So tomorrow is a new lesson

I am going into my lesson tomorrow with the practise from this past week. I worked on my onsets. I guess my over blown onsets (surprise to me - I thought my onsets were good) were contributing to my vocal fatigue much more than I realized. I feel so fresh this week after practising for two hours. Before, I was done after two hours.

He gave me hints on my posture too. I know after the car accident last summer, I was left with back, shoulder, and neck pain. This new posture pointed out something that I was actively trying to fix in myself, but I could not find on my own. I hope I have been emulating his advice well. Breaking old habits is hard. I don't feel comfortable in the new posture. It feels weird. I feel so... centered. I know I should be, but new body positions call a myriad of question into play. How do I breath in this new posture? Is my sternum still raised? My resonance feels weird now? What do I do with my head? ...

Isn't that just the case when it comes to breaking old habits? Oh the joy of learning and being a dynamic creature.

Did I mention that this will be my second lesson?

Staccato

So I had my first meeting with my new applied instructor. I am very excited about it.
One of the things I gleaned from my meeting is that staccato is still vibrant. It is still possible to have vibrato on the fast notes. I must not hold or go straight tone while releasing staccato. Staccato is like a slow laugh. Enjoy it. It is not the abdomen slowly moving inwards with an exhale, but a bouncing.
Funny thing is I thought I was already doing that. Interesting how the sounds inside our head differ from what people hear. Why do I feel like this could be a running theme. "But, I thought I was already doing that." Well I guess that's why I'm going back to school. Education here I come, bring it on! :)

Stand up straight.

No hip sagging, chest slumping, or excessive head elevation. Give the body the freedom to create sound. Let it breath and stretch as it needs to.
This also means to be as flexible as possible. Be sure that you are not rigidly holding the body in one shape. A noble posture is also dynamic.

Focus

Don't worry about the sound you are currently making, it's done. Give it direction and a space to go to.
If I am worried about the sound that is currently going on then I am trying to fix the past. The sound that I heard is done. What I can do is give my body directions on where the sound is going to be. Releasing the jaw, lifting the zygomatic arch, not holding the breath, release the tongue: these are thing I can do. - Oh how I wish I had learned this sooner--

What I have learned through my voice career.

As I endeavour to travel the next leg of my musical journey, I thought I would share my thoughts, triumphs, and experiences. This blog will hopefully be a chance for the reader to be inspired with the knowledge I have gleaned from my teachers over the years, and then perhaps avoid some of the musical pitfalls I have endured.

If I believe something, I had better have a sound technical reason for believing in it or I should not be applying that technique.
Some people can sing without understanding why. I am not one of those people. Blind faith that a good sound will come out has not proven productive. Learning the hows and whys allows me to have a much more rewarding experience, since I can then successfully recreate the music. Questioning is not a bad or disrespectful to my instructor. Continued absurd technique is.