by Michael Mayer | Mar 29, 2011 | Facial Resonance, Mask, Nasal Resonance, Nasality
J: Michael, As the others have mentioned, yours is a GREAT description/delineation of certain parts of projecting the human voice. Obviously, Mr. Jussi B was-NOT guilty of the old term, nasality, as we assume it to be, in it’s usual connotations. Do you know-of...
by Michael Mayer | Mar 28, 2011 | Facial Resonance, Mask, Nasal Resonance, Nasality
E: Michael, You are a superb analyst. I’ve been meaning to write about your piece in the recent JBS newsletter. It is brilliant. I just haven’t found the time … but I will … after I get back from NYC (I leave domani). One correction: I was also...
by Michael Mayer | Mar 27, 2011 | Facial Resonance, Jussi, Mask, Nasal Resonance, Nasality
I am posting some of my comments from a discussion on the Jussi Björling Yahoo Group that started as an assessment of Joseph Calleja’s Met performance in Lucia di Lammermoor. The topic swung to discussing nasality in singing. First are some of the comments that...
by Michael Mayer | Mar 21, 2011 | Balanced Function, Glottal/Cord Closure, Open Throat, Q&A, Support
Would you say that good breath control, an open throat, etc. are causes or results of proper technique? Or do they cause each other? I think the reason I’m asking is because many people seem to put a lot of emphasis on deliberately lifting the soft palate or...
by Michael Mayer | Feb 22, 2011 | Gillis Bratt, Joseph Hislop, Jussi, Swedish/Italian School
I had an article published in the recent Journal of the Jussi Björling Society-USA. It can be read at the website. http://vocalwisdom.com/JBS-Article It discusses the major influences in the development of the tenor Jussi...
by Michael Mayer | Jan 28, 2011 | Q&A, Vowel Modification
Again I have a response to a comment from the previous post. This time regarding the Vowel Modification discussion. You can find the complete comment here: http://vocalwisdom.com/n9v The “Aggiustimento” as it is often referred to, or migrating of vowels (which is...
by Michael Mayer | Jan 19, 2011 | Balanced Function, High Notes, Passaggio, Q&A, Registers, Spreading, Vowel Modification
I know there are a few different opinions on vowel modification for classical singers. One: to indeed change the vowel toward (UH or OE) when ascending the scale. or Two: to not change the vowel but adjust the space or shape of the resonators but still think the pure...
by Michael Mayer | Jan 17, 2011 | Dark Resonance, Non-Classical Singer, Soprano, Spreading
It only seems natural that our discussion of Josh Groban would turn to others of his type. So we have some good comments from readers about Sarah Brightman that I would like to highlight and contribute to. She provides some good examples for us to learn from....
by Michael Mayer | Jan 14, 2011 | Non-Classical Singer, Q&A, SLS
Hi Michael, As we both know, the Swedish/Italian school is based off of the premise of singing naturally and freely, and employs Old World principles of singing without forcing and making an artificial sound with the voice, principles which are preached in modern...
by Michael Mayer | Jan 12, 2011 | Posture, Q&A
First of all I would like to thank you for the effort and consideration you have given toward answering my questions. It seems that correct breathing is a function of correct posture. More specifically, through careful studying of my own torso in front of body-length...
by Michael Mayer | Jan 6, 2011 | Dark Resonance, Forcing, Q&A
Subject: Having to teach more popular singers and the frustration of them wanting big sounds before they have fundamentals down. Dear Michael, I want to thank you for your great articles. I have voice students read them all the time, and it is a great help; I wish you...
by Michael Mayer | Dec 30, 2010 | Coup de Glotte, Glottal/Cord Closure, Glottis, Q&A
Do you have some suggestions about how to get proper closure at the larynx? ———————————————————— This is a very important question to get correct....
by Michael Mayer | Dec 29, 2010 | Uncategorized
Sorry if you felt my comment complicated things. That was not the intent. I have always felt that a good functioning voice can work independent of style. The original comment did imply that a singer could sing all types and styles of music simply because they had good...
by Michael Mayer | Dec 27, 2010 | Balanced Function, Natural Singing, Style
Michael, that was an excellent discussion on how to sing. TOO MANY singers strive for a certain sound, whether it is operatic or pop. And in striving to create a sound, they destroy the ability to actually communicate meaning. The only addition I would make is some...
