#Singing teacher

[opera-ghosts]

Carolina Östberg was one of the most famous and beloved singers of all on the Swedish opera stage during the last decades of the 1800s.

Carolina Östberg was born in Stockholm in 1853. She was the daughter of the master barber surgeon Johan Ludvig Östberg and Beata Ulrika Wallberg. Even as a child, Carolina Östberg showed that she was naturally musically gifted. It was however not until she was about 16, and accepted as a pupil at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, that she was given the opportunity to develop this talent further. Carolina Östberg studied Christina Nilsson’s and Zelia Trebelli’s singing methods thoroughly when they visited Sweden, but she considered that she had her singing teacher, Professor Joseph Günther, to thank for her highly developed singing technique.

After three years of studies, she made her stage debut at the Royal Theatre, nowadays the Royal Opera in Stockholm, when she entered the great stage in the role of Anna in the opera Der Freischütz, on 15 December 1873. The critics wrote that this unusually talented debutante had a soprano voice with a fresh, clear and pure timbre and that she also showed evidence of careful training in coloratura. The year after, she had yet another achievement in the male role Carlo Broschi in Daniel Auber’s opera La Part du Diable, and was given a contract. During her three years at the Royal Theatre, she created important Mozart roles such as, among others, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro and Papageno and one of the genies in Der Zauberflöte. For each new performance, Carolina Östberg won ever greater recognition from critics and audiences alike.

When her contract ended in 1877, Carolina Östberg planned to educate herself further in St Petersburg. However, the journey was cancelled since instead she married the wholesale dealer Moritz Horwitz the year after, and chose to leave the stage to the audience’s great disappointment, apparently permanently. The prevailing period of depression in Sweden meant however that her husband’s income was very meagre. Carolina Östberg decided to return to the stage once more. Her unexpected return in 1879 as the title role in Franz von Suppé’s operetta Boccaccio on the stage of Nya teatern was such a roaring success that it created total Boccaccio-fever in the capital. The acclaimed performance sold out time and again and Carolina Östberg was paid a staggering fee of 100 kronor per evening. Her engagement at Nya teatern lasted until 1885 and she played the main role in among other works Charles Lecocq’s opera Le Petit Duc, Madame Favart by Offenbach, and Charles Grisart’s Les Poupées de l’Infante. During her years at the theatre, Carolina Östberg gave guest performances at many other theatres, for example in Denmark in 1880, Germany and the Netherlands in 1882—1883 and Norway in 1885.

When Carolina Östberg once again was given a contract at the Royal Theatre in 1886, this was considered a triumph for the audience who had demanded her return to the great dramatic stage for a very long time. Apart from a break for touring America in 1892—1894, Carolina Östberg belonged to the permanent ensemble at the Royal Theatre until 1906 when she resigned to work as a private singing teacher, an enterprise that she had carried on parallel to the theatre for several years.

In 1897, Carolina Östberg was elected to be a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. She was awarded the medal Litteris et Artibus in 1891 and on King Oscar II’s birthday in 1900, Carolina Östberg received from his hand the unusual medal Litteris et Artibus decorated with diamonds. Carolina Östberg was a member of Idun’s women’s academy for a while, along with – among others – Selma Lagerlöf, Agda Montelius and Karolina Widerström.

Carolina Östberg died on 27 February 1924. She lies buried at the Northern Cemetery in Solna. Her voice has been preserved on nine gramophone recordings from 1905.

[kate-cosette-vocals]

How to Breathe from Your Diaphragm (Foolproof Trick!) | Singing Tip

One of the first things you’ll hear when you start researching how to sing is going to be breathing from your diaphragm. But what does that mean? And why do you have to breathe this way to sing well? Don’t worry; by the time you’re finished reading this page, you’ll know exactly what all these singing gurus are talking about and why they care so much about breathing this way.

I made a video about this exact trick, but for those of you who like to read rather than watch, this blog is on the exact same things I talk about in the video.

