Janice Chapman In Conversation With James Platt: Honing Your Pedagogical Skills

Anticipating the upcoming release of the fourth edition of Janice Chapman’s Singing and Singing Teaching: A Holistic Approach to Classical Voice (Plural Publishing) later this year, authors and editors of the book Janice and James Platt discuss the updated approaches, new information and “sharpened” pedagogical tools outlined in the new and greatly expanded edition.

This workshop is designed primarily for teachers and singers of classical voice and will introduce the following concepts with in-depth discussions, practical examples and Q&A’s.

• Primal Sound & Current Neurology
  • Primal sound or voluntary emotional vocalisation as the bedrock of elite classical singing
  • Using emotional triggers to shape the voice in a holistic manner
• From Pure Accent Method into Supported Singing
  • An updated palpation protocol to identify the correct muscle support junctions and their engagement for efficient exhalation/support for classical singing
  • The SPLAT Inhalation and its variants
  • Assessment and remediation of common breath management faults including epigastric locking and the mismanagement of the abdominal wall and ribcage
• The Advanced “Dial-A-Vowel” Exercise
  • Locating the best gross oral posture of the tongue for maximal classical resonance
  • The advanced use of the American Retroflex “R” to help locate a singer’s resonant sweet spot
  • Managing consonants without compromising optimal resonance
• Redefining the Open Throat
  • Collar Connection and the lower larynx
    • The Pre-Yawn Gesture
  • The combination of a wide pharynx and a raised tongue
  • The high soft palate (velum)
  • Maintaining pharyngeal width
    • Deconstricting the false vocal folds
    • Relaxing extraneous pharyngeal tension
  • The role of optimal breath management in maintaining the open throat
  • The open throat in combination with appropriate pharyngeal tuning