Jade Marvin

Log Practise Book

Week One: 30/9/13 1.30pm (Jude)
What was last week's objective and how did you work towards it, practice-wise?
This week is my first singing lesson with Jude. This is our chance to find out how each other work
and create an action plan for the year.
Has last week's objective been achieved?
N/A
What was covered during the lesson?
We discussed the importance of finding a regular slot for singing. Jude advised that I made an mp3
file (20-25 minutes) of songs that I enjoyed singing and that put me in a happy and relaxed mood.
This will become my warm up. I also need to find a regular slot to find new material through using
youtube and ask my peers.
What still needs to be improved and what is next week's objective?
I haven't sung for Jude yet so will happen next week. I need to bring evidence of my warm up so
that we can start with it next week. My personal objective is to become more knowledgeable of
musical theatre, so by next week I want to have listened to a new musical soundtrack.
Week Two: 7/10/13 1.30pm

(Jude)

What was last week's objective and how did you work towards it, practice-wise?
I decided on a regular time slot for singing practice. I aso made an mp3 playlist on my phone and
practiced it everyday. Some of the songs are too high for my range, however Jude explained that
this then presents a good challenge for the voice. The playlist includes Beyonce, Stooshe, Whitney
Housten, Eva Cassidy and Adele.
Has last week's objectives been achieved?
I was able to find a regular practice slot and complete the mp3 task set by my teacher. I also did
some research on musicals that I had little or no prior knowledge of, such as Legally Blonde and
Sister Act. I since found songs in both scores that suit my voice. So Much Better in Legally Blonde
and Take Me To Heaven from Sister Act.
What was practiced during the lesson?
We made a spider diagram in preparation for choosing my assessment songs. Jude gave me some
options from musicals I'd not heard of such as Spamalot. We thought about what famous voices my
voice is similar to and came to the conclusion of Bett Middler.
What still needs to be improved and what is next week's objective?

I still need to practice my warm-up so that I do not strain during singing as there are still some
songs I struggle with. For next week I need three contrasting songs that I have listened to and
practiced. I must bring in the sheet music and any mp3 tracks that I've used to practice. During
practicing at home I need to write out the words and say the words so that I understand what I am
singing.
Week Three: 14/10/13 1.30pm (Jude)
What was last week's objective and how did you work towards it, practice-wise?
I practiced my warm up over the course of the week in addition to sticking to my regular time slot
for singing practice. I feel I am becoming more confident with some of the sections I struggle with
such as the key change in Start Over Beyonce. I have brought in five contrasting songs that I feel
may be suitable for my assessment, with sheet music for each. I have worked closely on
Shadowland as it is my favourite musical theatre song from my favourite character and musical. I
turned the song lyrics into a monologue so that I could feel the sense of responsibility and
desperation that Nala has during her ballad.
Has last week's objectives been achieved?
I was able to sing through my warm-up song choices with more ease, so I would say that I am
working towards achieving the goal of becoming more confident with the challenging songs in the
warm-up. I also have a choice of five songs that I can narrow down with guidance from my teacher
and I have been practicing the songs so that I'm familiar with them in my lesson.
What was practiced during the lesson?
I sang through my five song choices and we managed to whittle them down to four. Although Miss
Baltimore Crabs suits my voice type well, it is sung by a white woman in a musica about racial
discrimination. Jude feels that I need to sing songs that are more realistic parts I could audition for
and play.We looked at how a singer could silently breath in by putting the tongue behind the bottom
teeth, this made my song sound a lot smoother and less breathy. I need to have at least three
different recordings of each song for next week.
What still needs to be improved and what is next week's objective?
I still need to practice my warm-up, there is always something I can improve. I think the main issue
is breathing correctly. To help rectify this I will under take breathing exercises before I go to sleeep
so that I start to adapt to breathing correctly. This will help me to sing the higher notes easier.
Another thing to be improved is my vowel placement, this can be improved by just singing the
vowel sounds throughout the song and focusing on producing the correct vowel sounds. I also need
to check the words against the music as I was singing different wordings to the sheet music Jude
had, and I need to undergo the monologue process I have with Shadowland for each of my songs.
For next week I need to show research into the synopsis of the shows, a small character profile and
information about the writers, when its set and when it was written.
Week Four: 18/11/13 1.30pm (Jude)
What was last week's objective and how did you work towards it, practice-wise?
Last weeks objective was to continue to practice the warm up which is something I did. I feel that
with practice the hardest higher songs are becoming easier to sing. I also had a target of doing

