My voice is still not happy, so this week I've been doing lots of playing through my songs and listening. It's a little better today, so I'm going to do some buzzing on "Im Abendrot" and see how it goes.
Session #1
I'm having tuning issues at letter D and I don't recall that being an issue before. Too many of the vowels on C sharps want to pull down. Overall, the song is showing that I need to make sure it shows up in my practice rotation more often.
I'm also having trouble loosening up enough for the high notes in "Frühling." Can't get anywhere close to a sing through. Each phrase is taking several times to loosen up. I ended up just going back to the straws and buzz. Can't sing this one today.
September. Let's see how this feels. 30 minutes is good enough for today.
Monday, December 8, 2014
Practice Challenge Week 7 (and 8 and 9)
We had a few weeks where no one turned in journals, but we have another winner this week so we're back on track.
Emma Pratt is this week's winner.
Emma Pratt is this week's winner.
Session #1
I'm finally getting back on track after being sick. Not having to practice to fulfill my part of the practice challenge meant that I used being sick as an excuse and didn't do as much as I might have. But that's changing.
For my first session back to regular practice, I mostly used the straws and worked through the Strauss songs. Although I'm feeling better, there is still a lot of tension that I need to let go of and my breath isn't working quite as well as it was.
Total time with warm-up: 25 minutes.
Session #2 (Emma's #1)
I started out my practice with about 10 minutes of Concone's Thirty Daily Exercises. I definitely need to be doing these more. It was rough at first, but I have to loosen to achieve the flexibility needed for these, so it's good for me in many ways.
Emma's Goal: vowels on high notes
Emma's Strategies: straws, crazy lady, golf ball
Emma's Time: 15
I started with Im Abendrot, just working the high phrases (for me in this song that is F or higher). 3x with straws thinking about soft palate lift, sing checking space of the vowel on the highest pitch, crazy lady 3x (this really helped the lift on the G), then sing again. Placing the n of noch on top of the pitch also helps with vowel space. Starting Abendrot cleanly with the glottal on a G is not easy, but easier when doing crazy lady.
Started the same process with Beim Schlafengehn. However, just about every phrase in this one is high, so it will take longer to work through. Sehnliches is tricky for the closed vowels on high pitches. They are great for resonance when I'm loose but they are also the ones that tighten the most for me when I'm dealing with fatigue or tension. Even though it's only Eb, freundlich is tricky because I'm almost out of air. I have to think lots of lift to make it work.
15 minutes
Total time with warm-up: 25 minutes.
Emma's Goal: Let go of tension, sing more open
Emma's Strategies: warm-up with Dairy Queen, straws, opening up
Emma's Time: 20 minutes
No, she didn't start her practice with a Peanut Buster Parfait. Dairy Queen is actually in reference to an exercise that we do that includes those words. Because Dairy Queen covers a large range and I hadn't done much singing yet today, I started with the same note pattern, but using the straw. I used the straw until I could move easily through the notes without tension. I also threw in a few other warm-ups that are easier in my voice.
Continuing into my music, because I am super tight all over this week, I used a strategy that has served me well in the past. I only sing as long as it is free. If tension begins to creep in, I stop immediately, loosen and try again. Yes, it is slow work on days like today, but by making freedom my #1 goal, I'm teaching my body how I want it to feel when I sing this section. Sometimes my sections are just one word, or even just one note. I also keep going back to the straws. I'm also using yawns to stretch and loosen the soft palate, throat, etc.
15 minutes so far and I'm just on m. 10 of the song (the first 4 measures are intro).
Tension messes with my tuning so much. It's great to be able to hear the right pitch (and I did stop and do some interval drills with a few spots), but tension can destroy all that hard work.
One thing I'm noticing today is that even when you think you know the intervals well, it really is helpful to go back, check them again, and drill them. The more precisely you can think the intervals, the more securely you know the tune.
10 more minutes
Today's total: 25 minutes.
Unfortunately, I didn't get all the practice sessions in this week. Lots of excuses, only a few of them good ones. But I'm back on track. I will be finishing up Emma's sessions before moving on to the next week's winner.
Emma's Goal: Get more comfortable on high notes.
