Mind Body Spirit

One of the reasons why singing is such a totally absorbing skill is that it involves you on three levels – the mind, body and the spirit. Indeed balance in life itself requires that we attend to each of these three areas. However, my post today is actually about my visit to the Mind Body [...]

"Books Are Lighthouses Erected In The Great Sea Of Time"

I felt the urge to write a post today on how valuable books have been, and still are, on my vocal odyssey. As is so frequently pointed out, you cannot learn to sing from a book but “knowledge is power”, and good books on Vocal Pedagogy can be an important and highly effective tool for [...]

Breathing and Breath Control

Enough of these musings – it’s high time I got on to some rather more serious vocal issues and of course one of the most discussed and argued issues is that of breathing and breath control. We have all been told how important it is and yet how confusing it all seems. I personally have [...]

Another Resonant Space

Before leaving this subject, I couldn’t resist adding another anecdote from our French trip. While staying in the lovely hilltop village of Tourtour we paid a visit to the St Denis church there. It was empty when we went in and yet again I was struck by the wonderful acoustics – very similar [...]

Resonant spaces

I’ve been thinking a great deal about resonance and resonant spaces over the last few days: it’s obvious even to the layman that a resonant space is going to help a singer – hence the widespread phenomenon of “bathroom singing” or “singing in the shower”. Since starting this blog I have become more observant [...]

The First Step

It’s always the first step that seems so difficult so I am highly relieved that after much thought and no action I have finally posted my introductory blog. In singing I have to deal with the problem of the first step every morning – making the first sounds of the day. As I stand in [...]

Welcome To Vocal Odyssey

Welcome to Vocal Odyssey where I hope I will be joined on a regular basis by all those with a serious interest in vocal technique. Hosted by me, Glenna Tomson, Scottish soprano and teacher, I will be sharing with you many of the experiences, (positive and negative) that I have garnered over the years [...]