SINGING
Singing, to me, is not just a hobby. It is a lifestyle and it is also what I enjoy most. To the uneducated eye, singing appears to be a simple process. However, that thought is far from accurate. There are several reasons that have prompted me to become the singer and performer I am today. Many of which are attributed to the beauty of vocal technique and a desire to learn more about the internal instrument that I am so lucky to possess. If one is to ask any singer or teacher of voice, they will explain that it is imminent to understand how the voice works and how to obtain proper breathing in order to take the first steps in becoming a singer.
Vocal Technique There are several ways to establish a styling in one’s voice. However, in order to do so, one must understand the different techniques of the voice. Vocal resonation is a very common term amongst the average vocabulary of any singer or performer. Resonation, in simple terms, is a process to strengthen the intensity of the sound that is produced by the singing voice. The result of resonation is a much richer, darker sound. Vibrato is also a technique that singers can use. In contrast to
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A singer must breathe in by using the diaphragm and continue to tighten one’s stomach muscles to control the air supply flowing out. A good indication of whether or not a proper breathing technique is being used is to look at one’s stomach during the respiration process. If one inhales and their stomach expands, they have engaged their diaphragm. One way to look at it is backwards breathing: breathe in and let the stomach expand and when the breath is let out, allow the stomach to come back in at a constant rate. Breath support is particularly important because if not used properly, damage can be done to the vocal chords. “Holding at the glottis can be very injurious to the throat.” (Breath and support
The manifestation of roots music from African immigrants developed into American musical genres such as spirituals, blues, and gospel music. As the centuries progressed, spirituals and work songs extended to comprise distinctive song genres, particularly the blues of southern blacks. Work songs and spirituals from African Americans are regarded as a window into their cultural life, their songs interconnect the optimisms, burdens, and beliefs of slavery. Music was imbedded into life, songs were hummed on front porches, chanted in churches, and caroled in the fields. Melodies were passed down from parent to child and through connotations they mirrored the changing times.
Another technique we have to learn in choir practice is we learn now to pronounce vowels and consonants correctly. An example of that would be pronouncing out “D”s as light “T”s. We also have to keep our mouth round and you cannot smile while you’re singing or else it ruins the effect of the vowels. One thing we always always must do is to pronounce the consonants loudly. What our conductors always make us do to help us remember this is to say “We LoVe ouR CoNSoNaNTS!”.
The concert was on March 13, 2014 at 12:30 pm the performers were Lisa Fujita, Brendan O’Donnell, Daniel Mitnitsky, Yannick Rafalimanana they performed five different Piano Quartet pieces. The first was a Piano Quartet No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 15 it was Allegro Molto Moderato, the next was III. Adagio and both of these pieces were written by Gabriel Faure. The next was a Piano Quartet in E-Flat Major, Op.47, called Sostenuto assai- Allegro ma non troppo this was written by Robert Schumann. Lastly there is the Piano Quartet in G-minor, K.493, I. Allegro, III. Allegretto and these two pieces were by W. A. Mozart. This was not the exact order and they did change a few thing like the way things would be played and they change the Quartet from E-Flat major to G-Minor because they said that it was difficult to play. By playing different types of music they offered us diverse experience. I really enjoyed the entire performance. Each of the Performers played a different instrument. Lisa Fujita played the violin, Brendan played the viola, Daniel played the cello and Yannick played the piano. Each of them played a very important role. Each of the performers looked calm and as if they knew what they were doing, they were dressed very formally but the audience was not dressed as formally due to the fact that it was during the school day and the event wasn’t a black tie event.
I’ve always loved music and singing, even as a kid. It has always been my passion. Performing on stage is what actually broke me out of my shell. Going into highschool I was very awkward and shy, but music helped me conquer my social awkwardness. Music has helped me give back to my community in ways I never thought of, seeing the smiles on people’s faces when I sing is one of the greatest feelings ever and I cherish it, and the applause when I’m done makes me feel all warm inside. Performing and helping others perform is something I love to do and it helped me find my place in the world. Learning a new song is fantastic experience as well.
Music is a passion of mine, this comes with my love for performing on-stage. I play guitar in the School Ensemble and clarinet in the School Concert. I was also proud to be awarded a third place for reciting the Quran (in Arabic) at the Annual Qirath Competition 2014, which is indeed a vocal competition.