Emma's Strategies: Open O vowels on on ugly words, work on lyrics
Emma's Time: 20 minutes
I'm assuming that Emma's "ugly words" and "O vowels" refers to words like come, above, love. I call them ugly words because they share the same vowel sound as the first syllable of the word ugly. Also, they can be really ugly if we don't modify the space, placement, and vowel color from what we use in speech. Since these sound show up a lot in English, today, I'm working the Vicki Tucker Courtney songs, looking for high notes that are also ugly vowels. I may do some transposing to make it more difficult.
Will There Really Be a Morning?
"from the"--both ugly words, plus going up a minor third. I'm using this whole phrase as a warm-up, starting lower and then working to higher than I really need, focusing on lining up the vowels. It also helps to place the fr and the th on top of the pitch. I have to remember that it needs more space too. It really needs ah space as I get higher, even though I am still thinking the original vowel.
What Would I Give?
The word "of" is the trickiest of the ugly words in this song. Feeling the similarity in the placement of the words is most helpful in this song today. The word "what" which starts several phrases in this song is also an ugly word. I've been using "would", the word that follows it, to help find a better place for "what", singing "would what" several times to line them up.
Time: 20 minutes
Failing at this lately. I did practice last week, but it wasn't the songs I've been working on for this project, and it wasn't using Emma's #4 session as my guide. Now I'm back and I'm finishing it.
Session #5 (Emma's #4)
Emma's Goal: breathing and memorization
Emma's Strategies: Darth Vader, hiss, memorizing
Emma's Time: 10 minutes
Even though I've been doing straw exercises with students all morning, I still don't feel as warmed up as I would like to be. And the warm-ups I just did showed me that this isn't a quick warm-up day. That means I'll be working on the lower English songs rather than the other stuff.
A Song
I'm exploring removing the extra breath from the first phrase. This is really one of those spots that interpretively could go either way. Nope. I like it better with the breath. In the middle verse, I like carrying through more. Worked on memorizing the whole song. The first verse is more solid than the others.
Total time: 20 minutes
Session #3 (Emma's #2)
Emma's Goal: Let go of tension, sing more open
Emma's Strategies: warm-up with Dairy Queen, straws, opening up
Emma's Time: 20 minutes
No, she didn't start her practice with a Peanut Buster Parfait. Dairy Queen is actually in reference to an exercise that we do that includes those words. Because Dairy Queen covers a large range and I hadn't done much singing yet today, I started with the same note pattern, but using the straw. I used the straw until I could move easily through the notes without tension. I also threw in a few other warm-ups that are easier in my voice.
Continuing into my music, because I am super tight all over this week, I used a strategy that has served me well in the past. I only sing as long as it is free. If tension begins to creep in, I stop immediately, loosen and try again. Yes, it is slow work on days like today, but by making freedom my #1 goal, I'm teaching my body how I want it to feel when I sing this section. Sometimes my sections are just one word, or even just one note. I also keep going back to the straws. I'm also using yawns to stretch and loosen the soft palate, throat, etc.
15 minutes so far and I'm just on m. 10 of the song (the first 4 measures are intro).
Tension messes with my tuning so much. It's great to be able to hear the right pitch (and I did stop and do some interval drills with a few spots), but tension can destroy all that hard work.
One thing I'm noticing today is that even when you think you know the intervals well, it really is helpful to go back, check them again, and drill them. The more precisely you can think the intervals, the more securely you know the tune.
10 more minutes
Today's total: 25 minutes.
Unfortunately, I didn't get all the practice sessions in this week. Lots of excuses, only a few of them good ones. But I'm back on track. I will be finishing up Emma's sessions before moving on to the next week's winner.
Session #4 (Emma's #3)
Emma's Goal: Get more comfortable on high notes.
Emma's Strategies: Open O vowels on on ugly words, work on lyrics
Emma's Time: 20 minutes
I'm assuming that Emma's "ugly words" and "O vowels" refers to words like come, above, love. I call them ugly words because they share the same vowel sound as the first syllable of the word ugly. Also, they can be really ugly if we don't modify the space, placement, and vowel color from what we use in speech. Since these sound show up a lot in English, today, I'm working the Vicki Tucker Courtney songs, looking for high notes that are also ugly vowels. I may do some transposing to make it more difficult.
Will There Really Be a Morning?
"from the"--both ugly words, plus going up a minor third. I'm using this whole phrase as a warm-up, starting lower and then working to higher than I really need, focusing on lining up the vowels. It also helps to place the fr and the th on top of the pitch. I have to remember that it needs more space too. It really needs ah space as I get higher, even though I am still thinking the original vowel.
