Description:
Welcome to Part 2: Holding. Holding tension is caused by over-pressurizing our abdominal support, which prevents airflow. If we don’t balance this properly, our body will shake to compensate, and we may find it hard to take full breaths at the end of phrases. Like a tightrope walker who gets stuck, we won’t be able to move forward.
Exercise A – "Ride The Wave Up and Down" (15,16,151)
To avoid holding, we need to let the breath move naturally. As we go up to higher pitches, relax and allow the breath to flow back down. We want to create a smooth interplay of active and passive support. Here's an exercise to help you find that flow. Notice how your breath moves in opposition to the pitch. Don’t let go of your breath completely, but let it flow freely.
To avoid holding, we need to let the breath move naturally. As we go up to higher pitches, relax and allow the breath to flow back down. We want to create a smooth interplay of active and passive support. Here's an exercise to help you find that flow. Notice how your breath moves in opposition to the pitch. Don’t let go of your breath completely, but let it flow freely.
Exercise B – "We Always Waterfall" (785, up to 321)
Holding can also affect vowels. This leads to tightness in the face, tongue, and jaw, just like lifting. We want vowels to glide smoothly from one to another. Think of moving through vowels like a waterfall—smooth and continuous. Let’s try this exercise to practice fluid vowel movement (demonstrate). Use your jaw and tongue to find that flowing sensation as we glide from vowel to vowel.
Holding can also affect vowels. This leads to tightness in the face, tongue, and jaw, just like lifting. We want vowels to glide smoothly from one to another. Think of moving through vowels like a waterfall—smooth and continuous. Let’s try this exercise to practice fluid vowel movement (demonstrate). Use your jaw and tongue to find that flowing sensation as we glide from vowel to vowel.
Well done! I’ll see you in Part 3.
Lessons:
- 1: Welcome
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2:
Lifting and Straining
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3:
Holding
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4:
Stress Tension
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5:
Conclusion/Test
Instructor: Abram Poliakoff
Abram Poliakoff is a singer, guitarist, pianist, teacher, conductor, and composer. He received a Bachelors of Music in Vocal Arts from USC’s Thornton School of Music and has been teaching music for 8 years. He is currently both the Associate Artistic Director and a tenor in the L.A. Choral Lab, which recently released its first studio album Sonic Visions in the fall of 2019. Abram teaches and performs a wide range of genres including Classical, Jazz, Folk and Popular music in the Los Angeles area. He has also sung with the San Francisco Opera and Pocket Opera in the Bay Area. His teaching mission is to help his students utilize vocal technique to find their authentic and healthy voice while maximizing genre flexibility and a naturalness of expression.