by Michael Mayer | Dec 26, 2010 | Instinctive Function, Natural Singing, Q&A, Style
Contrary to what some “modern vocal coaches” will try to tell us, it is indeed possible to competently sing many styles using classical technique. However, many people seem to think that an open throat is what causes people to have the characteristic...
by Michael Mayer | Dec 21, 2010 | Low Larynx, Q&A
I understand that the larynx needs to remain in a slightly lowered position than normal speech for singing, which is generally achieved through deep inhalation. Some students really struggle to keep it stable as they ascend the scale. I think it just comes with time...
by Michael Mayer | Dec 17, 2010 | Balanced Function, Breathing, Forcing, Q&A, Raspy Voice
Hello, one of my students gets a hoarse voice after even short bouts of singing and it appears she has a good technique. what do you suggest? She’s been to the ENT and that showed nothing....
by Michael Mayer | Dec 15, 2010 | Breathing, Connection, Posture, Q&A, Support
Thank you for your detailed responses, as well as your detailed articles on your website, they really help a lot. If you don’t mind me asking more questions, I have a couple more if that is alright. Concerning the “slightly in and up” abdominals, is...
by Michael Mayer | Dec 13, 2010 | Uncategorized
I will be unavailable for a couple days. Thank you.
by Michael Mayer | Dec 8, 2010 | Guest Author, Tessitura
Discussion of Tessitura by Guest Author Beatrice The only way to really know the tessitura of a piece of music or an entire operatic role is to go through the music and take note of where most of the notes lie. Knowing the range, or the highest and lowest notes, is...
by Michael Mayer | Nov 30, 2010 | Breathing, Q&A, Support
I was wondering if I could obtain your opinion on a matter of breath management. Lamperti emphasizes the importance of compressed breath (which I gather, is from the correct amount of contraction in all muscles between the waist and pelvis) and a well positioned...
by Michael Mayer | Nov 25, 2010 | Uncategorized
In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday here in the States, I am offering a complimentary mini-consultation for anyone who joins my e-mail list this weekend. Just fill in the short opt-in form below and if you want to receive the mini-consultation let me know through my...
by Michael Mayer | Oct 27, 2010 | Bass Voice, Connection, Fach, Q&A, Registers
First of all, thanks for the information you’ve provided on your site. It’s very informative on the “why”s of vocal technique. Can bass singers (especially a basso profundo like me) sing and sustain the tenor range in full voice in a healthy...
by Michael Mayer | Oct 20, 2010 | Balanced Function, Breathing, Larynx, Q&A, Vibrato
I’ve observed that a vast majority of opera singers and even contemporary singers have a constant quiver in their tongue as they sing, it tends to quiver more so when they sing the higher notes. how does this happen? my singing teacher does it, and when I asked...
by Michael Mayer | Oct 18, 2010 | Balanced Function, Fach, Q&A
I have been trying not to worry too much about “sound”, since, like you said, it’s such a big problem of students and teachers today to focus on sound rather than on how the voice works. But that IS something that has been occupying my mind. I have...
by Michael Mayer | Sep 27, 2010 | Glottis, Passaggio, Q&A, Registers
I am curious about the idea of register balancing. After reading your e-mail, this concept seems all the more important. It seems to me, that after practicing the descending [u], my voice feels more flexible, lighter, and crisper. Of course there maybe is another...
by Michael Mayer | Sep 26, 2010 | Balanced Function, Q&A, Vibrato
Michael, I found you via David Jones. He has recommended that I contact you to pursue some vocal training. I have sung in various choirs over many years and love to sing. However, I’ve been disappointed in that I’m not able to sing with vibrato...
by Michael Mayer | Sep 25, 2010 | Balanced Function, Fatigue, Q&A, Raspy Voice, Stamina, Voice Type
I have a few questions.. My voice gets raspy very soon if i talk for like 10 mins. Is it becuz of my placement? When i went to the speech therapy, i can feel my voice is hitting the hard palate, but now i cant. Is it a problem? My old choir teacher thinks that i am a...
by Michael Mayer | Sep 13, 2010 | Messa di voce, Passaggio, Q&A, Registers
I read the answer to my question about the passagio, and it was extremely informative. I would also like to thank you for simply taking the time to reply to my questions and provide thoughtful answers. It took me some time to reply to your e-mail because I was...
by Michael Mayer | Sep 9, 2010 | Jussi, Video
On this date 50 years ago the Swedish tenor Jussi Björling died in his sleep. He was 49 years old. Regular readers of this blog are probably aware of my admiration for this singer. I feel he is the closest to a perfect example of healthy singing function we have...