So let’s get started!

Why breathe from your diaphragm?

Why do we need to change the way we breathe?

Well, in all essence, your breath is the #1 most important factor in singing. Why? Because breathing out air is literally singing. You cannot sing without breathing out, and your exhale, shaped in special ways (singing vowels), is what allows people to sing in a way that’s very pleasing to the ear.

So, your breath is mightily important.

When we breathe in and out like normal, for simply breathing to survive or speaking, we aren’t taking in enough air to sing. We take in enough to survive, and to speak, but not enough to sing. When we speak, our words aren’t held like a belted note in a song or elongated, for example, like in the first few words in the Star Spangled Banner. It would take you about two seconds to speak “Oh, say can you see,” but it takes between five and ten seconds to sing it. We hold the words longer when we sing. That’s one reason why we need more air than we normally take in.

The other reason is so that you have support. When singers or singing teachers talk about a “supported” voice, they’re talking about the breath. They’re referring to having enough air to, well, literally support the notes you sing. Think of it like dragging a bunch of items along the ground. If you put a tissue beneath them, it’ll rip and the items will go everywhere and scatter. But if you put a nice thick blanket beneath them, it’s strong enough to keep them where they’re supposed to be for a long time. Think of normal breathing from your lungs as support like the tissue, and breathing from your diaphragm as support like the thick blanket. If you don’t have enough air when you sing, your exhale doesn’t have a lot to work with, and when you try to sing, there’s not enough air to both sustain the notes you sing, or allow them to come out clearly. When there’s not enough air, it doesn’t pass through your vocal cords in the right way to form the sounds you want. That can make you go off pitch or throw off the tone of your voice, and tone is the really crystal clear sound you want to make.

Bottom line is, if you want to learn to sing well, breathing from your diaphragm is the way to start. The best part is that it isn’t hard and doesn’t take too much practice to become second nature. But no singer gets by without learning to breathe from their diaphragm, and when you learn to do it too, you’ll see why.

How do you breathe from your diaphragm?

You already know how!

You just don't know you know.

First, I’ll quickly explain what the heck the diaphragm is.

Your diaphragm is a muscle in your torso, beneath your ribs. Imagine it as being horizontal. You can feel it right now. When you inhale, notice that something below your ribs moves down. That’s your diaphragm. It moves down to give you room for your lungs to expand with air. As you breathe out, your diaphragm moves back up, helping push the air back out of your body. And this repeats, your whole life.

When people say to “breathe from your diaphragm,” that makes it sound like you’re breathing from a completely different place. The term “breathing from your diaphragm” is huge and a very common thing to hear in singing, but I find it very misleading. What we’re doing is really just breathing lower than normal. So, continue breathing from your diaphragm. Just, well, do it more.

When you breathe normally, your diaphragm only moves down a few inches—just a couple. It’s a very small movement. But that’s okay; we don’t need a ton of air to simply breathe or to speak. But when we sing, we need a lot more air to work with. What we’re going to do is allow the diaphragm to move further down than it usually does, so that we can allow our lungs to fill with a lot more air. You’ll quickly notice just how much air fits into your lungs and how little of that space you utilize in daily life.

Remember when I said you already know how to breathe lower than normal?

You do!

Everyone naturally breathes from their diaphragm (deeper and lower) while laying down on their backs.

Try it! Lay down on a couch, bed or even your floor. The number one way to tell if you’re breathing from your diaphragm instead of your lungs is to notice that your stomach moves out when you breathe, your chest doesn’t, and your shoulders stay put. When you breathe from your lungs (like normal) your chest and shoulders rise. When you sing, your chest and shoulders should not rise (though everything is connected; you will see them move, but a tiny fraction of the amount they used to). When you sing, the movement you should make when you breathe is for your stomach to expand forward with your air. This is showing you that your diaphragm has moved far down enough to get a nice, low breath.