What Would I Give?
The word "of" is the trickiest of the ugly words in this song. Feeling the similarity in the placement of the words is most helpful in this song today. The word "what" which starts several phrases in this song is also an ugly word. I've been using "would", the word that follows it, to help find a better place for "what", singing "would what" several times to line them up.
Time: 20 minutes
Failing at this lately. I did practice last week, but it wasn't the songs I've been working on for this project, and it wasn't using Emma's #4 session as my guide. Now I'm back and I'm finishing it.
Session #5 (Emma's #4)
Emma's Goal: breathing and memorization
Emma's Strategies: Darth Vader, hiss, memorizing
Emma's Time: 10 minutes
Even though I've been doing straw exercises with students all morning, I still don't feel as warmed up as I would like to be. And the warm-ups I just did showed me that this isn't a quick warm-up day. That means I'll be working on the lower English songs rather than the other stuff.
A Song
I'm exploring removing the extra breath from the first phrase. This is really one of those spots that interpretively could go either way. Nope. I like it better with the breath. In the middle verse, I like carrying through more. Worked on memorizing the whole song. The first verse is more solid than the others.
Total time: 20 minutes
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Practice Challenge week 5
This week, I'm on my own. No one turned in a practice journal for this week.
Session #1
I have laryngitis today due to possible reflux and an a massive asthma related coughing fit last night. I did enough warming up to know that silence is a better option for today. Luckily, I'm not teaching much today so I can get some vocal rest.
Today's practice is mostly listening as I do other work.
I listened again twice to Milada Subrtova (5:40), and then listed to this recording by Kate Royal (6:25). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUxnffqM4b0
I also listened to the recitation and diction lesson on my CD twice each for about 20 minutes.
Total time on this song today: 38 minutes
I also said I'd record O Holy Night in French to help the student of another teacher. Unfortunately I can't sing, but I did download the IPA and review.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Practice Challenge week 4
Session #1
Today is just not a good vocal day. I spent a lot more time warming up than usual, but I still can't get my high notes to loosen up. On the plus side, it did make me pull out my Concone exercises and work more with flexibility. After about 30 minutes of singing though, my voice is telling me it's done. I guess I'll be working on my Czech with the diction CDs for the rest of my time. 10 minutes with the diction CDs. Then listened to Pilar Lorengar (6:15) and Eva Urbanová (6:02).
I really the color of Pilar's voice in this. Gorgeous.
Also listened to these:
Gabriela Beňačková http://youtu.be/Qul0b3e631k
Luba Orgonášova https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHZ9ByM-EJ0
Milada Šubrtová https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YgeEKNVz8M
Love her too. And since she is Czech, this is a good one to work with.
About 30 minutes listening.
Total time for today: 60 minutes
Session #2
Our winner for this week is Bella Huerta. My practice for today is based on her first day of practice for the week.
Bella's goal: Solidify words
Bella's strategies: sing section with word trouble, buzz, hiss
Bella's time: 10 minutes.
For this short session, I decided to work on "I am the Wind." Because I only have a few minutes, I'm using the hiss and buzz as warm-ups, thinking about the words as I play the melody.
Then I went back and sang each verse memorized. The words were actually pretty easy. I had to stop and review a couple of notes and rhythms to make sure they were memorized too. Then I went back and sang the whole song with accompaniment.
Total time: 12 minutes.
Session #3 (Bella's second session)
Bella's goal: breath control on French song
Bella's strategies: buzz and hiss (also chose good breath places)
Bella's time: 18 minutes
Started with hissing on the tough sections of Frühling while playing the melody. First I isolated the tough phrases. When I was getting through those on hiss, I added a couple phrases before the tough one so I can work on the stamina and making sure I get a good breath going into the tough one. I'm much more aware of the inhalation after buzzing. Then I repeated that on buzz. I'm still struggling with getting through the last phrase (it's all one word, so I can't sneak a breath.) It's fine if I isolate that phrase, but still pretty tough with the long phrases that come before it. That last breath has to be a good one. Improving, but I still have some work to do. Trying straws now to see if that is easier. Little straw is hard, but I do think it is helping. The breath is definitely lasting longer. When I sing, I can now get through the last phrase when isolated, but when I start earlier in the song, I'm not quite making it yet.
