[Perform-Talk] Perform-Talk Digest, Vol 238, Issue 1

Tiffany capagirl125 at gmail.com
Fri Oct 2 14:46:35 UTC 2026 

I have been in choirs where section leaders absolutely directed people on where to stand. This was not the directors job. So I don’t think anyone would see that as out of place.
Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 2, 2026, at 5:01 AM, perform-talk-request at nfbnet.org wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
> 
>   1. Re: Questionable singing advice opinion needed (Kelsey Nicolay)
>   2. Re: Questionable singing advice opinion needed (Linda Mentink)
>   3. Re: Choral Staging Logistics (annedonnellon at gmail.com)
>   4. Fwd: 2027 Registration starts today, and still more happening
>      in 2026 (Katelyn MacIntyre)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2026 11:32:02 -0400
> From: Kelsey Nicolay <piano.girl0299 at gmail.com>
> To: Performing Arts Division list <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Chris Nusbaum <cnusbaumnfb at gmail.com>, Performing Arts Division
>    list <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [Perform-Talk] Questionable singing advice opinion needed
> Message-ID: <439D3EF1-10C8-4B1C-9FA6-37719E8697C7 at gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
> 
> Hello all,
> Just thought I would update everyone on how it is going. It turns out that I have a health condition that prevents me from being able to use proper low breathing; I was diagnosed with teeth grinding back in May which has locked my upper body up pretty badly which in turn locks up the core, so my only option is chest breathing. My choir director is aware and I am exempt from this due to the discomfort it causes. However, at rehearsal last week, we were doing warm-ups working on breath support and my meighbor assumed I needed further guidance since I was just standing there. I very quietly told her I couldn't do the exercises and left it at that as I didn't want to go into detail about my reasons since the director already knew. I know she was trying to be helpful, so did I do the right thing or is there a more tactful approach I should take if she steps in again this week?
> Sent from Kelsey Nicolay’s iPhone
> 
>> On Jan 1, 2026, at 11:36 AM, Chris Nusbaum via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi Kelsey:
>> 
>> Good question. I too haven't heard advice like this from a voice teacher, and I'm a bit surprised that a voice teacher would assign physical exercise of the kind you describe. That said, like any other subject, each teacher has a different approach to teaching certain concepts, particularly one as detailed as breath support.
>> 
>> As you likely know, the part of your body that is primarily used to support your breath while singing is your diaphragm, which is a muscle in the middle of your abdomen. For the best breath support, you're looking to breathe deeply from your diaphragm, with your shoulders down, without your chest raising. As far as I can tell, this doesn't have to do with the strength of the muscle; it has more to do with where the breath comes from. My first teacher had me lay on the floor in her studio, which forced me to breathe from my diaphragm, then put my hands on my diaphragm to feel how the muscle raises and lowers. As we went on, she laid on the floor with me and had me feel her diaphragm so I had an example to follow. Perhaps you could try this, either in or out of the session with your voice teacher. Remember too that no singer always gets it right every time—I still catch myself "chest breathing" when I'm in the higher end of my register, even after over 10 years of training.
>> 
>> Hope this helps. Please let us know how it's going.
>> Chris Nusbaum
>> 
>>>> On Jan 1, 2026, at 10:51 AM, Kelsey Nicolay via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hello,
>>> i booked a lesson with a teacher a couple weeks ago who has been teaching in schools for a while but is relatively new to my area. She seemed nice, but I'm not quite sure I trust her advice and was curious what you all think. i struggle with breathing and have for a while, so she proceeded to tell me that the reason I am having trouble getting a deep inhale without raising the shoulders is because of wak abdominal muscles and advised me to do crunches every day for a week and I would notice a difference. I have never been told by any previous teacher to do crunches; she actually had me get down on the floor during the lesion and do some so I could feel proper engagement. i could be wrong, but it is my understanding that you don't use the abdominal muscles to inhale, only to supportthe realease of air when singing. I have another lesson with her on Monday, but I'm considering canceling it since I am not sure her advice is correct. For those of you who have more experience with this than I do, what are your thoughts? Have I been given incorrect advice and should not continue with the lessons or is this accurate technique? luckily the teacher allows booking one lesson at a time, so I can terminate at any time without losing anything. I chose this teacher because she specializes in contemporary genres which is what I'm interested in, but her advice on breathing has me a little concerned about the validity of her training.
>>> Sent from Kelsey Nicolay’s iPhone
>>> _______________________________________________
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>> 
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> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:26:20 -0500
> From: Linda Mentink <lmentink7360 at gmail.com>
> To: Kelsey Nicolay via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [Perform-Talk] Questionable singing advice opinion needed
> Message-ID: <6abe97bc.e5f0f813.32aaf1.2431 at mx.google.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
> 
> hi Kelsey,
> 
> If you have a little time to chat before rehearsal starts, give her a brief explanation. Then she'll know and won't feel the need to help you.
> 
> Blessings,
> 
> Linda
> 
> 
>> On Oct 1, 2026 10:32 AM, Kelsey Nicolay via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hello all,
>> Just thought I would update everyone on how it is going. It turns out that I have a health condition that prevents me from being able to use proper low breathing; I was diagnosed with teeth grinding back in May which has locked my upper body up pretty badly which in turn locks up the core, so my only option is chest breathing. My choir director is aware and I am exempt from this due to the discomfort it causes. However, at rehearsal last week, we were doing warm-ups working on breath support and my meighbor assumed I needed further guidance since I was just standing there. I very quietly told her I couldn't do the exercises and left it at that as I didn't want to go into detail about my reasons since the director already knew. I know she was trying to be helpful, so did I do the right thing or is there a more tactful approach I should take if she steps in again this week?
