Pre-Conference Workshop
Breath Bootcamp with Deborah Birnbaum
Friday, June 22 • 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. REGISTER NOW
Presenter: Deborah Birnbaum
Introduced by: Nancy Bos
Location: Trinidad 1-3
Breathing is our most natural function. This four-hour interactive Master Class will enhance your understanding of breath support through a variety of techniques. Those attending will have the opportunity to participate in group floor work and have a ‘hands on’ experience, to help integrate new concepts into their teaching. Dress comfortably.
The Mechanics of Breath: How does the voice respond to a natural inhale? Explore the breath through floor work and physical exercises to achieve efficient breath support, maximizing breath control and stamina.
The Resonant Breath: Breath as a function of resonance… How does breath alleviate jaw and tongue tension? How to find a released vocal onset and an acoustical stop. How to use the back and ribs as a vital source of support.
The Communicative Breath: Breath is a crucial expressive element in communicating the drama and meaning in music. How to use music’s harmonic and melodic structure to highlight and uncover vocal color and achieve a Bel Canto legato line.
Building a Confident Breath: Why are you holding your breath? Audition and performance anxiety can rob you of your peak performance. Learn how the breath can alleviate and control nerves, release tension and result in a powerful performance.
About Deborah Birnbaum
Deborah Birnbaum is an internationally established voice teacher whose expertise is Bel Canto Breath Technique. Ms. Birnbaum is regularly scheduled for guest teaching at the Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, The San Francisco Opera Merola Opera Program and Adler Fellowship Program, The Lyric Opera of Chicago Ryan Opera Center, Houston Grand Opera Studio, and Wolf Trap among others. She has conducted master classes at The Mannes College of Music, Rice University, Indiana University, Boston University Opera Institute, San Francisco Conservatory, University of Maryland and Northwestern.
Internationally, Ms. Birnbaum has taught at the Shanghai and Beijing Music Conservatories, SIVAM Mexico City, Tel Aviv’s International Vocal Arts Institute and the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts in Perth. She has served as a judge for several prestigious vocal competitions including the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, the Gerda Lissner Foundation and the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation. Ms. Birnbaum was one of the featured coaches in the Metropolitan Opera’s HD movie, The Audition. Ms. Birnbaum has also appeared as guest clinician for Joyce DiDonato’s Master Classes at Carnegie Hall. Ms. Birnbaum maintains a private teaching studio in New York City