Overall, I'm happy with today's practice. I was able to eliminate a few of the emergency breathing places creating longer more flowing lines.
Total time: 20 minutes
Session #4 (Bella's third session)
Bella's goal: practice words and melody
Bella's strategies: do sections at a time
Bella's time: 35 minutes
I've been sick (yes, a few days so sick that I didn't do anything) so I'm late finishing up this week's practice challenge.
I need to make myself do more of the Czech even though it is more challenging, so today is about words and notes on Song to the Moon.
I spent the first 15 minutes just listening to the diction lessons and recordings for the first two lines of text, which repeat and take me to m. 45 in the aria.
Today I am learning that I really need a Czech diction coach. Yes, I can listen to the diction lessons and recordings of Czech singers, and read the IPA and instructions for how to make the sounds, but some of them are still really hard and I could use some feedback. [ř] and [Ř] are really hard sounds for me to figure out. The good news is that based on the recordings I've listened too, I'm not alone. I've heard lots of different sounds for these.
All the long phrases and good breath work from previous practices are totally going out the window as I work on getting these words right. I'm trying not to worry about it. It will get better as I get more confident.
I worked with the recordings and did small chunks up to the 2nd chorus. From there to the end, I definitely need to come back and work in more detail, but I did a couple of listens and faked my way through just so I could say I finished. 40 minutes.
Total time today: 55 minutes
The difficulty I am having with the Czech is a great reminder to me to be patient with my students who are new to the languages that now are much easier for me. I'm also thinking that if I can actually get this Czech, I'm ready to jump into some Russian, which I've wanted to do for years. I just need to choose which songs I want to do and find some good recordings to work with.
I need to make myself do more of the Czech even though it is more challenging, so today is about words and notes on Song to the Moon.
I spent the first 15 minutes just listening to the diction lessons and recordings for the first two lines of text, which repeat and take me to m. 45 in the aria.
Today I am learning that I really need a Czech diction coach. Yes, I can listen to the diction lessons and recordings of Czech singers, and read the IPA and instructions for how to make the sounds, but some of them are still really hard and I could use some feedback. [ř] and [Ř] are really hard sounds for me to figure out. The good news is that based on the recordings I've listened too, I'm not alone. I've heard lots of different sounds for these.
All the long phrases and good breath work from previous practices are totally going out the window as I work on getting these words right. I'm trying not to worry about it. It will get better as I get more confident.
I worked with the recordings and did small chunks up to the 2nd chorus. From there to the end, I definitely need to come back and work in more detail, but I did a couple of listens and faked my way through just so I could say I finished. 40 minutes.
Total time today: 55 minutes
The difficulty I am having with the Czech is a great reminder to me to be patient with my students who are new to the languages that now are much easier for me. I'm also thinking that if I can actually get this Czech, I'm ready to jump into some Russian, which I've wanted to do for years. I just need to choose which songs I want to do and find some good recordings to work with.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Practice Challenge Week 3
Session #1
Last week I was sick and didn't get to do a full focused practice session for the last day, so that's where we're starting today.
The goal was 45 minutes working in sections, singing notes and words together.
I'm continuing my work on Im Abendrot and trying to fit in practice between lessons. 10 minutes done.
15 more minutes between lessons got me to the end of this song, working in chunks and working memorize (study then sing).
7 more minutes working the same way on Frühling. Then I took a short singing break to play through the accompaniment. I like to do this, even though I have to play it way under tempo because it helps me get familiar with the harmonic structure and how my notes fit into that. Plus, this one is just fun to play. 13 minutes.
5 more minutes working words and notes together on Beim Schlafengehn
Total--50 minutes, and it was good practice, but I still didn't get the 45 minutes I wanted on just singing words and notes together. I'll try again tomorrow.
Session #2
Decided to try again for the 45 minute session tomorrow and use today to start the practicing based on this week's winner.
As the year progresses, I'm getting fewer practice journals turned in. Ellen Hahn was surprised to learn that she was the winner for this week because she had had a busy week and only got one day of practicing in. The good news is that it was quality practice.
Ellen's Goal: Fake confidence on both songs. (I love this. It's directly related to what we talked about in her lesson.)
Ellen's Strategies: Her practice included warm-ups and sight-reading practice in addition to working on her two songs. (One in English and one in a foreign language).
