Emily F. OB 11

Emily F. OB 11: "Many artists fail simply because they fail to establish a daily routine of vocalizing." Warming up every single day is "vocal hygiene," necessary if a singer wants to maintain a healthy voice and career. Some of the daily practice should include: body loosening, stretching, exercising and alignment, easy airflow while thinking pitch, and warming up. Learning a song requires learning how to "vocalize the song", turning difficult passages into vocalizes, and mastering the song in the mind before singing it through. Brown has a step-by-step way of learning music similar to other ones we've read. The point is to be efficient and healthy, not myelinating bad habits when we learn music. Learning new music is a process that requires time and understanding of the voice. "A rehearsal is not a performance until you are ready to make it one."
Key concept: Singing is an art that requires daily practice and careful preparation of music. 
Making connections: I have to smile because my lesson with Laurie on Tuesday was this chapter. We discussed the importance of daily vocalizing after my recital through the beginning of next semester, the importance of careful preparation of my new, difficult pieces, and strategies for practicing smart. I'm trying hard to not sing my new songs yet. I'm doing a lot of listening and looking at my music.