Emily F. VRH 10/31

Emily F. VRH 10/31:
Sarah Boucher: Breathing looked a little high in the body, but I didn't notice any problems with air flow. Your sound was well-supported, with graceful use of air, and gasp-free. Good job. Your timbre has a nice chiaroscuro balance which is really pleasant to listen to. Expression was good. You are always collected and have good expression to watch and it makes your performances enjoyable to watch--thank you! My only critique would be with the German diction. The "au", "L" and "r" sounds particularly are quite Americanized. Maybe you can practice using the tip of your tongue for a higher, gentler "L", and review diphthong and "r" pronunciations. 
Jared Campbell: I noticed overall body tension in Jared, from the close-together feet to the slightly raised shoulders. I think this made it difficult to have good free-flowing air and maybe affected the vibrato, which sounded a little forced. Timbre is warm with good "chiaro" sound. I just wanted everything to open up more--jaw, feet, chest, words, and emotion. The kind of "locked down" feeling I saw reminds me of what I feel when I sing in front of an audience. I liked his choice of song and I feel like a lot of what he is doing vocally is great, just needs to be released more. 
Caitlin Craig: Hey! There was a definite improvement from Tuesday! Your sound was more connected and full as a result of the work on keeping that larynx low. When you forgot the lyrics, the larynx crept back up for a little while, but you were able to get back on track some. It looked like you were concentrating hard on your technique, which made it difficult to understand what the song is about. I also noticed that you move your body quite a bit with the music, and I wonder if that is taking away from the energy you could use vocally? Overall, improved, and good work on that larynx!
Luke Shepherd: What a fun song and a good way to end VRH! Your expression and commitment to the lyrics made this an enjoyable performance. Timbre was pretty airy throughout, with some clear, full spots. Those nice, clear places were at the end of long notes and when the emotion was most present. I don't know how you channeled your energy there, but the sound was focused and full and exactly what I wanted! It almost seemed like the air was gushing in and out the rest of the time, and I think part of that was because of the emotion required for the piece.