Week 14!

 Summary

This week we focused on real examples of performers and applied our knowledge from the semester to their work. Not only did we identify and diagnose "issues" (I use that word in quotations because many of them had very good technique and sound, but these are minute areas of improvement for a masterclass setting) but we compiled ways to address and improve them. 

I thought it would be fun to do this to my old self! Since we were watching past NATS videos, I pulled up my NATS National Preliminary videos from high school (taped in the good ol' UWM Recital hall!). I won't bother with regrets or embarrassment, that is not constructive! And, honestly, knowing what I know now about my own voice and its problems, and knowing that I did advance to Nationals, I am pretty proud of these recordings. Now, I am going to drop the links and make some OBJECTIVE comments about this "stranger" and what she could work on!

#1- Everybody Loves Louis, Sunday in the Park with George

https://youtu.be/xZhfWCoMcb8

-thinner fold on upper pitches, sound is "grabbing" at times with too thick of production

-also may be that the larynx is a bit too low, not allowing the natural rise and flexibility of the muscles

-grounding in the lower body may help with the anxious feet/body 

--->although, props for having a clavicular breath that appears to successfully support sustained phrases

#2- So Anyway, Next to Normal

https://youtu.be/CaZokCQnfvo

-first, I will acknowledge that this song is for a character much older than I am. However, it fit really well in my voice at the time, was in "The Singer's Musical Theatre Anthology," and is from an all-time favorite show of mine:)

-similar comments to above with the body, especially

-this is a more delicate sound, which is nice, but could still take some sweetening through thyroid tilt or higher laryngeal position. The tongue is maybe getting in the way of this as well. 

#3: Look at Me Now, The Wild Party

https://youtu.be/kCDxcXKlQqs

-very opening line is too pretty! Needs more "yell" (symbolic)

--->although most of these musical theatre numbers maintain a belt recipe with brightness and thickening, the very start of this one could use more "dirt" perhaps with some false fold engagement, more space in the oral cavity (higher velum with higher tongue?)

-there could be more sloppiness in the diction with more movement in the mouth and less pointed articulation--the character is drunk, after all!

Overall this singer did a nice job and has a great foundation in her technique, but has a long way to go if she continues with music:)