Dear Colleague …

Welcome to our festive edition of the Vocal Process ezine. This edition focuses on new features that have been appearing on our web site over the last few months and provides a report on our recent visit to Israel. In addition we have been inspired to include a few facts on belting after a successful 'Belting Explained' in Birmingham. And finally, news on a prize draw with a chance to win a free copy of Successful Singing Auditions.

The Vocal Process Web Site

The new-look web site, launched in July, provides a web-based resource for all vocal practitioners.

The site now includes a selected reading list. The reading list is divided into six sections: Anatomy and Physiology; Acoustics and Phonetics; Spoken Voice; Singing Voice; Voice Science; and General Interest. We are adding to the list all the time and are interested to hear your suggestions. We are also pleased to report that, in association with Amazon.co.uk™, you can now add to your personal voice book library by quickly locating relevant books on our web site and clicking straight through to Amazon.co.uk to purchase. All recommended reading for Integrated Voice can be obtained this way. In addition plans are afoot for a discography section that will enable you to source recordings demonstrating different voice qualities.

Our list of web resources is also expanding. This section contains links to a wide spectrum of vocal information websites, from 'Voice Research by Ingo Titze' to the 'International Dialect Archive'. If you know of a web site that you think will be of interest to fellow voice practitioners, please let us know.

Newsflash

More content just added to the Resources section of this web site:

• A PDF version of the Computer Voice Training poster delivered in Graz last August at PEVoC 5.
• A PDF version of the Belting Handout that accompanied Gillyanne's workshop on Belting, delivered in Graz.
• A useful repertoire list for Belters.

A Trip to Israel

Two 'Voice Styles Intensives' in Tel Aviv, funded by the British Council and hosted by the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, made a spectacular finish to our teaching year. Well over a hundred people attended, including students of Jazz, Pop and Musical Theatre from the college, performers, teachers of singing and voice, choral conductors, speech and language therapists and a laryngologist. The participants were hungry to learn and were ready to engage on all levels. Many thanks to our colleague Tami Katzen, who along with other teachers at the College will be following up the work we have started at Rimon. We look forward to more collaboration in the future.

'Teacher+Student Scheme' Update

As part of our commitment to education and training, we have a created the Teacher+Student scheme. Each teacher attending a designated course may bring one student who will be eligible for a discounted fee.

The teacher books both places on the same booking form, indicating the Teacher+Student scheme and giving the name of the student attending. The student has full access to the information on the course and may take part in any masterclass sessions if appropriate. Two forthcoming courses have been added to the scheme.

Introduction to Computer Voice Training
London, Saturday 13 March 2004
Teacher+Student fee is £130

Practical Phonetics
London, Saturday 3 April 2004
Teacher+Student fee is £130

Early Booking Discounts

Early booking discounts are currently available for Core Training in April and Advanced Core Training in July. Book now and receive a 10% discount off the full fee. See the Training section of the web site for more information.

Data Privacy

Recent changes in European and UK Data Protection law have strengthened the need for informed consent before an organisation uses data about you. To ensure you continue to receive this ezine please keep the information in your My Vocal Process profile up-to-date. If you are not a member of My Vocal Process, you will soon receive an email from us. You will need to "opt-in" if you wish to continue to receive this ezine. More information is in the About VP > Help and FAQ section page of the web site.

'Belting Explained' in Birmingham, 1 November 2003

This workshop, at the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama, gave insights into the practice and theory of belting. With both Gillyanne and Matthew Reeve teaching, participants were able to break out into small groups twice during the day to check individual practice. Key points of this workshop were:

• The 'passaggio' to belt: many people confuse belting with chest voice because of the sound quality. It is helpful to think of belting as being another vocal register that happens above 'chest'.
• Safety: protecting the voice from trauma by retracting the false vocal folds; engaging vocal tract and body support.
• Identifying belting by sound and feel: participants really benefited from the individual attention through listening to each other and developing personal muscle memory for belting.
• Variants of belting: there is much debate amongst teachers as to the existence of a 'mixed belt' quality. In addition to Gillyanne's 'Howl Belt' we explored mixes of voice qualities commonly used as alternatives to belt.

Several participants who had never belted before remarked on how much easier it was to do than expected. The day also included discussion time and a short masterclass session.

More information can be found on belting in the Belting Handout that accompanied Gillyanne's PEVoC 5 workshop published as a PDF on the web site. There is also a useful Belting Repertoire List for teachers and students interested in belting.

Win a copy of 'Successful Singing Auditions'

We are having a New Year prize draw for members of My Vocal Process to win a signed copy of Successful Singing Auditions. Entry is easy and free. To be eligible you need to be a member of My Vocal Process and log-on before 11 January 2004. All members that have logged-on will then enter a random draw and the winner will receive a copy of Successful Singing Auditions. The winner will be notified by email.

All the best for 2004 … And finally …

remember to monitor your effort levels!