Welcome to Spring Semester 2014 Individual Voice Class and Vocal and Respiratory Anatomy Class.
This Blog has been created for YOU! I will post something new every Monday and, if you are an Individual Voice student, you are required to leave a comment every week that includes your thoughts and observations relative to your voice lesson that week. Please include any practice or rehearsal experiences you have had, any discoveries, still working hard on something specific? Did you listen to any new or new to you, singers this week? Is there a song you want to learn – why?
Also, please leave your questions!! What do you need help with as you practice? Anything having to do with your voice is appropriate for this blog!
If you are a VOCAL AND RESPIRATORY ANATOMY student – same drill! You must comment on the Weekly Blog and also leave your thoughts and insights as you read about the anatomy and physiology of your vocal mechanism and the miracle of respiration.
I look forward to chatting with every single student via the Weekly Blog! Look for the first Weekly Blog article on Monday, March 3rd!!
Wishing you all beautiful high notes!
Victoria
Voice with Victoria Lavan 
Where are all the comments!
Well, having never taken a single singing lesson in my life, to be completely honest, this class is terrifying me. I’m excited to try something new, however I do ask for everybody to be patient and understanding because this is going to be rough. Should be an interesting 8th semester (:
Congratulations Maria for being excited to try something new! I am so happy to have you in class and to witness your first attempts at using your instrument. Know you are in a safe place to explore and there is no judgment imposed. It is your curiosity and willingness to try that will make your experience positive and productive!! See you tomorrow!
Well…I guess I’ll start. Callbacks were a really interesting experience because we had to sing for very different styles depending on what we were called back for. I was called back for Muzzy, Dorothy, Ivy and Blackbox. Muzzy’s song and my Timeless Classics piece were similar traditional belt styles, but Dorothy’s song was very legit and then Ivy’s song was pop/rock style. Cool downs & warm ups really came in handy. Victoria has given different warm ups that prepare you to sing different styles of music. So after my general warm up, I’d focus on specific warm ups that would prepare me for whichever style I was up for.
Btw, Congrats to everyone who was cast! 🙂
I am very excited to take vocal anatomy, I’ve tried reading about it and watching videos online before, and everything that was said went right over my head. Having Victoria explain things in detail is helping me understand my body a lot more. I can’t wait to put everything to practice! 🙂
When I heard I would be taking this class I got very excited because even though AMDA is a performing arts school, I really like anatomy and seeing how everything works and why. I look forward to learning more about my breath, alignment, and self. After studying in New York for a semester, I’m kind of confused about how to approach new songs. So, with showcase being at the end of the semester, I’m worried about what material I will be able to bring in because I know that classical pieces are not exactly what they want in showcase–maybe a little, but that’s it–and that’s my strong point. Belting is scary for me because I was always told it would hurt me. Currently I know that that can be true, but with the right technique, it’s not a problem. All I’ve ever done is copy the artists I hear on the radio, on stage, or copy my classmates. I just want to find my own voice.
Well today was the day it it happen. I was limited to what I had to sing today for Mainstream Music. To not be able to sing Soul or R&B is going to be the death of me but I am willing to take the challenge and expand my genres. I am also excited to be in Tier two for Classical Classics. I am nervous about Classical music due to past experiences. I want and will accomplish in singing classical music and then being able to sing something contemporary.
Much Success to everyone this semester. Lets all stay vocally healthy.
P.S. Lets not forget to do our cool downs.
Thank you Nic!! Mainstream was fantastic today!! Very happy with everyone’s willingness to step it up!
Love the reminder to do cool-downs! YES!! Pass it on!
Check back tomorrow to view my new post!
Today was a great start to week 3 of Spring semester!
Hey everyone!
The beginning of this semester has been a whirlwind to say the least. Auditions were fun, stressful, and exciting all at the same time. I am proud to say that I was one of the final four girls up for the role of Millie. Although I did not get the part, I have zero reservations about the work I did in the callback room. I gave everything I had, so I don’t feel like I cheated myself.
It’s safe to say that I would not have felt so confident in the audition room had Victoria and I not been working on my belt for the past semester or so. I have felt an enormous change in the way I belt, and the sounds that I can make. I never would have known that doing warm ups for the head-voice would help me so much, but I am glad to have had this revealed to me. I can’t wait to keep working this semester and see how many more doors I can open!
Jenny Hoffman
This week has been a challenged for me. I decided to go back to the basic and work on my breathing. The famous piece I decided to work is Air for Tenor and I’ve come to the conclusion that you need a lot of air to sing this song. I am also working on mentally getting out of my body’s way of being able to sing. I am excited this semester that I am getting more into a classical singing and music. Thank you Victoria for all that you do.
Nic Hodges
P.S. A cool down a day keeps the throat doctor away 😀
Yes it does!!! Thank you Nic! 🙂