Emmaleigh Irish
Josh Grisetti & Dr. Clarissa Shan
Fundamentals of Musical Theatre
30 November 2021
Practice Journal #10
The three most helpful pieces of information that resonated with me this semester concerned cultivating an open vocal tract, utilizing the appoggio method of breath management, and the lesson on how to explore the “passagio”/mix. All semester, I have learned that working to maintain an open vocal tract is a crucial step in preparing my instrument for vocalization. With the absence of undesired tension, I have found so much more power and resonance in my singing. I have also noticed (sometimes once it was too late) that effective breath management is critical. There were many points during the semester, even when performing, where I found ease in certain songs because of the support I utilized or could easily pinpoint that something sounded
wrong because of my lack of breath support. Learning to utilize certain muscles for breathing has
also helped form some semblance of “muscle memory” and made my singing feel much more naturally supported. In addition, the exploration of different mixes has opened my voice up to so many different possibilities. I can find so many new dynamics and colors while creating more sustainable sounds. Each of these lessons have also taught me how to be consciously aware of how my voice sounds and feels when singing, which has proved to be very useful when trying to improve on my own. This is the skill that I plan on using to continue applying these lessons in future practice sessions. The ability to self-assess is what allows me to truly refine my vocal technique. I am so grateful for each lesson you have taught me Dr. Shan. Thank you so much for your work!
