Posting this to bring you a smile!
Imagine you are on your way to work early one morning, you just managed to stumble your way to the metro and suddenly a single flute starts playing a familiar melody, you turn around and suddenly a whole orchestra joins in, and Edvard Grieg’s beautiful “morning mood” fills the wagon. Wouldn’t this bring a smile to your day?
This is what happened in Copenhagen metro in April. Thank you Copenhagen Philharmonic!
ENJOY the MUSIC!
A great article about being an opera singer, but more importantly about exposure of opera. (Or the the lack of…)
Food for thought and action?
” Shouldn’t you be fatter?” (and other opera singer myths)
Written by Jennifer Rivera, please keep blogging: We like what we hear!
Ever wonder what roles would be great for your voice?
This site will ask you to write in a few operatic roles which you feel are perfect for your voicetype/range/tessitura, and then gives you a list with similar roles to study. A fun, easy way to get some inspiration of what to learn!
We have a plan to write something about FACH’s later on. But we also ask our readers to suggest what topics they would like to know more about. (Or perhaps you have something you’d like to share?) Please do not hesitate to contact us!
Today we want to make you smile!
These videos will make you giggle in recognition!
We hope they will brighten your day, even if you feel guilty of saying it often yourself!
———–
Do you feel they forgot some of the s*** we singers say? Please share them with us, write a comment and make us see some of the weird things we do or force others to listen to! (Or even better: Make a video-reply on youtube?)
Today we will bring POLYPS on the vocal chord to your attention.
We all dread that something would happen to our instrument. So how can you know that something might be wrong with the two small muscles down your throat? Please read on, because having an awareness on how YOUR instrument works and feels, is very important for a healthy long lived voice. And to know what to do, and what to look/feel for.
What is a polyp?
“A polyp is a specific and clearly demarcated mass (“mass” simply means “lump,” and does not imply cancer or precancerous lesion) us
ually found at the midpoint the vocal cord. This typical location suggests that polyps are the result of phonotrauma, the physical stresses on the vocal fold which occur with heavy voice use or voice use under adverse circumstances. Some believe that polyps are formed by localized bleeding of the small blood vessels of the vocal folds when they are ruptured by shear forces.”
——————————————————–
What could be signs and symptoms of vocal chord polyps?
Nodules and polyps cause similar symptoms:
http://www.asha.org/
Other symptoms and advice (from a singers point of view)
How is a polyp treated?
“Voice rest, often prescribed in cases of hoarseness, may improve the voice somewhat, but is not likely to make a polyp go away. Voice rest serves soften and dissolve associated swelling, but the polyp itself is generally too firm and bulky to shrink significantly.
Nodules and polyps may be treated medically, surgically, and/or behaviorally. Surgical intervention involves removing the nodule or polyp from the vocal cord. This approach only occurs when the nodules or polyps are very large or have existed for a long time. Surgery is rare for children. Medical problems may be treated to reduce their impact on the vocal cords. This includes treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), allergies, and thyroid problems. Medical intervention to stop smoking or to control stress is sometimes needed.
Many people receive behavioral intervention, or voice therapy, from an SLP. Voice therapy involves teaching good vocal hygiene, reducing/stopping vocal abusive behaviors, and direct voice treatment to alter pitch, loudness, or breath support for good voicing. Stress reduction techniques and relaxation exercises are often taught as well.” (taken from asha.org)
How does this affect a singer?
The time you would need to stay silent and work with your voice without singing may vary. But if you have a broad-based polyp and underwent an operation you would need to be completely silent for a week. After that you would NOT sing properly for about two months, meaning you can’t work in that period. You’d also need to go to a speech therapist who would train you and guide your way back to healthy singing (and general use of your voice).
This you would of course need to discuss with your doctor, who knows what its best in your case. Uncertain of which doctor you should choose? Ask your colleges!
Practitioners are called otolaryngologists–head and neck surgeons, or sometimes otorhinolaryngologists (ORL).
I have a great “gadget-related” advice!
We all know the scenario: You have to hit the road for some reason, staying away from home. This means that you’ll need to pack your bags: You’ll need to bring your music, (maybe even scores you need to study), a small portable keyboard, books, dictionaries, etc. Oh, and yes: of course some clothes, a galladress perhaps, shoes, hair and makeup products…….*SIGH*
I might be the only one, but I hate that I have to bring a donkey-cart with stuff everywhere I go. Even for smaller trips I would like to carry as little as possible!
So what is the best investment?
An iPad.
No, I’m not working for Apple, (that would mean I had a steady and probably awesome income, and I don’t), but seriously: It has made my life SO much easier when it comes to traveling. In more than one way.
Here’s a word for you,
get familiar with it if you aren’t: APPS (application software)
These (often free!) amazing little programs are your best friends. But first you need to buy yourself an iPad. Yep, it’s worth it. Then you go to app store and have a look. But to help you a bit on your way I will now share mine!
So, what can you do with your iPad?
———————————————————————–
So plan ahead & fill up your iPad and never have a dull moment when traveling again.
It’s kind of easy. You are about to travel on tour; Which pile do you want to carry around?
This one or the one below?
I hope that this post was inspiring or helpful. If you have any great app’s to share please feel free to write us!
We will do our very best to answer all comments & questions!
UPDATE! Funny enough another article was brought to our attention today, about iPad and musicians!
Take a look at New York Times!
Aah-choo!
Oh yes, the flu and cold-season is upon us, and who fears it more then us?
