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 on my journey towards a full understanding of the human voice. I have been down many blind alleys and the road has been rocky at times but I have learnt that the true art of singing well lies in the lessons of the early Bel Canto teachers and I return again and again to my recordings of singers from the Golden Age, whose singing still inspires me after countless hearings. My first inspiration for taking up singing was hearing the voice of Rosa Ponselle: those of you who have heard Rosa’s voice will know exactly where I am coming from but more about that in later blogs…..
Apart from my own personal study with various teachers and also my own performances (a diverse mix of genres of music …more on that later) my knowledge and experience also comes from many years of reading everything I have been able to get my hands on regarding vocal technique. I listen extensively and have observed countless singers on videotape and now of course there is YouTube!(look out for links to some of my favourites) I trawl the net, and I trot off to workshops and masterclasses on anything that might have bearing on my search for vocal truth, the “Holy Grail” of the voice. Hence my Vocal Odyssey has also encompassed overtone chanting, chakra toning, regular work with an Alexander teacher, meditation and so on and so forth. The result of my Odyssey so far has been a rich life into which I have also managed to fit domesticity and motherhood! My approach to voice is very much the same as me as a person – a mixture of down-to-earth Glaswegian and a bit of the mystic Celt, serious and scholarly but also whimsical and playful. I hope I have sparked you off with my introductory blog and that I have persuaded you to join me on my continuing journey. I welcome any comments, ideas, and thoughts concerning the human voice and singing.
1 Comment
August 26, 2007 at 8:39 am
Thank you for this blog on singing and vocal technique. It is encouraging me in my passion for singing. Cheers, Ann