Vocalist.org archive


From:  Karen Mercedes <dalila@R...>
Karen Mercedes <dalila@R...>
Date:  Thu Apr 26, 2001  4:05 pm
Subject:  Re: [vocalist] Voice Lessons over summer?


On Wed, 25 Apr 2001, Dolphin aura wrote:

> I'm a full time college student, but I will be going
> on my summer vacation from may to august. should I
> start going to a voice teacher over the summer or is
> it worth it?

My gut says "do it". Unless you're a student who is extremely capable in
terms of working on your own, listening to yourself, correcting yourself,
and avoiding working incorrectly or slipping into bad habits without
guidance, you'll probably be happier if you see your teacher while you're
home. You may want to reduce the frequency of your lessons - if you take
more than once a week now, go only weekly; if you take weekly, go
bi-weekly.

This is also the time, perhaps, to focus on one or two intractable vocal
problems and work on those specifically with your teacher.

If you decide against lessons over the summer, perhaps you should spend
the time working with one or more coaches to polish up some repertoire.
At least this would keep you focused in a disciplined way.

I don't know you or your personality, but I know that for me, it would be
very risky to have no disciplined musical activity for three months, and
to simply rely on myself to keep things going.

Another possibility is to take a month off from lessons, then do them
twice as intensely for the other two months. It can help to take some
time off, to "refresh the spirit (and rest the voice)". Then working twice
as hard when you get back from your vocal vacation, you may find you make
some real leaps in progress - and you'll be well-poised to keep on working
at a less intense pace when you're back at school, with all its other
responsibilities (and distractions).

KM
=====
My NEIL SHICOFF Website:
http://www.radix.net/~dalila/shicoff/shicoff.html

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-----
I sing hymns with my spirit,
but I also sing hymns with my mind.
- 1 Corinthians 14:15


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