Learning to Practice (Singing) [This was written by a student of mine. He has come a long way in his singing, but also in his thinking about singing, which he shares here.] To begin, I should explain that I’ve been studying voice for many years. With different teachers, in different schools; […]
A Delicate Subject
A Delicate Subject This post is about professional ethics for voice teachers. It may be surprising, but in my three degrees in voice very little time was devoted to the subject of professional ethics. I remember a single class (doctoral-level voice pedagogy) where the topic of touching a student during the lesson was discussed. […]
Singing Evaluation – FREE in December 2020
Holiday Offer to Singers! FREE in December! Singing voice evaluation , usually $100 – Get a little more feedback before your next audition… —Tone Production —Repertoire —Diction —Total performance Send links or recordings of two contrasting selections to bonniepomfret@verizon.net Classical soprano, I have sung domestically and internationally and taught all levels. My former […]
Singers, are you getting what you need?
What constitutes comprehensive singer training in the time of COVID? Here’s a checklist: Voice technique, including Breathing Production of sound Resonance and tone color Vocal exercises chosen for your vocal development Vocal exercises for special vocal techniques that your repertoire demands Repertoire chosen for your voice and level Recital Oratorio and Symphonic Opera Diction and […]
Singer’s Guide to Pandemic Fatigue
What a singer can do about pandemic fatigue We have all been in this pandemic for a lot longer than we ever dreamt. Singers are prevented from doing what we do except in the most limited ways. We are all earning less. It is likely to continue for a number of months at least. […]
The Role of the Vowel in Voice Training
The role of the vowel in voice training In singing, vowels are important because we extend the vowels In order to create a vocal line. Consonants are not generally sustained or extended. This is why singers vocalize primarily on vowels. What is a vowel, and why is one vowel “better” than another? A […]
Pre-recorded vocalises available for COVID-19 teaching
Dear Readers, I am delighted to say that my vocal exercise MP3’s will soon be available for sale and download on my website! Why pre-recorded vocalises? More effective practice. In the past I often assigned a certain exercise in a lesson, only to find the next week that the student had done something different, or […]
Online lessons start March 16, 2020
Greetings everyone, Beginning March 16, Bonnie is offering online lessons. Contact me (bonniepomfret@verizon.net) for details.
The Concert Hall of One… or, Why do I sound different on a recording?
“The Concert Hall of One” was David Blair McClosky’s term for the way we hear ourselves when speaking or singing. The rest of the world hears us differently. Why is this so? The sound of your voice reaches your inner ear in two ways. Sound conducted by air enters the auditory canal of the ear and […]
FAQ’s about Breathing
FAQ’s about Breathing 1. Q: Should the chest rise and fall? A: No; the chest should remain slightly elevated during all phases of the breath. 2. Q: Do I need to tighten the abs? A: No, the abdominal muscles will be free to move, expanding for inhalation and contracting for exhalation and singing. […]