Emily F. OB 14

Emily F. OB 14: Choral singing should underline and support good voice technique. Singing in choirs requires different skills (working with a team, following a conductor, understanding the importance of the individual part) than solo singing. Choral conductors should understand the limitations and abilities of the voice and help the individuals use the best technique possible. There are different ways to help the singers improve, including doing careful warm-ups, voicing the members properly, and support good technique. 
Key concept: Choral singing should underline and support good voice technique.
Making connections: I've been really lucky to have great choir teachers and conductors. Having said that, since choir was my only learning about voice at a young age, I feel like I developed some bad habits. My high school choir teacher told me that I had a big voice and she always wanted me to be "less", so I started singing in a more covered way that allowed me to sing loudly but not stick out so much. I've gotten a lot of compliments from choir conductors because I use tall vowels and I can blend with just about anyone. But I didn't develop good technique when I did that. I don't think that any of my choir conductors meant for me to have poor technique, but I didn't know how to produce the sound being asked for without doing it in an unhealthy way. I have loved singing in choirs, but when I had the chance to sing in the opera choruses at UFOMT I found that my voice wasn't even half as tired as when I practiced with AFC, even with longer rehearsals. This told me that what I do in choirs isn't as good for me. I have a hard time reconciling what I practice in lessons now with what I do in choir, especially because my "choir voice" is so myelinated. I sometimes think that having to sing in choir for eight semesters is too much for me and it might be good for me to have a semester that I don't do any choir singing.