Put your hands on your stomach, and notice that, while laying down, your stomach moves outward. Your chest and shoulders do not. And this happens naturally.

But notice when you sit or stand back up, you’re back to breathing from your lungs and your chest and shoulders rise again.

Why?

Gravity! For whatever reason (I’m no scientist here) you always breathe up and down, so, toward the sky and back toward the ground. So when you sit or stand up, you breathe with your chest and shoulders rising to the sky. When you lay down, your stomach raises to the sky. I’ve no idea why, but if you were wondering, there’s the general answer. (If you're a scientist and you know why, please leave a comment letting me know why!)

But now, the big question: how do you train yourself to breathe from your diaphragm while sitting up or standing up?

There are a million tricks people have invented to teach you to do this, but nothing I ever saw helped me. I tried everything on the internet, but still, I really struggled with being able to breathe this way sitting or standing up.

So, one night, I invented my own trick, and I can 100% guarantee to you that it’s a foolproof method to teach you how to do this yourself.

My Foolproof Method

Step 1 - Lie on your back, preferably on the floor.

Step 2 - Notice that you’re breathing from your stomach, not your chest.

Step 3 - Lift your chest and torso up about an inch off the ground, propping yourself up on your elbows to stay there. Notice that you’re still breathing from your stomach.

Step 4 - Lift yourself up another inch. Notice that you’re still breathing from your stomach.

Step 5 - Lift yourself up until you hit the point where you switch to breathing from your lungs. Notice this.

Step 6 - Try to force yourself to breathe from your stomach instead. If this is hard, go back down an inch, see how it feels again to breathe from your stomach. Then raise yourself up and make yourself breathe into your stomach instead. Do not leave this step until you can do this.

Step 7 - Keep lifting yourself up inch by inch, repeating step 6 at each new level until you reach an upright sitting position.

This was a trick I made up one night after getting frustrated with the though, “I can do this laying down, why can’t I do it sitting up?” I wondered when the switch happened, from diaphragm to lungs, and I found it about halfway up. I made myself breathe from my stomach instead, and then made it to standing and breathing from my diaphragm.

Note: this took me several weeks to be able to do this upright. It took even longer for it to become second nature, where I could do it without thinking about it. Don’t get discouraged if this takes a while; this is something very new to you! Give your muscles a chance to learn a new habit. Habits naturally take 2-3 months to become new habits, so it’s only natural this will take a while. Don’t give up!

This is the first step in getting the singing voice you want, and are capable of. Give yourself time to learn this—it’s a brand new habit that you’ve never done before. You’ll get it! Trust the process and yourself, and as always, happy singing!

[businessclick]

The Best Vocal Coaching Apps for Aspiring Speakers and Singers

In today’s digital age, vocal coaching has never been more accessible. Whether you’re an aspiring singer or looking to enhance your speaking skills, numerous apps can help you refine your voice, improve your technique, and boost your confidence. Here are some of the best vocal coaching apps that cater to both singers and speakers.

1. Vocal Coach Vocal Coach is a comprehensive app designed for both singers and speakers. It offers a range of vocal exercises, warm-ups, and tips on improving your vocal technique. With guided lessons and an easy-to-navigate interface, this app is perfect for beginners and experienced vocalists alike.

2. Smule While primarily known as a social singing app, Smule also offers features that make it a great tool for vocal coaching. You can practise singing along with popular songs, record your performances, and receive feedback from the community. The app’s duet feature allows you to collaborate with others, honing your vocal skills in a fun environment.

3. Vox Tools Vox Tools is an excellent resource for singers and public speakers looking to improve their vocal range and technique. The app includes various exercises targeting breath control, pitch, and resonance. Its built-in metronome and pitch tracker help you stay on track while practising.

4. Sing Sharp Sing Sharp provides a unique approach to vocal coaching with its interactive lessons and singing exercises. The app offers vocal range detection and personalised training plans, making it easier for users to track their progress. Sing Sharp also features a library of songs to practise with, allowing you to apply your skills in real-time.

