Emily C.: MC Critiques, 10/15/13

Emily Cottam Master Class Critiques, 10/15/13

Brooklyn Meyers

Breathing is like a balloon. The timbre is bright and round--it’s very lovely. Intonation is generally good throughout--some notes go slightly sharp (like on the lower notes) because it seems that there is slightly less breath support there. The diction is good as far as I can tell. 

MC: Create a sense of readiness for the end of phrase notes. Try to avoid making the muscles in the throat engage in order for a pitch to come out. The vocal chords stretch out, not up. Sometimes, in order to trick yourself to reach a note, do something else to distract you from doing the thing you’re used to doing. “Don’t clench; just be open and free and say, ‘Please, God.’” The ghost is a great way to access high notes because the slight tremor helps prevent any sort of clenching. You don’t change the high note when you go to reach it--change the way you sing low notes to facilitate the higher note (much like fingering an octave on the piano; use your thumb!). Speak in your pleasant/reasonable voice when rehearsing the text. 

Laekin Burgess

Breathing is like a bucket--there are quick sternum jumps with breath intakes. Timbre of voice is smooth and wonderfully bouncy. Intonation is good throughout the song. The diction is good as far as I can tell. The expression is really great and engaging--and is consistent throughout the song. 

MC: Try reciting the text in the translation at the speed and rhythm of the music to help memorize and learn. Then switch from English to German. Don’t memorize the rhythm--memorize how it feels to come in on the entrances. Scary is different than hard. Don’t use your jaw to pull down the larynx--leave that to the trachea. 

Emily Floyd 

Breathing is like bucket--the sternum jumps up and down with the breath intakes. The timbre of voice is smooth and velvety with a slight muffled tone. The intonation is generally good throughout. Diction could be a little crisper with greater emphasis on the consonants and clearer vowels. The expression is good and calm--I think I would like some more variation though. 

MC: Speak the text and move that clarity in the diction into your singing. Move into the headier voice and practice it in that resonant place. If you can’t speak it in that place, how can you expect to sing it like that? The voice became much clearer and more at ease when you managed to sing it as you spoke it with inflection.