by Michael Mayer | Sep 8, 2010 | Function, Guest Author, Teaching, Voice Teacher
A long-time reader contributed these comments to my post about Vocal Problems. I felt they were so important I made a post just for them so they wouldn’t be missed. She speaks from many years of experience and I appreciate her continued support. I hope everyone...
by Michael Mayer | Sep 7, 2010 | Function, Q&A, Tension, Vocal Abuse
I am suffering from hoarseness while singing and i cannot sing in a soft tone anymore. I have chronic laryngitis, and its pretty annoying because that is causing a lot of problem to my voice. I have been to several ENTs but they all said my throat is fine, there are...
by Michael Mayer | Sep 6, 2010 | Coup de Glotte, Lamperti, Larynx, Manuel Garcia, Perfect Attack, Q&A
Thank you for your response! I appreciate you taking the time and effort to help me. Being a string player since a young age, I can associate with the eloquent image you presented of “switching strings” at appropriate places. “So make sure your...
by Michael Mayer | Aug 31, 2010 | Function, Instinctive Function, Singing, Villazon
Tim: I guess my evaluation of Rolando Villazon goes back to my days as a basketball coach. I used to have kids who had great skills honed by daily hours spent on the playground. They could really play the game in such a way that it was beautiful just to watch their...
by Michael Mayer | Aug 17, 2010 | High Notes, Jussi, Mezza Voce, Q&A, Tension
I have a question regarding technique, in this case the (almost) lost art of mezza voce. For all his brilliant top notes I think some of Jussi Björling’s most memorable moments are those in which he is able to sing a high note softly but with a full ravishing...
by Michael Mayer | Aug 1, 2010 | Larynx, Passaggio, Perfect Attack
Thank you for the detailed response to my previous question. It was quite a pleasure to be able to read something of a scientific and analytical approach. I was wondering if you could give me advice on a more personal vocal problem. It seems that I am unable to sing...
by Michael Mayer | Jul 31, 2010 | Coup de Glotte, Glottis, Perfect Attack
I was studying your website, and I came upon the idea of the Coup de Glotte. The paragraphs at the end of this e-mail are the extracts from your articles which I am referring to. Concerning the vocal cords, it seems clear that one should not allow the glottic air...
by Michael Mayer | Jul 20, 2010 | Facial Resonance, Mask, Nasal Resonance
I have often talked about the importance of posture, especially the posture of the face. The feeling of lift under the eyes is critical to opening the upper resonating space behind the nose and above the mouth. Once again I use Jussi Björling as an example of this...
by Michael Mayer | Jul 5, 2010 | Connection, Facial Resonance, Speaking
I was wondering if you might be able to help me. I think I hurt my voice from teaching this past spring semester. My voice feels sore and dry, and I’ve been trying to consistently drink a lot of water. I’m not doing any shows and not singing a lot. I feel...
by Michael Mayer | Jun 16, 2010 | Instinctive Function, Perfect Attack, Singing
“If I’m not mistaken, you have mentioned several times that, based in your experience, you consider vocal function to be physiological and to a certain degree innate. Or at least inherent to the physiological reality of the phonating organs. You have also...
by Michael Mayer | Jun 8, 2010 | Singing, Uncategorized
“The beginning of wisdom is a definition of terms.” — Socrates ——————————————————————— I saw this quote recently...
by Michael Mayer | May 28, 2010 | Uncategorized
I have unknowingly developed a diaphragmatic vibrato. But now even when I know the difference between the false and true vibrato, I can’t manage to prevent false vibrato from my voice. How can I do...
by Michael Mayer | May 22, 2010 | Instinctive Function, Natural Singing
I am just shocked and amazed at how complexity distorts reality. If we are not grounded in the fundamental truth, we can go bananas so easily! It’s all so simple and it scares me how complicated and disconnected from the ground we can be!...
by Michael Mayer | May 20, 2010 | Uncategorized
Hi, I came across your website and thought you could help. I’ve been a high first soprano since my sophmore year of highschool (I’m a junior now). When I first entered highschool, I could not sing high notes at all, but then started my upper range started...
by Michael Mayer | May 13, 2010 | Teaching, Voice Teacher
Hi, first of all, I want to thank you for your this blog and all the information in it… I just read some previous post and comments…I noticed some people questioned about your capacity as voice instructor…well, I’d like to say that being a...