breathing exercises before I went to bed. I looked online for some basic exercises such as breath in
for four, hold for four and breath out for four. Then you change the length of time you breathe out
for. I found them difficult because I struggle to breath through my nose due to my chronic sinusitus,
but I have to try my best to not let it affect me so I stuck at them. I checked I had the correct sheet
music as last week I was singing different to Jude's sheet music. I also did some monologue work
with Take Me To Heaven and Maybe I Like It This Way, however I don't think I'll be singing Maybe
I Like It This Way because it's quite slow and I've already chosen my ballad. I researched into the
shows and found out about when the pieces were written and what time setting the musicals are in.
Has last week's objectives been achieved?
Last weeks objectives have all been achieved except I haven't composed a character profile yet
because I'm not sure of what songs I will be singing.
What was practiced during the lesson?
During the lesson we sang through my warm-up compilation and then sang through each of my two
definate song choices, Shadowland and Take Me To Heaven. We made the definate choice based on
the fact that I like to sing both songs and they are a good contrast, one ballad and one up-tempo
Jude said I need to continue undergoing a process so that I can connect with the songs better, and
she can feel the character coming through my voice. I also let her know my operation date (9th
December). I'm need to be doing minimal singing the week before to try and help reduce the
amount of imflamation in my nose and sinus areas and I will be on vocal rest for upto four weeks
after it.
What still needs to be improved and what is next week's objective?
I need to start practicing trying to lower my larynx during high notes. It's kind of like a yawn and
you lift your soft palette. It helps with the clarity of the notes and allows them to sound fuller and
stronger. Next weeks objective is to have a third song chosen and practiced for my singing lesson.
Week Five: 25/11/13 1.30pm (Jude)
What was last week's objective and how did you work towards it, practice-wise?
I wanted to have a third song chosen and practiced for my singing lesson. I have chosen The Worst
Pies In London from Sweeney Todd as my quirky number because I think the character of Mrs.
Lovett is incredible and it's a difficult song that I would love to be able to master. I first started
listening to the musical soundtrack and obtained a copy of the score. I practiced it everyday and
tried to keep up with the lyrics whilst keeping clarity in my voice and making every word clear and
understandable. It's a hard task!
Has last week's objectives been achieved?
Yes, I have chosen a third song that has been approved by my singing teacher. I have also practiced
it repeatedly and can continue to do so now that it is definitely a song I will sing for my singing
assessment.
What was practiced during the lesson?
We sang through my Disney song which is Shadowland from The Lion King. Jude said although it
sounds lovely as I'm singing it, I need to stop adding in extra notes or twiddles and sing the notes on

the sheet music for my assessment. This is hard because I've known this song for a long time and
sung it at various shows and am used to singing it with extras and changed notes. Jude also
instructed that I only do the growl in my voice once throughout the song as it's a special touch, but
once you've heard it it doesn''t become spectacular, just a regular addition to the song. With
Sweeney Todd I need to say the words over the soundtrack rhythmically until I know them well
enough to not read them.
What still needs to be improved and what is next week's objective?
I need to learn the words to Sweeney Todd, by repeatedly saying them rhythmically over the
soundtrack and becoming more confident with the song for next week.
OPERATION.
I had Bilateral Endoscopic Sinus Surgery with Balloon Sinoplasty.
Bilateral Endoscopic Sinus Surgery involves a surgeon inserting an endoscope into the nose. The
endoscope allows a detailed magnified view of inside the nose. The surgeon can see the opening of
the sinus drainage channels. He can then remove any tissues that are blocking the drainage of the
affected sinus. This can improve sinus drainage and ventilation and help to restore normal function
to the sinus.
Balloon Sinoplasty involves a surgeon pushing a small balloon through a flexible tube in the nostril,
into the blocked sinus. The balloon is inflated which pushes wide the blocked area. The balloon is
then deflated and removed. Following this procedure there is a good chance that the sinus drainage
channel is widened and the sinus can drain properly.
I had four weeks singing rest as ordered by the doctor.
Week Six: 13/1/14 1.30pm (Alison)
What was last week's objective and how did you work towards it, practice-wise?
Last week's objective was to learn my song The Worst Pies In London from Sweeney Todd off
-book using the method of speaking the words rhythmically over the music until I was confident
with it. I have practiced this during the week in front of a mirror beginning 25/11/13 and feel mushc
more confident with the song.
Has last week's objectives been achieved?
Yes, I know The Worst Pies In London off book and feel confident singing it. Due to my vocal rest
I've not been able to sing for the last four weeks so I've had more time to look into and learn the
lyrics.
What was practiced during the lesson?
I had a new teacher today, Alison Owens. She taught me some of her warm-ups she uses, and I
managed to high some high notes that I hadn't been able to hit before my operation. It's a lot easier
to sing when you can breathe properly. I sang her my three song choices and she liked them. The
Worst Pies In London is fast and therefore I have to concentrate when I sing it and articulate
properly to make sure all the words come through. Take Me To Heaven is funky and enjoyable and
that comes across in my voice. Alison said it's clear that I enjoy singing that type of music.