Last week I was sick and didn't get to do a full focused practice session for the last day, so that's where we're starting today.
The goal was 45 minutes working in sections, singing notes and words together.
I'm continuing my work on Im Abendrot and trying to fit in practice between lessons. 10 minutes done.
15 more minutes between lessons got me to the end of this song, working in chunks and working memorize (study then sing).
7 more minutes working the same way on Frühling. Then I took a short singing break to play through the accompaniment. I like to do this, even though I have to play it way under tempo because it helps me get familiar with the harmonic structure and how my notes fit into that. Plus, this one is just fun to play. 13 minutes.
5 more minutes working words and notes together on Beim Schlafengehn
Total--50 minutes, and it was good practice, but I still didn't get the 45 minutes I wanted on just singing words and notes together. I'll try again tomorrow.
Session #2
Decided to try again for the 45 minute session tomorrow and use today to start the practicing based on this week's winner.
As the year progresses, I'm getting fewer practice journals turned in. Ellen Hahn was surprised to learn that she was the winner for this week because she had had a busy week and only got one day of practicing in. The good news is that it was quality practice.
Ellen's Goal: Fake confidence on both songs. (I love this. It's directly related to what we talked about in her lesson.)
Ellen's Strategies: Her practice included warm-ups and sight-reading practice in addition to working on her two songs. (One in English and one in a foreign language).
- Foreign language song--Focused on keeping one section of the song lighter and more open.
- English Song--sang through twice focusing on space and vowels.
Ellen's Time: 25 minutes
I started with working on "What Would I Give?" This is a great song and not super difficult, but it does have several places where the melody jumps down a 5th, 6th, or 7th. Keeping the vowels lined up and smoothing out those lines is a real challenge. I sang through it once with accompaniment thinking about the space and vowels. Then I isolated some of the trouble spots for more focused attention. When I sang through it the second time, I did it without accompaniment. This helps me to really listen and feel what is happening with the space and vowels. It also quickly exposes tuning issues or notes that aren't as solid as you thought they were. 7 minute.
Then I switched focus to Beim Schlafengehn working from letter E to letter G, since this is the high section where finding that exact resonance and breath connection makes a big difference. I also found that at F, I have to make sure that I'm very loose, even though it is closed vowel. Speaking of big jumps, this one has a 9th going down to an ah vowel. I'll be doing a little drill on that too. I have to keep Zauber lifted at the beginning of the phrase to help the last note of the phrase (the low one) stay lined up. 10 minutes
Went back to the top of 19 where I'm still not solid on notes and words and worked that a little. I'm focusing mostly on notes, but that idea of lifted vowels is also something I am working on here. Lining up the vowels is going to be essential here to use the breath in the most efficient way so I can get through this longer phrase. I'm almost there. 8 minutes.
Going back now to play through the song (see notes for yesterday's practice for why I like this.) 5 minutes.
Today's Total: 30 minutes.
Session #3
Sang though Frühling twice with a few stops to work. Played through once.
Today's Total: 10 minutes
Session #4
Singing words and notes together. 45 minutes is the goal to meet Bella's day 3 from last week.
Started with a few exercises with straws for warm-ups, followed by straws on the high sections and long phrases of Frühling. With the straw and water bottle, I can get through the last phrase. That means it's possible for me to actually sing that. I just need to build up my stamina. 10 minutes.
Yay! My low notes are coming back. The C in the first line feels and sounds much better today.
Did 5 minutes singing and then 5 more just playing to give my voice a little rest. The tessitura of this song makes it very tiring for my voice when I'm just singing straight through. It is getting easier though, so working in chunks and resting when needed is definitely the right strategy for now.
I admit defeat. I'm not going to get 45 minutes of singing the words and notes together on these Strauss songs. It's just physically too difficult.
Switch to my English songs by Vicki Tucker Courtney for a little more sing through time. Using my CDs for accompaniment support. The CD for "What Would I Give?" is just a little fast for me.
Today I am loving "I Am the Wind" although I still don't have a definite choice for the meaning and story of the song. So much potential in this one. 35 minutes.
Total practice time today: 55 minutes.
Session #3
Sang though Frühling twice with a few stops to work. Played through once.
Today's Total: 10 minutes
Session #4
Singing words and notes together. 45 minutes is the goal to meet Bella's day 3 from last week.