5. VocalEase VocalEase focuses on vocal warm-ups and exercises specifically designed to prepare your voice for singing or speaking. The app provides various routines tailored to different skill levels, making it suitable for everyone from beginners to advanced users. With its user-friendly design, VocalEase is perfect for quick, effective vocal training.

6. Voice Coach Voice Coach is an app designed for public speakers, offering exercises and tips to improve clarity, projection, and speech delivery. It includes voice modulation techniques and feedback on your speaking performance. This app is ideal for anyone looking to enhance their speaking skills for presentations, interviews, or public speaking engagements.

7. Yousician While Yousician is primarily focused on teaching musical instruments, it also has vocal lessons that cover singing techniques and vocal health. The app provides interactive exercises and real-time feedback, making it a valuable tool for those wanting to improve their singing and performance skills.

8. Singing Machine Karaoke This app combines fun with learning by allowing you to sing along with karaoke tracks while also providing vocal coaching features. You can adjust the pitch and tempo, helping you practise songs at your own pace while receiving feedback on your performance.

9. The Voice Coach The Voice Coach app offers a wide range of vocal exercises aimed at both singers and speakers. With guided lessons, video tutorials, and a library of practise materials, this app helps you develop your vocal skills and build confidence in your abilities.

10. Karaoke by Tiktok This app allows you to sing your favourite songs and share them with the TikTok community. With various effects and vocal enhancement features, it’s a fun way to practise your singing while receiving feedback from other users. Karaoke by TikTok encourages creativity and vocal exploration.

Conclusion With the abundance of vocal coaching apps available, aspiring singers and speakers have the tools they need to develop their skills and enhance their confidence. Whether you're looking for structured lessons or a fun way to practise, these apps provide a variety of resources tailored to your vocal journey. Choose the one that fits your needs and start transforming your voice today .

[diabolicjoy]

you can start learning anything you always wanted at any point in your life. & how nice it is to remember that

[raleksd]

(via "ATTRACTIVE PORTRAIT OF CHARLES GOUNOD - MUSICIAN COMPOSER - ABSTRACT ORGAN ON MUSICAL SCORE - FAMOUS ARIA AVE MARIA - FUNNY MUSIC SCORE AVE MARIA PATCHWORK PATTERN - GREAT GIFT FOR ORGANIST" Graphic T-Shirt Dress for Sale by Frantz CIALEC)

[one-time-i-dreamt]

I was having a school lockdown in the teacher’s lounge and the choir teacher still made us warm up with Hallelujah chorus.

[80smen-fanclub]

Ladies and germs, and all the nice creatures of tumblr, my mom told me she cannot tell BJ and Trapper apart, so I made this. This is canon, actually.

[never-looked-so-good]

📷 @/ch_leclerc16_

[tariah23]

aisjsjjensnJAJAJ

[mytardisisparked]

"We lost nine minutes"

[opera-ghosts]

On this Photo we see the German Soprano Erna Denera (1879-1938) as Kundry in Parsifal Berlin 1910. A lot of recordings exist. Especially the first full recording ever from the complete first act of “The Valkyrie”.

[kate-cosette-vocals]

Online Singing Lessons | Black Friday Deal

Schedule a lesson with me at katecosettevocals.com ! :)

[jencattv]

Started a new series on my TikTok. If you’ve ever been interested in being able to sing The Ballad of Jane Doe, I’ll be posting some tips and tricks! 😊

[hjartasalt]

Joined my uni's choir to meet my required ECTS for the semester and can now say I am a confirmed bass

[discendia]

Rereading Kageki Shojo is making me think about an au for the KHR girls at an only-girls acting school... Boys? What's a boy? The only male energy in this AU comes from the few male teachers at the school.

[high-quality-tiktoks]

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Had to be properly trained😂