RECORD:
We began by stretching: reaching the ceiling, rag doll etc.
S: Let's start with a sigh, cause that is always a nice way to start. (We did a bunch. I would do a few with her and then listen.) Did we do yawn sighs last time?
K: Yes.
S: Ok, let's yawn sigh and go as high as we can. (Did a few higher. I took a long pause trying to decide which vocalize to start with.) Let's try this: I want you do make a hm of indecision. It is like when someone asks you what you want and you say "Hmmm....pasta." you know? (I demonstrated and she did a few as well) So I want you to do that hm of indecision and release it on a descending five tone ah. (Demonstrated. She did a few. We eventually altered it to be a hm sliding up to the ah because that was easier. I noticed some jaw tension so I had her place her hands on her cheeks. Reminding her to feel numb. I jumped around the keyboard a lot but I tried to take her higher then I normally do. I took her to an F and she was able to do it fairly well. I paused again to think some more about what to do next.) So for this one you are sighing on so, you sigh up and then sigh down, and then sing so (I played it. It is a 1-3-5-1-5-3-1 pattern. I demonstrated and did a bunch for her because I know this one is definitely more complicated then we had done before. I chose it because she has a tendency to push and I wanted to connect her sound to something more free. I think she was thinking too much about the exercise however, and so I am not sure if it even really helped. The sighs started getting tight so I gently reminded her to let them be natural and loose. I used my arm to demonstrate the arc of the sigh. I added a yawn next because it was still so tight) Did you notice anything different when you added the sigh?
K: It felt more....it had more air behind it.
S: I liked that one better because I hear more space, it had more freedom in it. Let's do that one again and let's not be afraid of that top note. (It was an F) Did that top note feel better?
K: Yes.
S: I liked that, it was free. Let's do "Oh no no" let's speak it. (First vernacular, then elevated) Alright now let's sing it. Before each one, let's do a breath of surprise (demonstrated) It gives you a full breath quickly, and opens you up. (played 5-3-1 pattern for her. I jumped around the keyboard. She started slumping in her posture) Can you pretend someone is pulling a string straight out of the top of your head, and let's toaster those shoulders? (did more. I moved higher on purpose) I know this is really high so let's add a yawn before it. (Did a few and moved back down a bit) Let's do one more. I want you to put your elbows on the piano supporting your weight, then put your chin in your hands. When your jaw is moving you will feel it because your arms will move as well. I want you to try to keep that jaw loose and numb, without any movement. Let's sing it on a descending five tone ah. (She was still so tight.) Feel like it is gooey, like every note it melting together. This helped a bit.) Did you feel any movement?
K: Not a lot.
S: Ya and you know what I noticed? It was more free because there was so much space in there! Let's do some more and just put your hand on your chin and monitor it's movement. (Did more. When she would get tight we would stop and sigh or do a Santa laugh) What did you notice?
K: At first I was thinking so much about it, that I forgot to breathe. But once I breathed again it went well. At first, my jaw was moving a lot but once I focused it was good.
S: This is a good way to check up on it, if you feel tightness in your jaw, but your hand there to monitor. Awesome, good warm up. Let's go onto your song. Let's just start off on an ah and I want to put you up against the wall with your arms up in a u shape. This helps you to not let your chest collapse. (She sang it once from there. It helped her get a sense of where her chest should be and how open it needs to be when singing, but I don't know if it helped in any other way.) How did your breath feel?
K: I felt that my tone was better lower than up high.
S: I liked that I didn't see any collapsing. Let's now try to just hang over like a rag doll and sing it. (She did it) The low range sounded really nice and smooth when you did this.
K: The lower notes felt pretty good but it made it harder to get the higher notes.
S: Let's do what we did last night and pantomime that jump to the high note. (She did it a few times, but the octave jump was still rough.) This time I am going to play the note above the C and have you hum it before you hit the C. I think that will make it easier because you will be going higher then you need to. This way we are thinking over and onto the pitch, instead of hitting right into it. (We did it 3 times like that) Did it feel better?
K: A little.
S: It was better but it is still a little bit stuck. Let's try sliding up to it. (She did it 3 or 4 times) What you think about that sound?
K: I liked it better. It was more consistent.
S: Yes!
REACTIONS:
I felt like this lesson with Kathy went pretty well. I tried to take a step back and really think about what to do next. I took that time and really tried to figure out what I am hearing and how to take action. I still have a lot of questions though! I have no idea how to help get rid of the harshness in Kathy's tone. Any suggestions to help her round out the sound? I tried to use sighs and primal cues to help initiate a low larynx and freedom in the voice, but it didn't always help. I also was puzzled about how to help with high notes. I have always loved to sing high, so I had no idea what to say to help her release those. After today's class though, I feel like I have been given more techniques to handle that. I want to have Kathy make "baby sounds" or "train sounds" and then match pitch to them to see how high she can really go freely. Also what do I do about jaw tension??? I tried to address it but she still has some pretty intense jaw jutting...I don't want to specifically say your jaw is jutting. How do I fix that? I think the hum of indecision was really helpful for her and I should utilize that more. I just need to get better and thinking on my feet.
No comments:
Post a Comment