by Michael Mayer | Apr 27, 2010 | Uncategorized
I noticed in your recent Alexander Technique response that you seem to show an aversion towards creating methods and “techniques,” I understand this, because I am just like you. I’m not sure how to formulate the question, but do you find that...
by Michael Mayer | Apr 10, 2010 | Uncategorized
In listening to the examples here, I wasn’t entirely sure that I could hear what I was supposed to hear. I think that is in part because, as a male singer, I have much more experience with the nuances of the male voice.To me, it seemed as though Fleming example...
by Michael Mayer | Apr 5, 2010 | Uncategorized
I wanted to talk a little on what my purpose is with this blog. From some of the comments I’ve received, both public and private, it seems like some people have the wrong idea of what I’m doing. First let me state that no one is going to learn how to sing...
by Michael Mayer | Apr 3, 2010 | Alexander Technique, SLS
I’m curious about your Alexander Technique comment. As a singer who has benefited enormously from, and done quite a bit of research into it, it is clear to me that its based on a solid understanding of physical functioning, and a clear method of improving it....
by Michael Mayer | Apr 2, 2010 | Uncategorized
One of my favorite sayings:”pluck a feather from every passing bird, but follow none completely”.To the girl who in writing sounds attacking, I say this with love: I am sure you can pluck some wonderful truthful ideas from Mr. Mayer. And surely, you...
by Michael Mayer | Mar 31, 2010 | Connection, Singing
Would you, perfect technicians, explain to me why Mr.Jones wrote this article?http://www.voiceteacher.com/renee_fleming.htmlI don’t share your golden ears nor your convinctions and it seems your mentor, Mr. Jones, doesn’t join your voices either. I have...
by Michael Mayer | Mar 26, 2010 | Uncategorized
I received this contribution to my Testimonial Page last night. She is a client that has worked with me for a few months. I include it here not so much because it talks about me, that’s what the testimonial page is for, but because I find what she says to be...
by Michael Mayer | Mar 25, 2010 | Glottis, Larynx, Perfect Attack, Singing
What puzzles me is…how does she [DiDonato] has control on her voice if she, in your opinion, sings with looseness of air? I mean, her voice would collapse because of the lack of air, or sound strained, and it doesn’t sound strained, nor she has any...
by Michael Mayer | Mar 25, 2010 | Balanced Function, Falsetto, Q&A, Registers
What do you think about the approach of separating falsetto and chest muscles and then when they are strong enough, coordinate them? I have come across threads in the forum at classical-singer.com and it seems like a few active people there advocate that. For example:...
by Michael Mayer | Mar 22, 2010 | Dark Resonance, Function
Decibelomaniac…I had the pleasure of hearing Ms Bartoli in the greatest and most important halls in Europe, with – contrary to some US halls – marvelous acoustics. E.g. the Berlin Philharmonic with almost 3000 seats – she filled and coloured...
by Michael Mayer | Mar 21, 2010 | Uncategorized
A singer that caught my attention recently was Joyce DiDonato. I think her sound is very balanced and her technique is healthy. And she is a good singing actress. What is your impression? She sings with such a free emission that is...
by Michael Mayer | Mar 20, 2010 | breath, Glottis, Larynx
Sayão didn’t have a great voice, no matter how she sang and if she passed over the orchestra. Her sound was always one of a lirico-leggiero and excelled in soubrette parts. As a full lyric she was not so sucessful, except in the French repertoire.Also, her...
by Michael Mayer | Mar 19, 2010 | Uncategorized
I get a lot of requests for examples of singers doing the things I talk about. So I came across a singer that makes a good example. The Brazilian soprano Bidu Sayao was active from the mid-1930s until the mid-1950s. Her voice was essentially a light-lyric soprano,...
by Michael Mayer | Mar 4, 2010 | Glottis, Larynx, Perfect Attack
“The larynx as a platform of resistance”: I think I get that, rationally. But I can’t really comment until I learn how it works and feel it working. You said so yourself, it’s not a widespread concept – none of the other teachers I have...
by Michael Mayer | Mar 4, 2010 | Breathing, Singing
I received this feedback from a reader after I answered some of their questions with a recording to demonstrate what I was talking about. I thought some of what she says might be helpful to...
