learn to sing

I have not been listening to NPR in the car on the way to work, but have been doing singing exercises. And I’m not using my recorded lessons anymore. I think just hearing my own voice helps me really focus on what I want to focus on, i.e., the attack, letting the breath go during the phrase, and relaxing the jaw. AND, this week at the choir rehearsal I felt like in just one week I had made progress! Yay! I hope it continues.

Choir has been great. The only negative thing I can say about it is that I never feel like I get properly warmed up. I’m sure it’s partly because we always “warm up” on a hymn, which I am always having to sight read. The other thing about this goal is that I have not been going to lessons that regularly – it’s fallen off to once a month – and I have not been practicing. A couple of days ago I brought my ipod in the car, with recordings of my lessons on it, and I’ve been doing the warmups from the lesson while I drive to and from work. I just need to keep my ipod charged up and I think this will help. Just need to be consistent.

And everyone was so warm and welcoming! I’m really happy about it. Although I felt totally unable to sing because of having a cold. But that’s ok. This goal is getting better and better. I have started doing warmups along with recordings of past voice lessons – and I’m doing them twice through each time. I am also alternating the second time through with lip trills. I really want to make sure I’m warming up thoroughly, because the times when I haven’t I’ve noticed I’ve done more harm to my voice. I’m excited about this progress.

I am going back to the choir.

Yesterday I spent the day with my friend who introduced me to my singing teacher. She used to study with her too. We talked about attending a musical event where adults who are studying can perform for each other, since adult students don’t always have the opportunity to do recitals like the younger kids do. So first we are going to just observe – at the January event. Then in May or June, whenever the next one is, we might do a duet! Fun/frightening/huge learning experience. I’m excited!

And this morning I was focusing on dropping out tension from the voice in between phrases. Something my teacher keeps trying to get me to do… anyway, sometimes it seems like I can do it, other times I feel like my voice is just clenching and there’s nothing I can to about it! This morning was pretty good tho. :)

just had another lesson. i love my teacher. i am excited to join this choir again after the new year. i tried to join it last year but i had too much hectic stuff going on last year. plus, it is a church choir and i’m not christian so it kind of rubbed me the wrong way. but it is conveniently located and no audition required so a great way to get singing more regularly and develop my voice. also would be getting some good practice sight singing as well.

I sat next to a voice teacher on the plane yesterday coming back from Thanksgiving. She told me about her favorite warmups. I had tried one of them, lip trills, many years ago, and was amazed by how much more air would move through after I had done this warmup. I’m going to have to try doing those again. Also, might have to talk to my voice teacher about them. I wonder if there’s a particular reason she hasn’t had me do many of these different kinds of warmups… that’s it for now!

I finally fessed up to myself that I wanted to learn to sing – that was about a year ago. I have been taking lessons with a classical teacher off and on since then. I really love it, and I love my teacher, but I have not yet sung for anyone but her. I would like to perform at one of these events that they have in my area where beginning adult musicians perform for each other. I think they usually happen at someone’s home, and my teacher says they are very casual. There is one in January, but I think I will just observe that one, and then maybe I can perform at the one in May. Yikes!