My softball coach used to tell me in her British accent “Elizabeth, watch your pop ups.” My hitting game was often guilty of vertical direction. In my running game, my slow twitch muscles made my speed turtle-esque but my tank build gave me power. I had time to run the bases if I hit it well enough.
I had a pop up today but not from a ballgame gaffe. One of my influential voice teachers popped up in a voice lesson I was teaching.
My student Ruth is singing Pamina in the Magic Flute at Wagner College this spring. Today, we were working on the exquisite aria, Ach Ich Fuhls. When we reached the G5 to Bb5 ascent on the last page, Paul Kreider made a cameo in our lesson.
Every time I have to sing high in the tessitura with challenging consonants on notes above the passaggio , I often use what Paul taught me at UNLV. He showed me how to use my articulators independent of the jaw so the voice retains the space and the sound moves forward.
By showing the quick and talented Ruth how to isolate the tongue and ascend to the Bb by singing the L on liebe with the tongue independent of the jaw, her voice released and blossoming.
So many teachers along the way have added to my pop up vocal pedagogy tool box. In my experiences, no teacher has had it all but everyone has had their own special insights to share.
The study of voice has taken a village indeed. And as a big voice soprano who takes longer to bake, I am very grateful.
Great seeing you, Paul! You’d love Ruth!
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