Institute Schedule

• 9 am – noon: PowerPoint Lecture: “The Third Pillar of Voice Science: Cognition” (Helding)

• • Topics include: 

• • • History of Voice Science as a field; The “Three Pillars” of Voice Science

• • • How Learning Works: the Triumvirate of Attention, Learning and Memory

• • • Motor Learning

Noon - 1:30: Lunch

1:30 – 4:30 pm

• PowerPoint Lecture: “Systems of the Voice 1: Basics of Respiration” (Helding)

• • Topics include: 

• • • Physiology of Respiration

• • • How Breathing affects Timbre

• • • Four Breathing Techniques for Singing (based on R. Miller’s “National Schools”)

• • • Difference Between Breath Support & Breath Control

• Fagnan: Practical application of respiration principles with exercises designed to enhance both the inhalation and breath-management phases of singing.

• Introduction of choral repertoire to be used in masterclasses and performed in Friday’s short choral program.

Evening: Free

• 9 am – noon 

• • PowerPoint Lecture: “Systems of the Voice 2: Phonation” (Helding)

• • Topics include: 

• • • Physiology of Phonation

• • • • Onsets, Glottal Closure and the coup de la glotte

• • • • Vibrato

• • The Core of Vibration (Fagnan) - Is vibration a friend or a foe in choral singing? How ‘riding the focused core of vibration’ (vibration ≠ vibrato) helps to remove many unwanted variables in singing such as inconsistent vibrato, poor intonation and a lack of focus and resonance on certain vowels.   

Noon - 1:30: Lunch

• 1:30 – 4:30 pm

• • “Systems of the Voice 3: Articulation/ Part One” (Helding)

• • • Basics/Overview of Articulation

• • • • Vowels

• • Practical application of resonance principles (Fagnan) 

    • Chiaroscuro resonance balancing and its positive effect on tone and in-tone-ation.

• • • The Intrinsic Pitch of Vowels and how it affects intonation in both solo and choral singing. 

• • Application of the principles learned to choral repertoire. Rehearsal technique possibilities for conductors who wish to try applying principles to the Institute Chorale in a masterclass setting.

Evening: Possible concert attendance

• 9 am – noon PowerPoint Lecture: “Systems of the Voice 4: Articulation/ Part Two” (Helding and Fagnan)

• • Consonants

• • Tonus-Enlivening Articulation. How consonants can be resonance’s best friends and aid, rather than hinder, true sostenuto singing.

  • Be careful what you ask for in terms of diction!

Noon - 1:30: Lunch

• 1:30 – 4:30 pm “Systems of the Voice 5: Resonance: A Brief Primer” (Helding and Fagnan)

• Vowels are not all created equal. How to mitigate against that fact for a truly homogeneous vocal tone throughout the vowel spectrum while respecting the distinctness of each particular vowel.

Evening: 7:30 - 9:00 pm Rehearsal of short choral program. 1st conducting and/or vocal lesson masterclass. Conductors and voice teachers can choose to either conduct the Institute Chorale and receive feedback on their verbal/gestural communication of principles OR sing a brief excerpt of a piece to receive feedback on their vocal modelling skills.

• 9 am – noon: Fagnan: A Choral Acoustics Overview: proving the old (bel canto principles) by means of the new (acoustical analysis).

  • Sostenuto: how to make beautiful music between the notes.

  • Trip to Fagnan’s Vocal Acoustics Lab to witness many of the principles studied in action. 

Noon - 1:30: Lunch

• 1:30 – 4:30 pm: “Systems of the Voice 6: Registration” (Helding)

• • Mechanical and acoustic factors affecting registration

  • Passaggio (the ‘Little Bridge’)

• • Practical application of register-transition principles (Fagnan and Helding)

• • • Discussion and application of vocal exercises and concepts designed to improve register transitions.

• • • Messa di voce: Bel canto’s answer to register equalization and energized soft singing.

• 9 am – noon:  Open Forum. Registrants submit questions ahead of time (the night before) for Fagnan & Helding, who curate an open discussion.  

• Science-Informed Masterclass for Singers: for solo singers to demonstrate science-informed voice pedagogy principles (Helding). Voice teachers and choral conductors alike need to provide the best models for their singers/choristers. This will be your chance to receive personal feedback on how to do just that. 

Noon - 2:00: Lunch and mini concert performance at La Cité francophone across the street.

1:30 – 4:30 pm: Science-Informed Masterclass for Choral Directors to demonstrate science-informed voice pedagogy principles and especially how to elicit consistent, beautiful, energized sounds from your singers/choristers (Fagnan)

Evening: 

• Celebration Banquet