Name: Basics of Breathing for Singing
Uploaded: 2021-04-19T17:41:13.000Z
Duration: 5 min 7 s
Description: In this video, I discuss some of the basic ways to take a strong, supportive breath for singing.

In this video, I discuss some of the basic ways to take a strong, supportive breath for singing. 

Singing

Praised for her "rich dramatics" (The Boston Globe) and called "Magnificent," by Fanfare Magazine, soprano Pamela S. has earned a reputation for bringing passion, intelligence and style to every performance. Through an international singing career that has included everything from Baroque opera to working with some of some of today's most prominent composers, Pamela has performed with Beth Morrison Projects, American Opera Projects, CUSP, Rhymes With Opera, Helix!, Saratoga Fine Arts Festival, Yamaha Concert Artists series, New Music New Haven, Gotham Arts, and Unruly Sounds. She has built a career working with contemporary composers of all levels, from students to internationally recognized artists. She appeared on a PBS documentary singing the music of Pulitzer Prize winning composer David Lang, and created the role of Julia Dehning in the world premier of the opera The Making of Americans at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. She is featured as a vocalist on minimalist composer Alexander Turnquist’s album Flying Fantasy, released on Western Vinyl. She is a member of experimental Princeton-based country-techno band Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves, which performs frequently throughout Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey, and has released multiple albums on Carrier Records. 

In addition to her work as a singer, Pamela has enjoyed an active career as a composer. Her opera, The Interaction Effect, has been workshopped by Manhattan School of Music in both 2019 and 2020 for the From Page to Stage program in NYC. She was a 2017-2019 composer fellow with American Opera Projects Composers & the Voice Workshop. Her music has been broadcast to audiences nation-wide on American Public Media’s Performance Today, and has been featured on the Lindsey Christiansen Art Song Festival at Westminster Choir College in 2019. She was a featured guest composer on the 2015 OME New Music Festival in Phoenix, AZ. She has had works commissioned by Patchwork American Song Project, Guided Imagery Opera, Contemporary Undercurrent of Song Project, Poor Puppet, and many others. She has written works for TEDx Carnegie Lake, New Hope Sound(e)scape Festival, and IVY Connect’s debut concert at the DiMenna Center. Her composition for mezzo soprano Kayleigh Butcher and pianist Christopher Narloch, as part of The Schoenberg Project, had its debut in Chicago at Constellation, and then toured several midwest cities.

As an educator with close to two decades of experience, Pamela has taught, lectured, and given master classes at universities and conservatories across the country, including the College of Saint Elizabeth, Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts, City College of New York, San Francisco Conservatory, Drew University, and many others. 
Pamela's students have achieved success both locally and internationally. She blogs frequently on topics related to vocal pedagogy for Takelessons.com.  Pamela maintains a private voice studio at her home in Newtown, and teaches students from all over the country online. 

Pamela is an alumna of the Bang on a Can Summer Institute at Mass MoCA, OperaWorks, SICPP, and the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme. She received her Masters degree from the Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University, where, upon graduation, she was awarded the Phyllis Bryn-Julson Prize for Commitment to and Performance of 20th/21st Century Music. She has received grants for her work from Johns Hopkins University, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.


*** Lesson Details ***
My teaching is goal oriented but always supportive and encouraging.  Students can expect lessons to consist of vocal technique building and repertoire study.  Lessons are very individually geared towards each student's unique needs and goals.  Students who follow my instruction always see and hear results.


*** Specialties ***
classical voice, musical theater, contemporary music performance

Basics of Breathing for Singing 

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Opera Voice

Music Performance

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a membership association of more than 480,000 US composers, songwriters, lyricists and music publishers. The ASCAP is committed to nurturing music makers throughout their careers. 

