Courtney Fairbourn- Smith- Chapters 10-14

It was interesting how these concepts applied to repertoire. I especially loved when he broke down the learning the process for certain skills, such a fioritura. His suggestions on practicing specific things were practical and tied back to his foundational skills from the inventions. I also really like his five step process for learning new rep. I have had a similar concept in my head for a while now, but it was really helpful to see it all written out like that. Personally, I need to spend more time speaking the text and speaking it in rhythm. I think this will help me find more freedom in my larynx and articulators for sure. 

I also agreed with a lot of what he said about other styles. I think that classical and musical theater styles for example are more similar than people often think. I do think that there are specific skills for various styles that don't necessarily cross over. For example, the yodeling-like sound in country or bluegrass music is something we don't really use in classical singing. However, the basics of healthy singing can be utilized in both styles.  

The other section of this reading that I have strong feelings on is his discussion on choosing repertoire. I agree with him so much. It it is so important to be invested in the music you are learning, but it is also important to always try new things. Knowing how you feel about music and valuing your own opinion is another aspect of trusting oneself that I need to work on.