A webpage for students of singing

• Articles • Essential Repertoire • Voice Lesson FAQs • Resources • Suggested Listening • Vocal Exercises • Studio Notes •

I’ve been a private studio voice teacher for over twenty five years and I've also taught voice at the college/university level. My teaching philosophy is "Figure out what works for this individual student, because singing is not a one-size-fits-all sort of activity". 

"Colla voce"  is Italian for "with the voice".  It is often seen in the piano part where the singer might take some liberty - a cadenza inserted or a dramatic stretch to the phrase.

I've tried to put things on the website that are of interest to voice students, especially beginning and intermediate singers.  Others of you may also find useful information or links here.  FAQs about Voice Lessons is everything (well, not everything) you ever wanted to know about studying voice, if you've never tried it.  A number of topics are covered in the Articles, such as stage fright, Alexander Technique, vocal health, breathing and others.  If you are doing research or interested in reading further, Resources is a collection of book titles and web links on various aspects of singing.  Take a look at Essential Repertoire and Vocal Exercises to find books and vocalises that I use in my teaching.  Suggested Listening is mostly a list of my favorite singers, and Studio Notes has information about studio events for my students.

While I cannot take requests for lessons by email, please feel free to write to me with questions or comments.  I can be contacted at  .

 

Thanks for visiting Colla Voce!

June Bowser

 

 

 

A Special Note About Flu Season 2009-2010

We’ve never been quite so aware of the possibility of coming down with the flu.  No need to panic, though.  The “Swine Flu” is no more deadly than other flu strains, in spite of the media’s hype.  (Most of the reports of deaths include a statement that the victim had underlying medical issues.  Asthma or emphysema, for example could make a case of the mildest sniffles a serious thing to battle.)  “Pandemic” means a disease is widespread because it passes easily from person to person.  It is capable of morphing into various forms, one of which will probably get you.  Your weapons against it include: 

• Flu vaccine
• Hand sanitizer
• Lysol
• Listerine
• Anti viral tissues
• Antibacterial cleaning wipes – Great for light switches and door knobs.

 It also helps to get sufficient sleep, eat a healthy diet and avoid touching your face a lot.  The face masks you see people wearing in the news reports may not help much, but if you want to wear one, go ahead.  I don’t think anyone would fault you for it.  After all, you’re the one who knows your own body’s weaknesses.  It could be you’re one of those people who can’t shake off an infection until it turns into bronchitis and stays with you for several months.  You’re the one who gets to suffer through that, so if you want to wear a mask or skip shaking someone’s hand, that’s up to you.

      Medicines like Tamiflu are prescriptions.  You need to be on it within 48 hours in order for it to be effective. Unfortunately, that’s just about long enough to decide that you really are sick and to call the doctor’s office.  If he/she can’t see you until a week from Tuesday, you’re out of luck.  Some people like using AirBorne (to avoid catching what everyone else has), Echinacea or Oscillococcinum (at the first signs of illness).  They’re available at health food stores and even some supermarkets.

What else can you do?  Wash your hands a lot, be aware when the people around you are sick, and, to avoid spreading it, stay home when you’re the one infected.  Remember how many others can be breathing your germs at school or work (especially if you work at a restaurant!).  If you come to your lesson sick, I’m not the only one who might catch it from you.  Remember the students who are coming after you and handling the same pencil or music stand and breathing the same air.

Right now the winter flu season is going on in the southern hemisphere and the germs are continually evolving.  That means this fall’s flu vaccine may or may not be effective against Swine Flu (H1N1), but if it helps you avoid a different bug, that’s good, too.

Want more information?  Try Wikipedia, or, better yet, http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.