Applied Vocal Fitness

July 23—August 27, 2023

An intensive 6-week course for voice teachers and singers that delivers a comprehensive method for conditioning and coordinating the vocal instrument.

Singing is movement.

Learn how to condition and coordinate your vocal anatomy so that you can develop and integrate all of the movements required for free, expressive singing.

Our bodies are extraordinarily malleable.

All of us experience tensions that can limit breathing, range, or resonance. This class will show you how to permanently alleviate these tensions, rather than compensating for them as you sing.

You are your instrument.

Learn to interpret the feedback you get from your body in order to train your voice more efficiently, enjoyably, and with greater retention.

Athletes train their bodies for peak performance.

Musicians seek the finest instruments available.

Applied Vocal Fitness helps you to do both at the same time.

For Voice Teachers

Deepen your practical understanding of vocal anatomy and biomechanics
Explore sports science strategies for learning and integrating complex movement skills
Learn stretches, myofascial release techniques, and exercises that will help your students condition all components of their physical instruments
Develop a simple, movement-based vocabulary for cuing physical and vocal exercises
Support your students in developing physical confidence and an empowering body image.

For Singers

Learn how the various components of your instrument work and how to improve the function of each
Release excess tension and learn effective strategies for retraining habitual and unconscious movements
Develop a sport-specific exercise regimen to ensure your fitness activities support rather than tighten up your voice
Improve your kinesthetic awareness to make your practice sessions more enjoyable and productive
Build confidence in your ability to learn and improve upon all of the movement skills involved in singing—range, registration, resonance, stamina, power, and flexibility are all the results of movements you can learn to do well.

Request a Consultation

Schedule a time to chat with me to find out how this course can transform your experience in the studio.

Class Description & Syllabus

The Applied Vocal Fitness class consists of weekly 90-minute class meetings. Each participant will also receive two 30-minute individual coaching sessions during the first and last weeks of the class, as well as ongoing support as desired.

Class #1: Introduction

Overview of practical vocal anatomy and biomechanics
Guidelines for teaching and cueing physical exercises (important for oneself as well as others)
Discussion of functional movement versus aesthetic goals
How to modify exercises and adjust vocabulary to meet individual needs and learning styles
Introduction to mindfulness and myofascial release techniques

Class #2: Alignment

Discussion of alignment as dynamic and continuously evolving
Principles of motor learning
Principles of fitness conditioning
How to cultivate skill at interoception
Exercises for exploring and improving alignment

Class #3: Breathing

Overview of the anatomy and physiology of breathing
The physics of how breath generates sound
The role of fascia in breath support: discussion of range of motion, pre-stretch, and elastic recoil
The role of oxygen consumption in vocal stamina
Exercises for conditioning and coordinating breathing anatomy

Class #4: Phonation

Overview of laryngeal anatomy and the physics of phonation
The role of audiation in defining pitch and adjusting registration
Optimizing laryngeal range of motion
How to interpret various movements and sensations in the throat
Exercises for conditioning and coordinating laryngeal anatomy

Class #5: Articulation & Resonance

Overview of articulation and resonance anatomy and biomechanics
Discussion of the acoustics of vowel sounds
The importance of resonance range of motion for both timbre and pitch definition
Intentional versus habitual diction and articulation
Exercises for conditioning and coordinating the articulators

Class #6: Stage Movement

Discussion of the demands of acting, character definition, and stage movement
How stage movement can support rather than interfere or compete with vocal production
How to notice and release habitual tensions and movements
How to develop a vocabulary of body language for every character you embody
Exercises to free up the body to move in character while singing

Dates & Details

The Summer 2023 Session of Applied Vocal Fitness will meet on Sundays from July 23rd to August 27th.

The class will be offered in two sections, one from 10:30am to noon ET and one from 6:00 to 7:00pm ET.

Tuition: $1850

The class will be limited to 12 participants. Sign up now to reserve your place in the class.

ENROLL NOW

Claudia Friedlander, DMus

From the time I was a three-year-old dancing around the living room to an LP of the Wizard of Oz soundtrack, I longed to sing.

But I was not what you would call a natural singer. As a child, my voice was loud and abrasive; as a young adult, I had difficulty singing in tune as well as limited range, and I concluded that I just didn't have the aptitude to sing well.

Then two wonderful things happened. I engaged in a course of bodywork that helped me release chronic tensions that had been inhibiting my breathing and my vocal range, and I found a teacher who knew how to help me coordinate my newly liberated instrument.

It meant so much to me to be able to sing, after wanting it so much for so long, that I also became fascinated by the concepts and techniques that had helped me, as well as passionate about building on them. I have now been teaching singing for more than twenty years, helping others develop and coordinate their voices and learn to express themselves through song.

Through cultivating my own voice and participating in my students’ exploration and successes, I have come to appreciate the power of singing to not only help us to grow musically but also to help us deepen our awareness and connection to one another and the world we live in, and to enjoy a more expressive, interesting, and impactful journey along the way.