Coming to Love My Practice

I finally feel like I'm beginning to feel the difference of having the throat all the way open and getting that deep support in the body. I feel a little bit like a gorilla, but it feels comfortable and like an open "tube" or passageway. Sometimes as it gets higher she insists on humming "lower" and "in your body" but I don't know how to get the sound buzzing any lower. Some of the things she said that stuck out to me was "Pull it up in your cheeks. Sing to your forehead." "Let you jaw drop, your mouth ceases to be part of the sound, it just needs to get out of the way!"

I just barely ate a bowl of canned soup, but then I realized that this will probably be the only time I can get a dedicated practice in today. I'm going to start with listening and memorizing since I fear that my stomach can't handle that amount of breath support that Vivien demands. This is from "Viv Summer 3.3" Alma Del Core - remember to roll the r's "Does your throat not feel more comfortable? Do you feel like you're singing with your body?" Questions/Thoughts Am I officially going to be a Junior next semester? Ask/Tell Brian about the confusion with what level of lessons I was taking - transfer convo with Barb. Did I pass so that I can start doing recitals instead of juries? Can I do more than the 6 song limit? Do I have to share a recital with somebody? Should/can I study with Brian or Jen? Both? Alisa has been coming to mind too for some reason although it seems like she only really knows classical. I'm interested in contemporary ...

I haven't practiced since Friday because I was out of town for my anniversary weekend. Time to get back in the swing of things. Or I guess at this rate, make a swing of things. I've been singing with my recording "Viv Summer 3.2" from last lesson. I've known this for a while, but I have excess tension in the back of my neck. It seems to be muscle memory clustered with my breath support or something. I laid down to see if that would help me release or at least be more aware of when the muscles started to engage. It seems that even when I just siren, it does something when I get to higher notes. Some of Vivien's comments on this recording: Make yourself a big fat soprano. Let it go all the way down. Questions: Swoop parts, what is the goal? She wants me to keep the support but it seems like it makes my voice flip. I wrote out the first verse of "Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes" again. I've got two days to memorize it.

If I can come to LOVE my practice and learn how to personally implement the principles taught in "The Talent Code", I will be able to improve and progress at an accelerated rate. I will truly be able to take my craft and abilities into my own hands. This blog is to encourage discipline, empower myself through strategy and accountability, and help me to observe and track trends involving my instrument. Today's Academic Practice Listening back to my voice lesson today with Vivien Robison... REMEMBER Practice 45 mins a day Bring my classical song books Buy "56 Songs You Love to Sing" Memorize "Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes" and "Alma Del Core" Go over the warm ups that she has x's by on the practice paper Read over Clayne's latest version of his chart Listen to different singers that sing my songs - especially any that Clayne suggests Some of her comments: Pull, don't push Scream Shut your teeth (during the humm...