The aim of the Trimble Vocal Institute  is to develop the body, mind and spirit of each individual performer who enters the Trimble vocal studio and who aspires to a career in vocal performance.  Mr. Trimble, General Director, tailors each student's program of study to the specific needs of that student and follows the progress of each student closely.  The Course of Study of the Trimble Vocal Institute  is intensive and challenging, demanding each student's commitment to the development of vocal technique; foreign language fluency; a vast repertoire of operatic roles and stage acting.

 

The first rule of the historical Bel Canto style of singing is -  no action in the throat.  The second rule is -  no change of emission.  Every great singer of the golden age of beautiful singing, who wrote a book about their approach to the production of the singing tone, repeatedly emphasizes the importance of the relaxed, totally free throat and proper breathing techniques which will permit the throat to remain free. Professional singers are expected to fulfill the requirements of the operatic repertoire:  Beauty of tone, projection, flexibility, range and vocal stamina.   At one point in his book, Enrico Caruso refers to "...the massive breathing essential to good singing".  A list of these singing authors includes Enrico Caruso, Luisa Tetrazzini and Lilli Lehmann.  I recommend that singers read as much material as possible about the vocal methods of these artists, especially the books written by the artists themselves.

 

It seems obvious that, in order for the throat to remain free while singing or speaking, something must happen elsewhere in the body.  It is this process and the combined activities of the muscles of the body and the breathing system that we will explore and, hopefully, begin to understand.

 

The development and incorporation of the following eight fundamental essentials into every singers vocal technique are critical to begin establishing the foundation for the correct biomechanical and psychomotor system processes necessary for healthy technical singing:

 

 

1)  Correct Posture
2)  Breathing (inhalation/exhalation)
         Developmental and Performance breathing
3)  Breath stop (appoggio)
4)  No action in the throat
5)  No change of emission
6)  Phonation of vowels
7)  Articulation of consonants
8)  Projection

 

From the Introduction: 
Fundamentals of Great Vocal Technique: 
The Teachings of Michael Trimble
                Michael Trimble

 

Compiled & Edited by Richard di Renzi & Dr. Christopher Arneson
Publication September 2013

 

Copyright 2010/Michael Trimble