KCM Performance Studio

Practice… it’s not easy to get in the time with busy busy lives. But! You can see (and hear) what practice can do for us!

For Singers 30mins a day of Focused Practice (at least) can make a difference to your overall Singing.

Not to mention, it’s time away for you, with music!?
Win-Win!

Be like this kid! Be sure to Practice every day. And be sure to “Practice with Purpose” 👏👍

How to practice like a pro! 😎🎹 ft. 8yo Ryan Jiang @mrmario_5 Piece: Italian Concerto by Bach #piano #classicalpiano #classicalmusic #classicalmusicians #instapiano #instaclassicalmusic #instamusician #bach #chopin #beethoven #suite #concerto #italianconcerto #pianoteacher #pianostudent #pianolessons #rachmaninoff #pianopractice

It’s a Two- Bouquet kinda day here at the Studio! A massive thank you to and Matilda for the VERY cool and beautiful 💐 !

And thank you to Bendigo and Hubby for the Gorgeous Monthly Bouquets!!
It’s the bouquet that keeps on Bouquet’ing.

I needed to share this today, as I bang on in my lessons about singing and overall vocal health being a game of millimeters, when we practice and perform.

This is a great example as to why that is!
Thank you The David Jones Voice Studio
for the detailed explanation!
Happy Vocal Health everyone and happy (safe) practicing.

On Muscle Tension Dysphonia

It was during my study with Dixie Neill that I worked so intensely on releasing the sternocleidomastoid muscles. If these muscles are tense, a singer can develop muscle tension dysphonia. This is a condition where the voice can sound almost hoarse or perhaps you will hear multiple pitches at once. I consistently send students to a good Voice Pathologist who can help the singer address these issues with different exercises. But if the dysphonia happens while singing and it is prominent, as the instructor you may have to pay close attention to what is physically going on with the student, especially in the neck, jaw, tongue.

Searching for the Source of the Problem

1. Are the sides of the neck reflecting straight lines or an indentation on both sides, which would indicate narrowing of the throat muscles along with the SCM's?
2. Is the singer's head posture aligned, or does the head thrust forward at phonation which can play a role in raising the laryngeal position?
3. Does the jaw thrust forward, which can contribute to the singer's issues?
4. Does the larynx rise at the onset? If the larynx rises at the onset, this can be a contributing factor to muscle tension dysphonia.
5. Does the larynx tilt slightly down and forward when moving into the upper middle register, or does the larynx freeze in position? When the larynx is frozen in position, then the cords sometimes leak too much breath OR they touch in multiple points which creates the sound of several pitches at once.
6. Has the singer suffered a recent great personal loss, perhaps the loss of a loved one? The emotional response to grief can be a major contributing factor when muscle tension dysphonia is present. This is a delicate subject and takes a very careful approach using great sensitivity.

Case Study: Emotional Trigger and Muscle Tension Dysphonia

Several years ago a soprano came to my New York Studio suffering from muscles tension dysphonia. She was involved in a religion that noticeably gives women little voice. Her husband was deeply involved in this religion and demanded that she be 'obedient'. What was interesting to me was the fact that every time she mentioned her husband her voice would go into dysphonia, even in speaking. When she worked on her released singing voice and when she was distracted, the dysphonia disappeared. It is never the teacher's place to advise in such a setting. However, she later went to a good therapist and she decided to leave her marriage. Later on she sang and taught in her local area. In her case there was an absolute connection to dysphonia and an emotional response that triggered a muscle response in the body.

Case Study: Post Surgical Mezzo

This singer came to me after vocal fold surgery. Her dysphonia was related to under-singing due to the fear reflex that had developed after surgery. When she approached the upper passaggio, the MTD would come into her tone. Over time, and with the help of a good voice therapist, she learned to equalize the motion of the breath. It was a bit like going through the fear to the other side. This allowed for health phonation and with time the fear reflex dissipated. The exercises that she was given by the voice therapist included straw therapy, which was very very helpful in her case.

Have a great day! David

KCMPS has been going gangbusters this year!
New students and OG’s returning for another year of learning…

Timmy our wee Mascot, waits patiently with me as we prep for lessons and student arrivals…

He loves our Singing❤️ 🐈‍⬛

So incredibly proud of my students!
Exciting announcements of student goals and dream roles landed, to come!