Weiss Institute
The Art of Balance
Weiss Institute
Weiss Institute
Vision About Us Workshops Private Lessons Contact Us Home
VoiceVoice


Welcome

Vita - Dr. Maria Weiss

Posture

Breathing

Singing

Testimonials

Bibliography

Dissertation


singing

Singing should be a great and wonderful experience. Most vocal teachers aim for the utmost freedom and beauty in the voices of their students, even if they do not fully succeed. When everything works well, singing gives the most gratifying experience. Singers often feel uncomfortable, however, or even develop serious vocal injuries. The Alexander Technique can be a great tool to deal with the problems in these cases.

From the beginning of my singing career, I have also had a special interest in the art of teaching singing. From very early on, I visited different master classes and workshops on either a traditional way of teaching voice or a mind and/or body approach. I sang in master classes held by Kurt Widmer, Max van Egmont, Phyllis Curtin, and Simone Millet. My first voice pedagogy teacher at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg introduced me to Eutony and the ideas and bioenergetic exercises of Alexander Lowen. I also took classes in Feldenkrais, Tai Chi, music kinesiology, breathing and movement education. Coming to the United States to do my doctorate, I studied the Alexander Technique in a three-year training program with Ruth Kilroy in Newton, Massachusetts. I finished a two-year postgraduate study with Rivka Cohen and took master classes and/orlessons with Beret Arcaya, Peter Ribeaux, Joan Murray and Jessica Wolf. In 2005 I received my doctor of musical arts (D.M.A.) degree from Boston University. I have always incorporated new knowledge into the teaching of voice, ever since I began teaching seventeen years ago. My specialty lies in the combination of Alexander Technique and voice.

Applying the Alexander Technique helps singers refrain from interfering with the vocal mechanism and helps to build instruments singers can enjoy all their life. More and more singers use the Alexander Technique as a preventive measure because the good use of the whole self will, in the long run, help retain a youthful voice, even at an advanced age. F. M. Alexander reassures us that constant work on the use of the self will constantly improve the psycho-physical state of the person, and I would like to add that it will also constantly improve the voice.


back to the top...

photo


Weiss Institute©2005 Weiss Institute • all rights reserved
email: office@weissinstitut.com

Policy | Disclaimer | Site Map