Practice 8/10/17

Lesson 2/26/16 (x2)

Voice has been feeling a bit too "leady"--base of tongue tension + zero breath support (feels like always gasping for air)

No earplugs this time. 

• really focus on sensation
• watch descending scales; there should be no breathy [h] delineation for each note.
• notice in "ya" 54321 that pitch change happens in "same place" with no laryngeal help to separate notes
• don't make vibrato. Go for simplicity. Don't make a sound. 
• jaw/tongue independence. 

Practice 8/1/17

Lesson 7/31/17

Voice feels a little abused from oversinging/reflux/allergies?

• Start with many SOVTE, like lip buzzes, [th] [v] [u]
• experiment with idea that breath is accelerating; not necessarily more volume. Start normally and allow it to move somewhere.
• watch that you're allowing the line to FLOW as one, rather than having it fade in/out between pitches. 
• watch jaw is independent of tongue

• Watch if sound "moves" in face when descending. 
• [th] 54321, not "bouncy." Think more legato. 
• "oy" 54321-123454321
• don't sing in your space for the vowel. Sing in front of it. 
• **Use "yodeling" [a u a] 1-8-1 to discover your isolated CT. Good for use above E/F5+

Practice 7/24/17

Lesson 4/18/17
(Earplugs)

• release back soft palate
• everything in front of dimples
• don't force
• start vocalization gently/simple.
• corners of mouth yearn for each other
• "no jaw", but allow to open
• open pharynx --> the breath also doesn't "explode." It is grounded. 
• all sound is above the mouth
• watch that chin doesn't get stuck down
• "nyam--ah" 54321-54321
• vowel open on top. not with jaw.
• watch subglottal pressure; feeling of suspension of breath.
• space in BODY, then thread the needle.
• you have to balance generosity of air and too much air
• **No sense of breath "drying out" the folds as you sing; it goes above; the space for higher pitches (all pitches) is above the nose
• don't get lazy as you descend.
• "when I" exercise: allow lips to move from active to inactive.
• onsets will never scoop up (especially with consonants)
• if getting stuck in the throat, think more nasal/in front of dimples. 
• **Really monitor back of tongue/roof.
• A-O joint flexibility
• even breath flow
• jaw is very released/open
• Think Nebrebko or Sierra
• watch that back of pharynx is nice and soft.
• still keep in mind "front of dimples."

Practice 6/17/17

I haven't been posting things here lately, but I have a whole bunch of notes in my practice journal that I'm going to post here.

Lessons 2/26 and 2/27/16

• earplugs
• easy, quiet onsets (soft)
• think of very edges of folds vibrating -- no body
• Don't "make" a sound happen.
• Breathe through nose and become aware of NO sensation in pharyngeal muscles/space.
• the pitch starts at the unicorn tip of horn.
• can also do "bite the apple" breath.
• Watch that onsets are soft and easy
• **You feel NOTHING in back of throat or at glottis. 
• use little vocal capital during warm-ups
• feels cool air on front half of roof of mouth
• focus on the good. NOT getting rid of the bad
• vowel uniformity
• jaw hinges/swings open
• think ascend as you descend 
• even breath flow as you ascend
• you feel NOTHING in soft palate
• tip of tongue against bottom row of teeth

• Breath should be casual; don't make a breath be anything. 
• when you open your mouth, air just comes in. 
• it's never "all or nothing"!