Group 1

Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
Heidi_Vass
updated 11 mths ago
26replies

Two Weeks to Better Breath Management TWI Examples Breath Concepts

Two Weeks to Better Breath Management with Heidi Vass

In this two week intensive, we will dive into the technical topic that challenges most singers - Breath! We will work our way through clear and concise strategies to strengthen your breath mechanics, build your endurance, increase your flexibility and work with your body. In just two weeks, you will develop a deeper understanding of how the breath works and how you can make it work for you!

Highlights include:

An explanation of the breath. You’ll learn how the breath works and what to look for in an efficient mechanic.
Different phrases, different applications. You’ll develop conscious strategies that help you determine when to use which breath technique with applications in actual repertoire.
The mind-body connection. Learn how the breath informs your mental health and wellness. You’ll be able to use that information to harness the power of breath to help manage performance anxiety and create a holistic performance.
Practice, practice, practice! With daily exercises to help you you translate information into action, you won’t just learn what good breath management is, you’ll learn how to practice it.
Check in with Heidi Vass. Pop into a live zoom session to discuss your progress, ask questions and get specific feedback/advice on your work.

Timeline:

Sign-Up : April 26th
Course Period: April 29-May 13th
Optional check-In via Zoom: May 6th; 11am

ZOOM Check-In

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81194283970?pwd=Vg6EhG7qxAhzsyNcSxXyuSzu0h1lyG.1

Assignments:

PDF: Two Weeks to Better Breath Management Roadmap - Open the PDF and follow along. Each day you will find tasks to complete and links to videos with exercises and course work.

PDF: Breath Concepts - this is your reading for day one. Feel free to download and refer to the concepts as you are working through this intensive.

PDF: TWI Examples - these are score excerpts of the samples used in the instructional videos.

Make sure to follow along with the daily tasks and post along the way!!

Here is a link to the youtube playlist of videos for the challenge!

- Violinit
- 11 mths ago
- Reported - view
Hi Heidi, I just started Tonebase voice and obviously I'm late for the challenge. Not sure if I could still join in. Thanks.

Yixi
- martin
  
  11 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  Absolutely, you're welcome to join and check out the assingments that has compiled! There will be only one Live Zoom session on May 6th at 11 am, we'd be super happy if as many singers as possible would join!
- Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
- Heidi_Vass
- 11 mths ago
- Reported - view
It looks like the link on the PDF for day 3 is taking us to the initial lip trill video. Here is the video you want for day 3!!!!! Thanks to for catching that!!!

https://youtu.be/OLjn4xFFLMc?feature=shared

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
- Oksana_Reedy
  
  11 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
- Oksana_Reedy
  
  11 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  Hi Heidi!
  
  Could you please suggest an exercises to improve the transition from chest to head voice. I have trouble between A4-D5.
  Thank you!
- Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
  
  Heidi_Vass
  
  11 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  This is one of the most challenging skills in all of singing (in almost every style). You have to train the mechanism to effectively make micro adjustments. When you are first navigating the transition, it will feel like you literally switch tracks. I made a little video for you with an exercise. Start with that. It could take you some time to master, but worth your time!!
  
  We have a course on Bel Canto Technique dropping in June on the platform. There is an AMAZING lesson in there about laryngeal registrations and how to navigate that from a historical perspective. Lots more to come on this topic!!
- Oksana_Reedy
  
  11 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  Thank you so much! I will try everything to improve my skills.
  
  I am Ukrainian and English is my second language, I learned when I was in my 40 th, shaping vowels, working on diction, fighting an accent, covering bigger intervals, breaking point.
  I am so grateful for your help, Heidi!
- Oksana_Reedy
  
  11 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  Thank you for the video!
  
  I do sirens on NG also, my throat hurts after. Is any other suggestions?
- Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
  
  Heidi_Vass
  
  11 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  It sounds like you may be pushing the volume too much and not incorporating your support. Start by backing off the volume. Start from a place of ease and comfort - not force. If that is still hard, change the consonant and or pattern (as you may have developed some muscle memory around the NG sound that causes you to switch into tension mode). If that is the case, put it away for a little while. You may have to do some experimenting to find the combination that is effective for you.
- Letizia
- 11 mths ago
- Reported - view
Hey there!

I’m working on “Lascia ch’io pianga” from Handel’s Rinaldo.

Question:

As an italian native speaker I’d say “cruda sorte” within one long breath, BUT as a pianist I notice that there is a quarter pause between “cru” and “da”. I link the score.