Did 5 minutes singing and then 5 more just playing to give my voice a little rest. The tessitura of this song makes it very tiring for my voice when I'm just singing straight through. It is getting easier though, so working in chunks and resting when needed is definitely the right strategy for now.
Today I am loving "I Am the Wind" although I still don't have a definite choice for the meaning and story of the song. So much potential in this one. 35 minutes.
Total practice time today: 55 minutes.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Practice Challenge week 2
This week's winner is Isabella Huerta.
60 minutes. Done. Sometimes it's nice when students don't show up.
Bella's goal: listen and pronounce worlds on rhythm
Bella's time: 36 minutes
Bells'a strategies: clapping, speaking in rhythm
I'm working September today. In addition to speaking the words in rhythm, I'm checking my IPA and translation so I'm getting the pronunciation exact and I'm memorizing the meaning as I work on the words. I'm also working one section at a time and trying to memorize. I also mixed in playing the melody while speaking. This word drill stuff is great for when you can't make a lot of noise singing.
20 minutes took me up to letter E., 2 more minutes between students working the first measures after E, then played piano part from beginning for 5 more minutes.
20 more minutes working to letter B in Beim Schlafengehn focusing on words and rhythm. Then a sing through of Im Abendrot, stopping to drill a few spots. 5 minutes
Today's total focused practice: 52
Total with listening: 62
I love these songs and I don't want to stop practicing, but life and stamina sometimes demand that. I feel like I've made a lot of progress with these songs in this week's practice. Even though I haven't done a lot of work on the breathing, being more certain on the notes, rhythms, and words has helped a lot and phrases I wasn't getting through last week are working this week.
Bella's time: 45 minutes
Bella's strategies: working in sections
Because I went home sick on Wednesday, I didn't remember to grab any of the materials I needed for my practicing. Consequently, I'm doing a modified version of this practice session and will repeat Bella's goals, times, and strategies for this session as my first day of practice for the next week.
Step 1: I did have my IPA and translations saved on the computer and I had access to multiple recordings both on CD and from online sources. The first chunk of today's practice will be writing out the words to Im Abendrot as I listen. That took about 6 minutes.
Step 2: Listen to the one section at a time (multiple times), trying to remember what the music looks like and working on memorizing the words. Did a little bit of marking, but no full singing. Worked on solidifying the memorization of the first two stanzas, letting the meanings of the words help me. 30 minutes.
Step 3: Just listening to this song over and over (different singer each time) as I do prep work for tomorrow's lessons. 40 minutes.
Total minutes for today: 76 (Only 36 minutes focused practice, but as I said, I'll get the rest done on the first day next week.)
Practice Session #1
Bella had a great first practice for the week spending 60 minutes learning the melody to her new song. One of the things I'm discovering is that my students like to sing on loo, but it's actually one of my harder vowels to work with. For compromise, I'm doing some singing on ee and working on improving the resonance of my oo even while I'm learning notes. Also, Song to the Moon is not as new to me as Bella's song is for her, so I'll be doing some other things in this session as well, such as memorizing notes and rhythms and working memorized. Also singing on solfege. It's harder to memorize without words, but my visual memorization (remembering what the notes and rhythms look like) is getting better. I also alternated playing and singing the melody. Also compared similar sections checking rhythm and note changes. Also listened to Renee Fleming once. Then I worked notes for the last couple of lines of September, mostly playing and then buzzing. Also some singing on solfege to solidify the tricky intervals. Did a lot of buzzing to help the breath in the last phrase. Solfege drill for notes top of 14 through page 15. Also drilled on buzz (while playing the melody) on 14 to see how much I can get in one breath. Also played the piano part a lot and drill my part against block chords to feel how it all goes to gather.60 minutes. Done. Sometimes it's nice when students don't show up.
Practice session #2
Listening to the Gundula Janowitz recordings of September and Bein Schlafengehn on Spotify as I did other work. 11 minutes.Bella's goal: listen and pronounce worlds on rhythm
Bella's time: 36 minutes
Bells'a strategies: clapping, speaking in rhythm
I'm working September today. In addition to speaking the words in rhythm, I'm checking my IPA and translation so I'm getting the pronunciation exact and I'm memorizing the meaning as I work on the words. I'm also working one section at a time and trying to memorize. I also mixed in playing the melody while speaking. This word drill stuff is great for when you can't make a lot of noise singing.
