 |
Voice Study
Explore the voice as a metaphor for self-discovery and self-expression.
Learn to incorporate whole-self awareness into your speaking and singing.
Experience greater ease, confidence, and expression in performance and in daily life.
Finding Your Voice
During the time I taught voice on the faculties of Vanderbilt
University’s Blair School of
Music and Austin Peay State University, I employed a more or less conventional
approach to teaching singing. Most of my efforts went to helping students
succeed within the academic environment. In other words, I prepared them for
juries, auditions, recitals and other performances by teaching the basics of
vocal technique, diction, and expression, using mostly the classical vocal literature:
art songs and arias.
Once I had studied the Alexander Technique, my approach to my own singing and to
teaching others to use their voice well — whether in singing or speaking — changed in
significant ways. I saw that many technical problems could be solved by approaching
the use of the voice from the perspective of the whole body/mind, not just by considering the “vocal mechanism.” I found my own voice as well as the voices of my students
freeing up in wonderfully resonant and expressive ways, Whether they were singing or
speaking, regardless of the musical style, their voices took on a greater range of tone
and emotional expressivity; they became better at communicating the meaning of the
song or speech.
Ways to Study
It is in the context of the whole person that I offer voice study for singers, actors, and
speakers in the following ways:
Private Lessons for individuals
Diction, projection, resonance, tone quality and issues of performance anxiety
are addressed in lessons that are usually 45 or 60 minutes long. This study includes basic instruction in bodymapping and the Alexander Technique.
Workshops for groups are also available. See Workshops.
Sally's work with me has really had an amazing impact on my singing. My new awareness of where my shoulders are helped. My voice teacher and I discovered that at the
last minute of breath intake, I was pulling my shoulders back like a little soldier — as if
that was going to help me take in more air. Now I don't have to struggle to take in
breath, and the Fauré I just performed got rave reviews.
– J. Austin (CMO, Vanderbilt Medical Center Communications
/ singer)
|
|
 |