Cecilia Bartoli (Italian) does as written in the score, listen here: https://open.spotify.com/track/6xZGds6ClLaEPeyep1C8si?si=2h-rM3zERbCRwmVFe1RfpQ

Montserrat Caballé (Spanish) does as if speaking, without pause, listen here: https://open.spotify.com/track/6waZ8I2XfprFfMW8Tf0RSS?si=gJEBQkFORjKij0gBywwaYg

What should I do? One long breath legato “cruda sorte” OR two “cru|da” OR one breath with staccato “cru | da”?

There will be a Masterclass on this Aria with John Holiday?

Thank you!
Ciao! 🌞😎✌🏻
- Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
  
  Heidi_Vass
  
  11 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  We recorded a lesson on this aria and it should be up on the site within the next month. That said, what Handel is doing here is using the rests to indicated a cry. As if the singer is too upset to get through the word. It's what you would call a rhetorical device. We go into it with a bit more depth in the lesson, but suffice it to say, the rest is there for dramatic intent. It's a beautiful piece and I do hope you make a recording of it and share your work with us! I'd love to hear it :)
- Letizia
  
  11 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  looking forward to the lesson! 😍
  
  So, I'll breathe once, and I'll stop the exhale for an expressive pause.
  
  My recording soon, as I get used to technology 😅
  
  Thank you!
  
  Ciao! 🌞😎✌🏻
- Letizia
- 11 mths ago
- Reported - view
Hi there! What symbols are used to indicate the different types of breathing on the sheet music? How do you indicate when you need to stop emission without taking a new breath?

Thank you!

Ciao! 🌞😎✌🏻
- Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
  
  Heidi_Vass
  
  11 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  There really aren't any universal symbols to indicate that. Singers tend to make their own short hand up. The key is that YOU know what you want to do and that you are CONSISTENT. So whatever makes sense to you that you can replicate is the best option. Looking forward to hearing that Lasica ch'io pianga :)
- Letizia
- 11 mths ago
- Reported - view
Hi there!

I marked the breath on the score.

I tried the melody with my breath. I got a couple of notes wrong: I'll improve.

Thank you for advice!

Ciao! 🌞😎✌🏻

lascia ch io pianga breath
- Letizia
  
  11 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  do you think this breath could go? How's my lip trill? Thank you!
- Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
  
  Heidi_Vass
  
  11 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  This is fantastic! One point of improvement.. It sounds like you are taking those inhalations through the nose. I would suggest aiming for a silent inhalation through the mouth (nasal inhalations can create a restriction in the throat if they are too fast. That can lead to tension in the onset and beyond). Aim for an open sensation of the throat on the inhalation, so you start the sound with NO tension. That said, lip trilling through this piece is very challenging and you are handling it SO well. Brava!
- Letizia
  
  11 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  I've always thought that the air from the nose is more filtered and warmer, while the air from the mouth is colder and would make me cough! 😅 That's why I breathe through my nose to sing!
  
  Thank you for the precious correction! 🌞😎✌🏻
- Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
  
  Heidi_Vass
  
  11 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  You are correct about the nasal breath! I actually prefer the nasal breath when I have A LOT of time. That said, most of the time in singing, we don't have enough time to take a slow and elegant breath through the nose ;)
- Letizia
- 11 mths ago
- Reported - view
Hi there!
I don't know if I will be able to connect to the Zoom meeting. I write my questions here knowing that the meeting will be recorded.
1. two-legato or "legato a due": with the voice you have to do as with the piano (the first note more appoggiata and the second staccata and softer)? e.g. Lascia ch'io pianga "dei miei sospiri"
2. "Legatura" and phrasing: when I find a slur that marks a phrase, should I simply sing legato or should I modulate the volume of the voice as in Gregorian chant? e.g. Veni creator Spiritus
3. "Messa di voce": how do I understand when to do that?
4. Can you take breaths even if there isn't a pausa written in the score? e.g. Lascia ch'io pianga "dei miei ' sospiri"' to indicate the sigh.
5. Recording videos: to sing I have to stand, to play the piano I have to sit. To record the video do I have to record the accompaniment first and then sing on the recording?
Thank you!
Ciao! 🌞😎✌🏻
- Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
  
  Heidi_Vass
  
  11 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  If you have a few minutes and you want to hop on the ZOOM, I can meet you :)
- Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
  
  Heidi_Vass
  
  11 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
- Letizia
  
  11 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  thank you so much! 🌞😎✌🏻
- Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
  
  Heidi_Vass
  
  11 mths ago
  
  Reported - view
  My pleasure :)
- Raymond_Gornik
- 11 mths ago
- Reported - view
Hi Heidi,

Will there be a recording of yesterday's Zoom meeting?

Thanks

Ray