20 minutes took me up to letter E., 2 more minutes between students working the first measures after E, then played piano part from beginning for 5 more minutes.
20 more minutes working to letter B in Beim Schlafengehn focusing on words and rhythm. Then a sing through of Im Abendrot, stopping to drill a few spots. 5 minutes
Today's total focused practice: 52
Total with listening: 62
I love these songs and I don't want to stop practicing, but life and stamina sometimes demand that. I feel like I've made a lot of progress with these songs in this week's practice. Even though I haven't done a lot of work on the breathing, being more certain on the notes, rhythms, and words has helped a lot and phrases I wasn't getting through last week are working this week.
A few days off
Practicing was going great this week and then I didn't feel well and didn't do much of anything for a few days. The good news is that the songs have still been going through my head, so I'm not totally ignoring them.Practice session #3
Bella's goal: sing words and notes togetherBella's time: 45 minutes
Bella's strategies: working in sections
Because I went home sick on Wednesday, I didn't remember to grab any of the materials I needed for my practicing. Consequently, I'm doing a modified version of this practice session and will repeat Bella's goals, times, and strategies for this session as my first day of practice for the next week.
Step 1: I did have my IPA and translations saved on the computer and I had access to multiple recordings both on CD and from online sources. The first chunk of today's practice will be writing out the words to Im Abendrot as I listen. That took about 6 minutes.
Step 2: Listen to the one section at a time (multiple times), trying to remember what the music looks like and working on memorizing the words. Did a little bit of marking, but no full singing. Worked on solidifying the memorization of the first two stanzas, letting the meanings of the words help me. 30 minutes.
Step 3: Just listening to this song over and over (different singer each time) as I do prep work for tomorrow's lessons. 40 minutes.
Total minutes for today: 76 (Only 36 minutes focused practice, but as I said, I'll get the rest done on the first day next week.)
Practice Challenge Week 1
I kept thinking that I'd get back to this and make it look more organized and polished, but it didn't happen. So here is the quickly typed version of my practicing based on Ellen Hahn's practice journal for the week.
Yay! A few students are actually turning in practice journals.
As promised, here is the report for week 1 of me using the winner's goals, practice strategies and times.
I'm also adding 3-5 minutes of warm-ups (which most of them are recording, but I hope they're including.
Session #1
Winner's Goals, time, and strategies
G: work on words, learn melody
T:15
S: speak, then sing. Work melody on loo.
My tools:
IPA and word-by-word translation of Beim Schlafengehn
1. speak the words
2. speak the words while playing the notes (to check rhythm and pitch).
3. sing
I did 20 minutes and got through to letter B in a song I haven't worked before. I was surprised at how fast it came together. I know I shouldn't be, but I was.
Session #2
G: B section of Song 2 and review Song
T:20
S: chunks to learn melody
Review Im Abendrot
read translation and IPA (a chunk at a time then sing)--working memorized (study then sing without looking) running out of time so I only worked up to letter E that way, just say through the rest once.
Beim Schlafengehn
focused just on the notes and rhythms B to C, played the melody, played accompaniment, sang with no piano
25 minutes total
It's hard to stop once you get started. Im Abendrot is closer to memorized than I thought, and it's definitely at the stage where I need to be working memorized. The long phrases are much easier when I'm not looking at the music.
Beim Sclafengehn has some weird intervals when you just look at the melody, (they are gorgeous and make sense with the accompaniment), but I seem to be picking them up faster than I did with the other songs. It might also be easier because I have done a lot more listening before learning this song. Excited for the next practice session when I should be able to get to my favorite part of the song.
Session #3
G: difficult sections
T:20
S: sang through several times, worked sections, worked on sustaining dynamics
Doing this is in small chunks today between lessons, etc.
I'm having drainage and breathing problems again, and the songs I'm working are beastly difficult, so I won't be singing through several times on the new rep.
Buzzing through "Repetition"--which I think is perfect for repetitive practice. Quick warm-up and 3 times of this song 2 buzzing and one singing) during my 10 minute break.
What Would I Give? Read a little more about Rossetti and explored more about what the poem might mean in terms of both the depression she dealt with and her religious life. Digging into the meaning definitely helps with dynamics and phrase shaping. I still don't have any definitive answers, but I love the song more each time I sing it. Today I buzzed twice and sang twice. Including the reading, I spent about 15 minutes on this song.