Written in the 1860s, I Hear America Singing, by the American poet, Walt Whitman describes the Song of America. This classic poem glows with Whitman’s optimistic view of the American dream that appears in many of his poems. Though life in the 21st century is very different from that of the 1800s, the principles embodied in Whitman’s free-verse poem still apply to our country. Whitman’s poem was the embodiment of the American dream, the idea that you could achieve success and happiness no matter your background. Whether your song is that of the mechanic’s, the carpenter, the mason, or even the CEO at the spire of a skyscraper, your song can become a success. This is the topic of my poem. America’s song is a still a great symphony comprised of the high notes of hope, the chorus of promise and opportunity, and rhythm of tension and balance.
Musicals also provide me with an emotional outlet. When enthralled by a member of the opposite sex, I am wont to burst into a performance of "Maria" from West Side Story. After an exhaustive football practice, my lips chant "I'm Free" from the rock opera Tommy; and at my desk, feeling haughty after getting the highest grade on a calculus test, I sing quietly, "I am the very model of a modern Major-General," from The Pirates of Penzance. I can delve into the recesses of my mind and produce a piece fitting for any occasion, and I take pride in this ability.
Vocal elements such as pitch, projection, articulation, tone and pace are essential in the assemblance of a successful
Music has been ingrained in the American heart for generations. From African American slaves singing songs to boost the overall happiness of the people they worked with (Songs in Slave Society, 2009) to the Beatles performance on The Ed Sullivan Show that was seen by 73 million people, or 40 percent of the U.S. population. (Lule, 2012) With the explosion in the popularity of owning a home radio, it has further shaped American culture and its values. In 1922 there were 60,000 households in the United States with radios; by 1929 the number had topped 10 million. (David Marc, 2000) When radio stations started, creating programming, it started breaking down racial bonds, not immediately there were still white only radio stations, yet Black radio became more common on the AM dial. (Lule, 2012) With varying musical styles that could be picked up on any radio by any race, enabling people to gain insight into different cultures, bringing with it, acceptance of those differences. Early Black disc jockeys even began improvising rhymes over the music, pioneering techniques that later became rap and hip-hop. This new personality-driven style helped bring early rock and roll to new audiences. (Lule, 2012) Between the years 1960 and 1966, the number of households capable of receiving FM transmissions grew from about 6.5 million to some 40 million. (Lule, 2012) During the sixties music was a platform for artists to share their feelings on many different social issues, including civil rights and race relations; drugs, affluence, and consumerism; the Cold War; Vietnam and the peace movement; the sexual revolution; women’s liberation; and ecological and environmental concerns. (Ward, 2002)
made their own translation of the psalms. The Bay Psalm Book was the first book
To get the best voice of singing, breathe properly and deeply, with the expanding outward diaphragm, as breathing is in the respiratory system of the vocal instrument. Then, sing the scales, go up to the voice range and go down. It can relax the vocal folds and expand the capacity of the lungs (McCoy, 2004). For example, start warm-up exercises with ‘br’ in different notes and sing ‘nor’ in 5-note scales with different range.
As a result, audiences today want a sound that contrasts with the full, constant vibrato used in singing today, such as is found in straight-tone singing, and a sound that contrasts with twentieth century minimalism, such as is found in ornamented melodies.
The hit musical "Singin' in the Rain" may possibly be one of if not the greatest musicals of all time. With it's tale of the film world of the mid 1920's and its creative underlining love story between Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) and Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds), it provokes the interest of someone who would not generally be attracted to a musical. It is a classic masterpiece that set the standards that musical films of today will be judged by. It is a classic performance by the great Gene Kelly and displays outstanding performances by Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor. As well as starring in this brilliant movie, Gene Kelly teams up with Stanley Donen to make their mark in film history.
Actors are more than just people who portray dramatic characters on a movie screen, stage, and television. Professional actors tend to make more money than most other careers. Actors bring joy to the people who watch them perform, and take them out of the real world and into the creative world of visual communication. Performers can show more than just joy, they can also bring happiness, sorrow, fear and even comedy. Acting can be a very versatile profession. It is way for many people to refine themselves. Performing is not only about getting into a role but understanding the extent of one’s imagination. There is a lot of preparing that goes into a performance than just reading a few lines. Acting is a paradigm. Acting is very different now compared to when it first started. In todays world acting is a fast growing career and well respected. but over 200 years ago it was not that way.
The term "Performance Art" started in the United States in the 60's. It was originally used to describe any live artistic event, which included poets, filmmakers, musicians, dancers, etc. Even though the descriptive word came about in the 1960's, there were earlier precedents for performance art. The live performances of the Dadaist meshed poetry and visual arts. The German Bauhaus, founded in 1919, included theater workshops that explored the relationship between space, sound and light. Direct influence also came about later in the 50's on through the 60's with the Beatniks and the happenings that took place in the Lower East Village in NYC. Earlier movements such as the Italian Futurists were also very involved in paving the way for what was to come in the 70’s.