Shadowland is beautiful at the beginning but my breathing issues and poor technique causes the
higher ending to ruin the song. We identified my problem as poor technique. When I go high I don't
think I can sing and Alison reckons that it is more a pyschological issue than a vocal one. When I'm
singing high I need to push it forward to create a richer cleaner sound. Alison suggested that when I
sing higher I should put my thumb in my mouth and slot it into my soft palette.
What still needs to be improved and what is next week's objective?
I need to work on the problem of having poor technique so that I can sing higher with ease. Alison
said we'll work on this next week and see if we can also use the mirror to eradicate posturial errors.
Next weeks objective is to be able to sing the end of Shadowland confidently without my voice
becoming tired or struggling because of my breathing habits.
Week Seven: 10/2/14 1.30pm (Andrew)
What was last week's objective and how did you work towards it, practice-wise?
Last weeks objective was to be able to sing the end of Shadowland confidently without my voice
becoming tired or struggling because of my breathing habits. I practiced this by only singing the
end section of Shadowland and I realised that I could sing it if my voice wasn't tired. I started to add
on sections to the frontt of my hardest part and see if I could eventually sing the whole song. I used
the ideas of having a north and south shaped mouth rather than east and west when I sang and found
that made my notes sound more prominent but didn't help with the issue at the end of the song.
Has last week's objectives been achieved?
Last week's objective wasn't met with Alison because I didn't have another singing lesson with her
because she left.
What was practiced during the lesson?
This lesson was with Andrew and he just played my songs once so I could sing them over as I
hadn't had a lesson in a few weeks.
What still needs to be improved and what is next week's objective?
I think it's my lack of correct breathing technique that is the main issue and this still needs to be
improved. Also Risa told me it's a good idea to steam regularly or even every morning so I want to
try and do that more often until it becomes a part of my daily regime. I don't have a singing teacher
so I'm not sure if I will get a lesson next week because Andrew has to prioritise the pupils who have
their assessment coming up. Luckily our assessment has been pushed back due to our lack of
unpreparedness. A personal objective would be to continue to practice my songs so that when my
new singing teacher comes we can quickly skim over them and work heavily on the exercises as
I've not done them with a teacher yet.
Week Eight: 17/2/14 1.30pm (Andrew)
What was last week's objective and how did you work towards it, practice-wise?
Last weeks objective was to continue to practice my songs so that they are near ready for my
assessment. I have practiced each song numerous amounts of times, sometimes with the backing

track and sometimes accapella. I find working accapella works for take me to heaven as I can hhear
when my voice struggles easier, so then I can work closely on making that section sound smoother
and better. I have also attempted to sing through the song study, as Rob has sent a version through
over email, but it's hard when I've not learnt it, so I definitely need to make that a priority when I
start to work with my new singing teacher.
Has last week's objectives been achieved?
I feel like yes, my objective has been achieved because I did continue to practice my songs so that
when I start my singing lessons, I can spend more time on the scales and song study and still have
near finished song pieces ready.
What was practiced during the lesson?
Andrew stated that he didn't want to start having to teach me the scales and song study when I'd be
having a new teacher soon, who would teach me in their own manor. So he just played my songs
again could sing them over and he gave me general advice such as breathing in the right places and
supporting the breath so my higher notes sound clearer.
What still needs to be improved and what is next week's objective?
I won't be having another singing lesson with Andrew, but I just need to work on developing a clear
breathing technique. This will take time and hard work on my part, but is har to establish when I
don't have a steady singing teacher, and each singing teacher I have had this year have taught me in
different ways, and have different ideas on how I should be implimenting a breathing technique. I
am currently waiting for my new singing teacher to start at Arden, and then will learn my scale
assesments and song study for my singing assessment. Next week's objective is really for when my
singing teacher starts, and is to become confident with the pieces for my assesment that I haven't
learnt properly yet, and build a strong rapport with my singing teacher so that he or she can help me
achieve my maximum potential in singing.
Week Nine: 31/3/14 4.30pm (Gavin)
What was last week's objective and how did you work towards it, practice-wise?
Last week's objective was to become confident with the pieces for my assesment that I haven't
learnt properly yet, and to build a strong rapport with my singing teacher. There wasn't really any
practice that I could do regarding meeting my new singing teacher, but I was able to listen to the
recordings that I had from Rob's email and try to find my feet with the scale exercises, so that when
Gavin started to teach them with me I had some prior knowledge, and picked it up quicker.
Has last week's objectives been achieved?
I feel that I work well with Gavin, the lessons are always very relaxed, and Gavin has a lot of
patience when trying to impliment a technique into my singing. Gavin works with a anchoring
metaphor which I'd never hear before, and although I don't always complete the tasks given
correctly he constantly adapts to try and find a way for me to understand and use the metaphors
effectively. Gavin also asks me what I'm thinking about when I'm singing, or what I'm imagining
when I attempt to try the anchoring and yawning uvula which keeps me thinking about what Im
actually doing. I am happy that Gavin can help me to become a better singer so I do believe last
weeks objective has been met.