I'm learning that my ADD definitely figures into my practice. I have a hard time getting going sometimes, but then I don't want to stop. All my times this week have exceeded those that the student did because I just wanted to do more.
Worked letter D to E in September since this is one of the most difficult places for me for the breath. Plus, I'm still not 100% on the notes for sterbenden. 5 minutes.
Total practice time today:30 minutes.
Oops. Thought I was done practicing, but then I read through the notes from the session before and remembered that I wanted to do the fun part of Beim Sclafengehn, so I'm back again.
Started out playing my notes, then the accompaniment, one phrase at a time. Worked up to the last page. Just sang the last page for fun a few times because I like it. 10 more minutes for a total of 40 minutes today when I didn't think I had much time.
More…I just listened to 17 minutes of professional recordings of the Strauss songs while I reconciled lessons and emailed lesson notes. That tells me two things. Number 1, I can make contact with my music while doing other things, and two, it takes too long to reconcile.
Yay! A few students are actually turning in practice journals.
As promised, here is the report for week 1 of me using the winner's goals, practice strategies and times.
I'm also adding 3-5 minutes of warm-ups (which most of them are recording, but I hope they're including.
Session #1
Winner's Goals, time, and strategies
G: work on words, learn melody
T:15
S: speak, then sing. Work melody on loo.
My tools:
IPA and word-by-word translation of Beim Schlafengehn
1. speak the words
2. speak the words while playing the notes (to check rhythm and pitch).
3. sing
I did 20 minutes and got through to letter B in a song I haven't worked before. I was surprised at how fast it came together. I know I shouldn't be, but I was.
Session #2
G: B section of Song 2 and review Song
T:20
S: chunks to learn melody
Review Im Abendrot
read translation and IPA (a chunk at a time then sing)--working memorized (study then sing without looking) running out of time so I only worked up to letter E that way, just say through the rest once.
Beim Schlafengehn
focused just on the notes and rhythms B to C, played the melody, played accompaniment, sang with no piano
25 minutes total
It's hard to stop once you get started. Im Abendrot is closer to memorized than I thought, and it's definitely at the stage where I need to be working memorized. The long phrases are much easier when I'm not looking at the music.
Beim Sclafengehn has some weird intervals when you just look at the melody, (they are gorgeous and make sense with the accompaniment), but I seem to be picking them up faster than I did with the other songs. It might also be easier because I have done a lot more listening before learning this song. Excited for the next practice session when I should be able to get to my favorite part of the song.
Session #3
G: difficult sections
T:20
S: sang through several times, worked sections, worked on sustaining dynamics
Doing this is in small chunks today between lessons, etc.
I'm having drainage and breathing problems again, and the songs I'm working are beastly difficult, so I won't be singing through several times on the new rep.
Buzzing through "Repetition"--which I think is perfect for repetitive practice. Quick warm-up and 3 times of this song 2 buzzing and one singing) during my 10 minute break.
What Would I Give? Read a little more about Rossetti and explored more about what the poem might mean in terms of both the depression she dealt with and her religious life. Digging into the meaning definitely helps with dynamics and phrase shaping. I still don't have any definitive answers, but I love the song more each time I sing it. Today I buzzed twice and sang twice. Including the reading, I spent about 15 minutes on this song.
I'm learning that my ADD definitely figures into my practice. I have a hard time getting going sometimes, but then I don't want to stop. All my times this week have exceeded those that the student did because I just wanted to do more.
Worked letter D to E in September since this is one of the most difficult places for me for the breath. Plus, I'm still not 100% on the notes for sterbenden. 5 minutes.
Total practice time today:30 minutes.
Oops. Thought I was done practicing, but then I read through the notes from the session before and remembered that I wanted to do the fun part of Beim Sclafengehn, so I'm back again.
Started out playing my notes, then the accompaniment, one phrase at a time. Worked up to the last page. Just sang the last page for fun a few times because I like it. 10 more minutes for a total of 40 minutes today when I didn't think I had much time.
More…I just listened to 17 minutes of professional recordings of the Strauss songs while I reconciled lessons and emailed lesson notes. That tells me two things. Number 1, I can make contact with my music while doing other things, and two, it takes too long to reconcile.
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