The Phyllis Bryn Julson Award for Commitment to and Performance of 20th and 21st Century Music

Voice Teacher

Voice Teacher, Music Theory Teacher, Chamber Music Coach, Singer-in-Residence

Adjunct Lecturer in Music Theory, Composition and Ear Training

I have been teaching voice for more than 15 years. I teach a classical technique which can be applied to any style of singing. I have taught and given master classes at universities and conservatories across the country, and my students have achieved success both locally and internationally. I am primarily interested in helping serious students prepare for auditions, competitions, and conservatory admissions. Please see my website for more information about my work.

Incredibly patient and highly knowledgeable

First lesson with Pam and it was awesome. Tremendous energy and extremely friendly. Made me relax.

Nice, friendly, and encouraging. Awesome teacher!

Excellent teacher, very engaging and positive.

I had so much fun! I was super nervous going into it but she put me at ease immediately. I felt very comfortable through the whole lesson and she was extremely kind and supportive.

Pamlea is an excellent instructor who wastes no time getting right into the technique required for proper singing. She has a vast array of tricks and tips which help you familiarize yourself with the muscles and movements required for the artform, and I would highly encourage any folk interested in learning to sing to seriously consider Pamela as an instructor.

Super Nice! Can already feel changes after one class!

Pamela is great, very professional and welcoming. This was my daughter's first voice lesson ever and she was super excited when it was over. Looking forward to the next lesson. Highly recommended.

I have had a vocal coach before meeting Pam, but she absolutely took it to another level. Pamela does a good job with teaching the mechanics of singing, as she pin points which muscles the body is using and how to use them  properly when singing. She has a variety of warm ups and stretches to get your voice and body prepared to perform and is very good and pushing you to become your best. If you are a serious singer and would like to take the knowledge of your craft a step further, I would definitely recommend.

We are so happy with Pamela, she has helped my daughter maximize her talents. Alayna finally was accepted into the singing group at her high school which is very competitive. We are thrilled!! Thanks Pamela :)

Pamela is a teacher.

Pamela was very patient with my young daughter. She taught her the beginning stages of reading music and her voice became clearer and louder because of the confidence she gained during her sessions. I would recommend Pamela as a singing instructor for any age but she was so patient and encouraging for my young daughter. We loved it.

In this video, I go over two vocal exercises that can be done using a straw. The goal of these exercises is to help develop control over air flow while singing, and to allow the air to better support the sound. 

Straw Exercises For Singing 

In this video, I discuss the soft palate, and teach some very basic exercises to help students access and lift the soft palate while singing.

Lifting the Soft Palate While Singing

In this video, I walk students through how to sing a melodic minor scale using solfege syllables, both ascending and descending. I review the solfege syllables for the major scale, natural minor scale, and harmonic minor scale, and discuss how the melodic minor scale relates to these other scales.

Singing a Melodic Minor Scale on Solfege Syllables 

In this video, I walk students through singing a harmonic minor scale on solfege syllables, both ascending and descending. We review singing the major scale and the natural minor scale on solfege syllables, and discuss how these scales relate to the harmonic minor scale.

Singing a Harmonic Minor Scale on Solfege Syllables 

In this video, I go through the solfege syllables for the major scale, followed by the solfege syllables for the natural minor scale, both ascending and descending. I discuss the changes to both the pitch and solfege syllables between the major and natural minor scales.

Singing a Natural Minor Scale with Solfege Syllables

In this video, I discuss proper posture for supporting the singing voice while in a seated position. 

Posture for Singing While Seated 

This video walks students through singing a major scale on solfege syllables, starting on middle C. I walk students through singing the scale both ascending and descending.

Pamela S.

Basics of Breathing for Singing

Pamela's Singing videos

Straw Exercises For Singing

Lifting the Soft Palate While Singing

Singing a Melodic Minor Scale on Solfege Syllables

Singing a Harmonic Minor Scale on Solfege Syllables

Singing a Natural Minor Scale with Solfege Syllables

Basics of Breathing for Singing

Posture for Singing While Seated

Singing a Major Scale on Solfege Syllables

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