Hi, Gina,
I always take advice from other singers with a grain of salt. If I like
what they say, I bring it to my teacher and we may incorporate it or
"translate" it into our terms. This woman may sing well and have technical
ideas that work for her, but you have a longer term relationship with a
teacher who knows your voice and the language/images to which you respond in
lessons. Why give another singer more credibility than the teacher you
trust?
FWIW, I have no idea what she means by "the top notes are almost all air".
I'm a lyric with pretty good high notes. Sometimes I close my mouth to do
them, especially if they're pp, and sometimes I open. Depends on the sound
I want. The consensus among the teachers I've studied with (Shirlee Emmons
and Cornelius Reid) is that opening the mouth invites more chest voice. But
I don't think that's an absolute, and it may not apply in your case at this
part of the voice. If you're modifying vowels according to the Berton
Coffin chart, different facher change at different pitches, so your voice
may use a different vowel from her voice at the same pitch.
Bottom line: If you like what she says, use it. If you don't, forget it.
Susan Schneider
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