listened to a recent addition to the webpage: Simonetti: Madrigal. Heinz Breiden, flute; Siegfried Borries, violin; and Max Saal, harp. So lovely! The recording was made in 1937 0r 1938. Breiden was a flutist in the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra from 1921 until his death.

Recent additions to this page include recordings by Frances Blaisdell and Gaston Crunelle. There is also a recording of Georges Barrère playing Alfredo d'Ambrosio's Canzonetta, Op. 6.  Such artistry...

Robert Bigio's website is a also great resource for historical information on flutes, flutists and flute-playing. Thanks, Robert!

Best,
Catherine

Fluteachniques™: "Up for the Count": New Use for Your Instrument Peg

Greetings,

I hope you find this tip useful, or, at least, amusing!

All the best,
Catherine

Introducing Fluteachniques™: Harmonics+2 Note Slur Tone Study

Greetings,

I recently started having students combine two favorite tone studies for a great warm up. The results have been improved evenness throughout the range of the flute and richer tone in the high register.

I will be sharing more teaching tips in the future. Look for Fluteachniques™in the LeGrand Virtual Studio in coming months!

Best,
Catherine

"Classic" Breath Builder

Greetings,
This video and article from the early days of my website (2006) has tried and true information. The Breath Builder still rules!
Best,
Catherine

The Breath Builder is a self-teaching device. Its primary lesson is the effortless, complete exchange of air at either end of the breath, without any holding or physical tension. It is a visual aid for learning the concept of breath support and also aids improvement of breathing efficiency and of lung capacity.

Developed by the late bassoonist Harold Hansen of Las Vegas, Nevada, the Breath Builder is a translucent plastic cylinder closed on the bottom with 3 holes on top and a ping pong ball inside. The 3 holes and the 2 accompanying plastic tubes with different diameters can be used to control resistance to your air movement. The object is to keep the ping pong ball at the top of the cylinder while blowing into the Breath Builder and also while sucking the breath back through the device. The air is always moving in or out, never stopping. Very simply, if the blowing is steady and the breath exchanges well, the ping pong ball stays at the top of the plastic cylinder.

Tips for Use of the Breath Builder:

I suggest using the larger tube. The smaller one tends to increase physical tension. Begin by blowing into the tube to raise the ping pong ball to the top of the plastic cylinder. Once you have mastered this, while the ping pong ball is at the top, try sucking the air back through the tube without letting the ball drop.

Blow from the front of your mouth. Try to release the air from your lips. Careful not to overdo. Begin with one or two exchanges of air.

Try sucking the air back from the tube and then performing a task; play or sing a phrase or execute some other physical action while you release the breath you just sucked throughout the tube.

Be sure the sternum does not compress as you blow into the machine. This causes unnecessary tension and inefficient release of the breath. Allow your spine to lengthen as you release each breath.
Buy Now!

Caution: Avoid repeating this process until becoming dizzy! Stop immediately if you feel dizzy and rest until the feeling passes. While learning to use the breath builder, please sit down.

René Le Roy playing Danse de la Chevre

Greetings,
This piece was dedicated to René Le Roy by the composer. This recording was made in 1929. Excellent fidelity! So many colors!
Catherine

Aralee Dorough, Principal Flutist of the Houston Symphony Speaks on Buzzing, Chopstick and Finding your Sound

Greetings,

The following video interview was recorded in the Houston studio of Aralee Dorough, Principal Flutist of the Houston Symphony, on September 22, 2007.
Aralee talks about:

• benefits of practicing and teaching "buzzing" and "chopstick" (from Keith Underwood)
• embouchure lessons she learned from Robert Willoughby --and from her horse!
• finding and sculpting your tone

Many thanks to Aralee for sharing her experiences and her wisdom. You may visit her at her website, www.araleedorough.com.

Aralee, her husband, Colin (Houston Symphony oboist), and her father (famous jazz pianist,Bob Dorough), recently put out a CD, "The Houston Branch," with terrific Houston jazz sidemen. I enjoy this album often. You will find it here:

• http://cdbaby.com/cd/dorough
• iTunes (search for "Houston Branch")

All the best,
Catherine