Logan Kelley-Smith-Ch10-14

 I appreciated that he said that when thinking of a yawn we should only think of the upper half. I have had the problems with tongue depression that he described. I also generally agree with his principles of not modifying vowels, because in most cases this has caused other problems for me. We need to think of diction in a way that it doesn't get in the way of the legato line. Over-enunciation can inhibit this. I thought it was interesting that he said we should never sing with weight in the voice. This is something I hadn't considered until recently but has made a major difference to me. 

The key to healthy belt singing is to keep the air moving consistently and not necessarily think of just head or chest singing. The most important thing we can do is to find repertoire that we genuinely love to sing. Choose repertoire in the area of your voice that feels comfortable. Don't get stuck in awkward areas of the voice. Think of auditions as performances, and be genuine, not apologetic. We need to act in a way that doesn't create tension. Be aware of what you can handle and always show up prepared.

Take responsibility for the voice and how it is working. Don't blame outside effects for what happens when you perform. Don't let fear of consequences prevent you from taking responsibility. Be flexible with what you are asked to make the experience good for yourself and those around you. Know what it takes for you to learn music. Know your position and respond appropriately for where you are in your career.

Do what you can to live a healthy lifestyle. More than anything, know yourself and what you can handle. If you aren't feeling well, you should still be able to sing, but don't put yourself in situations where you might push or create problems for yourself. Cancel when needed. Don't take everything your coach says as truth. Know your situation and voice, then apply appropriately. True success comes from finding and following your passion. Let singers be unique and don't compare them to others. Aspects of learning vocal production can help us balance all aspects of our lives.