What was practiced during the lesson?

Gavin taught me the exercises for my assesment, and we wennt over them repeatedly until they
started to become rememberable. We worked on my breathing for the song study, focusing on
breathing in Ah vowel even when singing 'ee' then placing the 'ee' sound in the Ah vowel space. We
also looked at breathing in with a low anchor support and imagine then pulling away from this low
anchor as I start to sing higher. Gavin explained to me about the 2 way stretch idea, like an elastic
band and I need to remember this when I am singing. I have to also be careful not to allow an
aspirate start to notes, this is something to work on for next week. Next lesson we will listen to my
three pieces as we didn't have time to work on them this lesson.
What still needs to be improved and what is next week's objective?
I need to work on exercises and know them off by heart for next week, so that I can give a more
confidence performance of them, as that's what I'll be doing in my assessment. Next week's
objective is to sing without any hint of aspirate. This will be achieved if Gavin doesn't mention it
throughout the lesson.
Week Ten: 25/4/14 3.00pm (Gavin)
What was last week's objective and how did you work towards it, practice-wise?
In an attempt to learn the scales off by heart I have been practicing them for half an hour a day with
the backing recording that Rob sent us via email. I do know what I am doing, however on the slow
scale I have to remember that its seven up and then seven down otherwise I miss the second note
thats lower on the downwards scale.
Has last week's objectives been achieved?
Gavin didn't mention aspirate once during my singing lesson so I think my objective was achieved.
I concentrated hard on making sure I didn't hiss into my words, and the beginning of words and
sentences where clear and non-airy.
What was practiced during the lesson?
At the beginning of my lesson I told Gavin I was changing one of my songs, The Worst Pies In
London from Sweeney Todd for Almost There from The Princess and The Frog, due to the lack of
time to work on the song. I didn't feel that I was ready to perform it because the timing is so
difficult and if I went wrong it would mess up the whole song. We just sang through my three song
choices and Gavin's notes were don't panic and snatch breaths. I tend to panic when I feel I'm not
going to be able to sing the note and then end up lifting my shoulders and taking a shallow breath
which is unhelpful, and probably results in me not reaching the note! Next week we're working on
the exercises and pieces, in the correct order, like a mock assessment going over them each once so
that we can fit everything in our 30 minute slot.
What still needs to be improved and what is next week's objective?
I need to work on the low support element of singing, but that will take time. That is a continuous
improvement that can be made. Another note from Gavin that can be worked on and become next
week's objective is not to stop breathing when I'm not singing, as I have a tendancy to relax and not
prepare properly for the next section or note.

Week Eleven: 2/5/14 3.00pm (Gavin)

What was last week's objective and how did you work towards it, practice-wise?
I tried to practice my songs at home and
Has last week's objectives been achieved?

What was practiced during the lesson?

Next week we're working on the exercises and pieces, in the correct order, like a mock assessment
going over them each once so that we can fit everything in our 30 minute slot.
What still needs to be improved and what is next week's objective?
Week Twelve: 9/5/14 3.00pm (Gavin)
What was last week's objective and how did you work towards it, practice-wise?
Has last week's objectives been achieved?

What was practiced during the lesson?

What still needs to be improved and what is next week's objective?