Tongue Tension Bootcamp! 9/15-21

     This week was the first week of Jaw/Tongue Tension Bootcamp!

Holly and I have a very specific routine for me to start practices:

10 FULL MINUTES (or more) of:

• Viiii-Aaaah- 5 note ascending/descending
• Viiii-Aaaah- Arpeggio ascending/descending
• Range: C4-G5, higher or lower if it feels really good
• with finger on my jaw- reminding me to utilize the SPACE in my mouth
• tongue FORWARD on my front teeth- so that I'm not holding tension in my tongue
• bring the sound forward- still using my breath to send the sound forward and out

Saturday 9/15

• Utilized my Bootcamp Time for over 15-20 minutes. Took it REALLY slow.
• Vaccai: Lesson VII (Come il candore....) memorization and spot work (had trouble with notes on "La fedelta...")
• Rep: Sang through new Rep assignments (possibilities): "Villanelle" by Berlioz, "Lydia" by Faure, and "Widmung" by Schumann

Sunday 9/16: Day Off

Monday 9/17

• Jaw Tension Bootcamp
• Vaccai! More memorization
• Learning more notes
• Struggling with "Where the Music Comes From". I'm having a hard time finding a direction on it.

Tuesday 9/18, Wednesday 9/19, and Thursday 9/20:

• ALWAYS Jaw Tension Bootcamp, ALL the Time.
• It's getting so much easier, definitely feel the improvement in my jaw.
• My tongue feels TIRED from being more relaxed. It's odd...but I am not too worried.
• Started to notice an odd buzzing (not painful, or even audible outside of my mouth) when my tongue relaxed. I'm not sure if it's in my mouth on in my throat.
• Vaccai: Still working hard on memorization of "Come il candore..." and working on "Manco sollecita..." as well.
• Must stay on TOP of breath- use my breath- in order to keep going on the moving passages
• Rep
• Began English translation on "Villanelle"- still need to write out
• Still worked on "Where the Music Comes From"
• Still frustrated with the lines
• HOWEVER, the highest notes are made tremendously easier and freer if I used my bootcamp techniques
• Solidifying "L'ho Perduta"
• Fits extremely well in my voice, not taxing in any way, shape or form.

More to come on Friday Lesson!