CC Podcast S. 2 #10 - Spring Forward with Octave Jumps

Choral Cacophony Podcast

Whaaaat? This week's Choral Cacophony Podcast features a warmup you can do to help with Octave jumps AND relaxed open tones. The secret?? Looking down. Yes. Literally. Looking down. Looking UP to reach a high note - straining for a note - can close off your air flow and tense up your muscles unnecessarily. So, look down when you reach up for that note. Try it, it works. About The Stairwell Carollers: Pierre Massie started our a cappella choir 40 years ago, in 1977, while a student of music at Ottawa U. The Stairwell Carollers are ranked with the best of Ontario choirs, having won both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. A registered Canadian charity, we also help local charities with our concert, CD and cookbook sales. Net proceeds benefit charity.

Chapters

1. Chapter 1 - Warmup begins with vowels on single notes then arpeggios. Pierre encourages bright clear notes. (00:00:00)

2. Chapter 2 - Drop down an octave and continue arpeggios going down. (00:02:11)

3. Chapter 3 - Octave jumps. Pierre discusses clean notes with no "stretching' for the notes. Looking at the floor helps to relax and let the sound be open. Positioning is important. (00:02:55)