Emily C.'s Master Class Critique, 9/10/13

Master Class Critique, 9/10/13

Emily Cottam

Hannah

Intonation is was very good throughout the piece. She was breathing like a balloon; there wasn’t very much movement, but there was some chest movement with the phrases, more like waves that follow the phrase, so I couldn’t really tell if it was from breathing or from her “expressiveness.” Expressiveness was very good--considering she was still learning the piece. Timbre is clear, bell-like on high notes, slightly muffled on lower. 

Master Class (MC): Make sure to keep the same amount of space from the top voice/notes as you do on the bottom to create more space throughout the piece and keep it more evenly distributed. Don’t lower the chin on the low notes; it muffles the sound and limits the voice. Keep the molars apart, so the tongue works differently. It helps keep the space open. 

After MC: Her tone opened up very much with the head tilted up and teeth apart. The tongue is to be kept forward, but keep the molars apart as well. Try the Tootsie Roll method for the molar separation technique. Get rid of extraneous movement from the performance--it can be a little distracting. 

Taylee Beckstead

I liked the vibrato--it was very consistent throughout the piece. The expression was very calm--I think it’s appropriate for the music. Intonation on the high sustained note was a little sharp. Timbre had some breathiness, but it was mostly clear and more “bright” than “dark.” Watch facial expression on high notes--engage the cheekbones a little more. 

Diction was good as far as I could tell. Good French. 

MC: Cindy pulled her across the piano to make her breathe using her lower ribcage, not her upper back. Keep an upright position, just loosen shoulders and keep sternum up. Be like a gorilla and just loosely fling the arms, and relax the shoulder blades. On the diction, don’t scoop up to pitch. Start just a tad sharp on the consonant. Elevate the arms to move the shoulder blade and opening the diaphragm

After MC: Her performance seemed less stiff when she sang with the “gorilla” stances. I think her posture was more confident as well and had an effect on her stage presence. 

Laekin 

The expression was good, but relax the forehead. Good staying in character throughout the piece. Intonation is a little sharp on the starting notes, but it got better as the song progressed. Timbre is a little nasal on the ending syllables to  some words. Very good bright tone. Breathing is good like a balloon; I don’t see much movement. 

MC: Don’t lean head forward; keep a comfortable “comfortable in your own skin” position. Treat breathing like it’s no big deal, just a flow of pressure from low to high to low. Breath is down, singing is up--Energize as singing comes up. Just let pitch come; ease the breath, and let the body be the same for every note. Don’t perform a piece in  increments--let it flow smoothly as a whole. 

After MC: From what I could see (I had to leave early), her singing was less tense and it was a much looser performance and was more relaxing. The tension in her neck subsided slightly, and I think it helped her stage presence as well, not just the performance aspect of it.