Spotlight Seminars > Fast Notes: A Singer’s Guide

Fast Notes: A Singer’s Guide

True or false: Some voices just “can’t move”? Maybe you’ve thought this about your own singing. (“My voice is big/heavy/sluggish. Why work on fast notes?”) Maybe as a teacher, you’re convinced that some of your students really “aren’t built for agility”.

The truth is that although much solo and choral repertoire for classical singers requires the ability to sing fast notes (Messiah, anyone?), many modern singers have not been formally trained in agility skills, the way virtually all instrumentalists are.

Fast Notes: A Singer’s Guide is a 2-hour seminar and accompanying vocal exercise routine—delivered live, via Zoom—to help you increase your ability to sing quickly moving notes with efficiency and accuracy.

Singers will learn, and voice teachers will learn how to teach:

• How to avoid two extremes when articulating fast notes: aspirated (using H’s) and “smeared” (notes run together)

• The difference between abdominal and glottal articulation

• How vocal agility was taught during the 19th Century—the Golden Age of Bel Canto

• Strategies for learning and practicing long melismas and cadenzas, including QuEST and S & R

• Two methods for learning to trill

• Dozens of vocal exercises designed to increase your vocal agility: scales, arpeggi, staccati, patterns, and ornaments

The seminar includes:

• 75 minutes of interactive presentation by Dr. Julia Nielsen, including opportunities for discussion among participants

• 45 minutes of singing vocal exercises related to vocal agility (participants remain muted)

• Ample time for Q&A

• A 40-page seminar booklet, delivered electronically, including the notated vocal exercises and synthesized research on this topic

Date: Saturday, May 7, 2022
Time: 3:00-5:00pm PT
Cost: $70

Level: All levels

Recording available! A recording of the seminar will be available for 30 days after the live event (through June 7) for those who cannot attend in real time, or wish to review the program.