Arrival 3-7 August

Arrival is about giving yourself time to begin well. Before we ask anything of the voice, we need to notice how we are arriving today, physically and mentally. The way we begin often shapes everything that follows, and a few moments of preparation can make all the difference.

Starting here...

From the Virtually Vocalise archive
This short video snippet comes from one of our Virtually Vocalise vocal technique Live sessions. It's a snapshot of the kind of conversations we have as we prepare to sing, reminding us that good singing begins long before the first note. As you watch, notice how attention is given to arriving, recognising how you feel today, and creating the right conditions for the voice to do its work.

The Intermezzo 

is an opportunity to remain immersed in your vocal world without adding pressure or another programme to complete. Each week I will offer you a different perspective, encouraging you to think a little more deeply about your singing, notice something new, and carry that awareness with you into ordinary life.

We'll begin by considering how we arrive at our singing, physically and mentally, before exploring what it means to trust your own developing musicianship and your commitment to the art of singing. From there we'll look at how singing can remain an active part of everyday life, even during busy or unusual routines, before finally turning our attention to the deeper meaning that lies beyond technique alone.

Along the way, there will be short videos from the Virtually Vocalise archive, postcards, ideas to reflect on, opportunities to ask questions and join our informal online conversations, and thoughts drawn from A Singer's Paradigm. Together, these will create a month that is both practical and reflective, helping you remain connected to your singing in a way that is enjoyable, thoughtful and sustaining.

By the end of August, my hope is that you will feel more connected to your voice, your thinking and your body, with renewed confidence to continue developing your singing, wherever you are on that journey.

A thought for the week ...

'Warm up your mind before your voice.'
A Singer's Paradigm

One of the simplest things you can do this week is to notice how you arrive at your singing.

What helps you become ready? Is it listening to music? Reading the score? Sitting with a cup of coffee before you begin? Walking outside? Simply giving yourself a few moments before you sing?

There isn't a right answer. I'm simply inviting you to notice your own way of preparing, and what difference it makes when you give yourself that time.

If you'd like to, make a note of anything you notice during the week. It might be a sentence, a question, a photograph, a quotation, a piece of music you've discovered, or simply a thought that stays with you.