Emily C.: VRH, 11/7/13

Emily Cottam

Vocal Recital Hour Critiques, 11/7/13

Emily Floyd

Breathing is slightly gaspy, but I can tell they’re getting deeper every time I watch you sing. Intonation is good. Timbre is smooth, dark, and slightly breathy on higher notes. I think if you provided more airflow on the higher notes and kept the resonance in the front of the mask, it’d be slightly easier to sing those higher notes. Diction is good as far as I could tell, but I think the [i] vowel could be slightly clearer. Expression is good and serene, but I think I would like more variation--just try and make the phrases more specific. I think this will help add some extra dynamic contrast as well. Overall, a very lovely performance--I’m so excited to come to your recital tomorrow! 

Sarah Gee

Breathing is like a bucket. Intonation is great. Timbre is soft and smooth. Diction is good, but the [u] vowel could be a little more pure. Expression is a little stagnant; I think if you engaged the eyes a little more it’d be more emotional. On the second verse, you were right the first time, so don’t doubt yourself. :) I think if you allow more breathflow, it’ll facilitate a higher resonance and more dynamic contrast to make it even more musical. I saw some jaw tension--try opening your mouth a little more. Overall, I really enjoyed this performance; just work on solidifying memorization so you can be free to add more expression in the future. 

Aubrianne Dunn

Breathing is like a bucket. Intonation is good. Timbre is very far in the back of the throat; I worry about her future vocal health because it seems so tight in the back of the throat. Diction could use some purer vowels. Expression is sweet, but it could use more variation. I liked how calm she seemed on stage. Overall, I thought she was prepared enough, but I would really work with her on reducing the root of the tongue tension she has. 

Kaylee Ann Simmons

Breathing is like a bucket. Intonation is good. Timbre is dark and slightly breathy on the higher notes. Diction is good, but I would like some more consonant emphasis on the consonants. I think additional airflow would be good to get her resonance more in her face help to loosen throat tension. I thought her expressiveness was cute, but it did seem a little excessive and sort of distracted from the music because she was swaying/moving so much. Overall, I thought the performance was well done and I could tell she was well prepared. However, I would work on additional breathflow and core stability to help improve her performance. 

Sam Meredith

Breathing is silent, but there is some shoulder rolling inward movement at the end of long phrases. Try keeping your chest open. Intonation is great. Timbre is resonant and smooth. You’ve really been working on relaxing your jaw and neck--it shows in the clarity of your resonance, and it seems so much easier to sing. Diction is good as far as I could tell. Expression was a little plain, so remember to keep your eyes up and engage the eyes. Keep the bounce in those long/fast phrases and keep them energized. Overall, this was a great performance--I can see you’ve changed something in your practice because you’re showing great improvement in your neck tension.