Unfortunately we singers, although we should be excused, also get sick from cold, flu and tonsillitis. And often (you can count on it if you have an important audition or concert) loose your voice.
So what to do when you get the flu, tonsillitis or just loose your voice? Well, there is just so much one can do when you first get sick, but luckily it exists some great “old knowledge” on the subject.
Are usually caused by a virus, (but could also be caused by bacteria). Please consult your physician!
Here are some advice to relieve the general pain and discomfort and hopefully help you regain your voice as soon as possible! This are supposed to be complimentary treatments to facilitate healing and provide relief!
Some great remedies you can make yourself!
Homemade mixture
1 onion (chopped, not too small)
2 large spoons with honey
Mix onion and honey together in a screw-top jar. Leave it overnight.
You can then take a spoonful of the liquid whenever you feel you need it. (Soothing/relieving).
You can keep it in your fridge for about 3 days. (Also great against coughs).
Both onion and honey have anti-microbial properties
Influenza (flu)
Are caused by different types of viruses. There isn’t really much medicine to take if you get it, but you can take some paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve
the muscle ache and fewer. Get lots of rest, drink plenty of liquids and stay away from tobacco and alcohol.
Treat that stuffy nose
Salt-water rinsing helps break nasal congestion, while also removing virus particles and bacteria from your nose. Here’s a popular recipe:
Mix 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda in 8 ounces of warm water. Use a bulb syringe to squirt water into the nose. Hold one nostril closed by applying light finger pressure while squirting the salt mixture into the other nostril. Let it drain. Repeat two to three times, then treat the other nostril.
– Garrrrrgle
Gargling can moisten a sore throat and bring temporary relief. Try half a teaspoon of salt dissolved in 8 ounces warm water, four times daily. To reduce the tickle in your throat, try an astringent gargle — such as tea that contains tannin — to tighten the membranes. Or use a thick, viscous gargle made with honey, popular in folk medicine. Seep one tablespoon of raspberry leaves or lemon juice in two cups of hot water; mix with one teaspoon of honey. Let the mixture cool to room temperature before gargling.
– Try remedies that contains Thymus. For example: Fenu-Thyme. (Supposedly great in helping the respiratory system).
– Breathe Aromatic Steam
– Fill the bathroom or kitchen sink with steaming water, and add two teaspoons chopped fresh ginger (Zingiber officinalis). Drape a towel over your head and lean over the steam to get maximum benefit. Or add one teaspoon of the over-the-counter ointment Vicks VapoRub® to the steaming water, then breathe in the steam for several minutes until you get relief. Another flu remedy is to add a few drops of oil of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) or menthol to the water. Eucalyptus is known to open up bronchial tubes, ease congestion, and make breathing easier.
– Rest, drink lots of liquids, sleep, rest, drink, sleep!
——————–
Hopefully you will recover quickly and be singing again in no time!
We hope some of these advice have been helpful!
Get well!
Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner, Verdi, Rossini and all their talented friends miss you….
We are starting out by sharing five very good online tools for learning music. Many have probably all ready found these wonderful sites, but for you out there
who are not familiar with them, take a look!
————————————–
Wondering what your role sings about in your opera aria?
Are there more arias for that role?
What fach it is?
What is the range?
Want to find a libretto and translation?
This is a great place to start if you want to search online!
—————————————-
You are going to sing a recital?
You need to find translations?
Maybe browse for specific songs or composers?
You will find amazing help here!
——————————————–
This is a great tool if you don’t play the piano.
You get great help finding your notes when learning the melody.
A pianist have recorded the piano-part, so this is actually like karaoke. Opera Karaoke. (They also have video now, for the text)
Great if you are to sing at family events/just for fun and you don’t have a piano or pianist available.
Or you’d like to practice at home, testing if that aria or song was correct for you.
They also recorded the pronunciation. Handy if you don’t want to pay lots for language coaching in the beginning.
Easy to download and can be used in any mp3-players, iPods/iPhone and computers.
—————————-
Didn’t have the time (or forgot) to go the library and finding scores?
Wondering if a role is correct for you? (pitch/tessitura etc)
Or just study at home?Need to print a score asap?
—————————————————————————————————————————-
“Singing is a way of escaping. It’s another world. I’m no longer on earth.”
Edith Piaf“Singing becomes a form of therapy.”
Placido Domingo
Ahem….Welcome!
It makes us happy to see that you have found your way to the very first post of our new blog; Tessitura.
Meaning: the ‘best’ or most comfortable pitch range, of course talking about singing.
We would like this blog to be a tool, a place for you to find (and maybe share?) some advice on topics related to the art (and life!) of singing.
As a singer you know that the voice often seems to live it’s own life, being prone to illness and sometimes being plain moody! Taking an unannounced holiday without telling you where it went or when it will be back. But there are lots of advice out there! We want to collect and share the experience on some of the uncertainties you can run into as a singer. For example; vocal health, vocal fachs, traveling & audition advice, general health/nutrition, music resources online, great books/biographies, where to find translations, polls, helpful and inspiring quotes, etc.
NB! We always recommend you to seek professional medical help or/and singing teacher if you have severe trouble with your voice. Only use this as general advice.
We also want this to be a fun place, so watch out for silly music-related jokes, pictures and videos who hopefully brings a smile to your face!
Want to share something with us?
Did your teacher give you an amazing advice?
Do you think there is something in; “do not to eat before singing?”
Do you know of any fantastic online music resources?
Please share with us!
Use the email if you want to have it posted or comment on an existing thread.
Tessitura 