Ask Dr. LJ: Singing.

[saxikath]

So, I'm doing this solo with a bell piece that we're playing in late February. And wow, am I out of practice. The piece is slow, with looooong breath lines. (At least long for me.) Breath line was never my strongest suit, even when I was in better vocal condition, and now -- ouch.

So the question is, for you singers out there: what exercises do you recommend for working on breath line?

In related news, there is a distinct shortage of me-accessible musical theater this spring. Foo. Princess Ida is still an option, though I'm not all that wild about Blanche and can't imagine they'd actually cast me as Psyche. But I want to sing somewhere! (Brigadoon isn't happening in Belmont after all.)

(And yes, I went swimming again yesterday. And am going again tonight. I'm a quarter of the way across the Hellespont at its widest. Rawr!)

Comments

[mister-nick.livejournal.com]

You should totally audition for Princess Ida, even if you want to attach the caveat of "I don't want to be Blanche." It doesn't hurt to try, and there's no good reason to think of yourself as limited to the contralto roles. (I don't know enough about the show to comment on the suitability of Psyche for you, but it sounds like you are mostly being negative for typecasting reasons, to which I say "bah!") I at least try to think of myself as a possibility for any part I can plausibly sing that isn't an awful character fit. And in the end it all depends on a lot of different things, including who else auditions.

I don't have much to say on the subject of breath line, unfortunately. I do enjoy lip trills, but mostly as light warmup and relaxation thing. I could ask my teacher for suggestions when I see him tomorrow, if you'd like.