>> Sent from Kelsey Nicolay’s iPhone
>> 
>>>> On Jan 1, 2026, at 11:36 AM, Chris Nusbaum via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hi Kelsey:
>>> 
>>> Good question. I too haven't heard advice like this from a voice teacher, and I'm a bit surprised that a voice teacher would assign physical exercise of the kind you describe. That said, like any other subject, each teacher has a different approach to teaching certain concepts, particularly one as detailed as breath support.
>>> 
>>> As you likely know, the part of your body that is primarily used to support your breath while singing is your diaphragm, which is a muscle in the middle of your abdomen. For the best breath support, you're looking to breathe deeply from your diaphragm, with your shoulders down, without your chest raising. As far as I can tell, this doesn't have to do with the strength of the muscle; it has more to do with where the breath comes from. My first teacher had me lay on the floor in her studio, which forced me to breathe from my diaphragm, then put my hands on my diaphragm to feel how the muscle raises and lowers. As we went on, she laid on the floor with me and had me feel her diaphragm so I had an example to follow. Perhaps you could try this, either in or out of the session with your voice teacher. Remember too that no singer always gets it right every time—I still catch myself "chest breathing" when I'm in the higher end of my register, even after over 10 years of training.
>>> 
>>> Hope this helps. Please let us know how it's going.
>>> Chris Nusbaum
>>> 
>>>> On Jan 1, 2026, at 10:51 AM, Kelsey Nicolay via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Hello,
>>>> i booked a lesson with a teacher a couple weeks ago who has been teaching in schools for a while but is relatively new to my area. She seemed nice, but I'm not quite sure I trust her advice and was curious what you all think. i struggle with breathing and have for a while, so she proceeded to tell me that the reason I am having trouble getting a deep inhale without raising the shoulders is because of wak abdominal muscles and advised me to do crunches every day for a week and I would notice a difference. I have never been told by any previous teacher to do crunches; she actually had me get down on the floor during the lesion and do some so I could feel proper engagement. i could be wrong, but it is my understanding that you don't use the abdominal muscles to inhale, only to supportthe realease of air when singing. I have another lesson with her on Monday, but I'm considering canceling it since I am not sure her advice is correct. For those of you who have more experience with this than I do, what are your thoughts? Have I been given incorrect advice and should not continue with the lessons or is this accurate technique? luckily the teacher allows booking one lesson at a time, so I can terminate at any time without losing anything. I chose this teacher because she specializes in contemporary genres which is what I'm interested in, but her advice on breathing has me a little concerned about the validity of her training.
>>>> Sent from Kelsey Nicolay’s iPhone
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Perform-Talk mailing list
>>>> Perform-Talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/perform-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Perform-Talk:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/perform-talk_nfbnet.org/cnusbaumnfb%40gmail.com
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Perform-Talk:
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>> 
>> _______________________________________________
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>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Perform-Talk:
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> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2026 14:36:33 -0400
> From: <annedonnellon at gmail.com>
> To: "'Performing Arts Division list'" <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [Perform-Talk] Choral Staging Logistics
> Message-ID: <002701dd51d3$c94f2720$5bed7560$@gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="utf-8"
> 
> Hi Julie,
> This does not sound like a "you" problem, particularly if they're not following the directions of your fully sighted section leader.  I pray this is only a bump in the road and does not cause you to quit what you've worked so hard to achieve! ❤
> Perhaps you could arrange a meeting with the pastor and the section leader you trust and express your concerns.  Once you've got it all laid out, maybe call a check-in with the choir and encourage them to express any concerns they might have.  If, even after said meeting the choir members don't cooperate, that is going to take some prayer and discernment.  Simply kicking them out might be tempting, but I'm not sure there's a "simple" answer.
> Best of luck and keep us updated.
> Annie
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Perform-Talk <perform-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Julie A. Orozco via Perform-Talk
> Sent: Monday, September 28, 2026 4:07 PM
> To: 'Performing Arts Division list' <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>; 'Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians' <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Julie A. Orozco <kaybaycar at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Perform-Talk] Choral Staging Logistics
> 
> Hi everyone,
> 
> 
> 
> I cross posted, so apologies if you see it in multiple places. I am a music director at a Methodist church, and we have a small choir that I conduct. I am having a difficult time working with them on standing in the right places when we sing, and I would like some advice.
> 
> 
> 
> We have a choir of about 10. Depending on the piece we are singing, they either sing in the choir loft, on the stage in a semicircle, or on the stage and the steps to the stage in lines. I know that singing in the choir loft would cut out all these problems with moving around, but I don't hear them as well when they sing there, and if our choir is too small, they don't hear as well in the loft either. I like to be able to use our formations on the stage when I can. We have a number of problems with this, and I'll list them below.
> 
> 
> 
> I tell them where I want them. Like, I will literally say their names and give them their order, and they will not end up in that order.
> 
> I have asked one of our paid singers, section leaders, to draw a diagram on the board for them. She does, and we still have the same problem as above.
> They don't follow it.
> 
> This problem is only made worse by the simple fact that I cannot make eye contact, I cannot see what's happening on the stage and redirect, and I cannot use gestures to show them where I need them to be. I do not have usable vision, but I cannot speak while we are up on the stage.
> 
> 
> 
> Here are some solutions I've come up with. Some of them have sort of worked.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I have asked one of our section leaders to do what I can't on stage. She has the job of directing them and making sure they are where we have decided. I trust her implicitly with this. But some of the members don't follow her lead.
> 
> We have rehearsals where we practice in the sanctuary. I've taught them stage directions because those help me communicate where I want them without having to point or say over there. This usually helps, but this year, the choir seems particularly resistant to being shuffled around.
> 
> I have had diagrams drawn and gone over them personally with the choir. I have memorized where everyone needs to be, gone over it, and memorized it.
> And still, we have people not going where they are supposed to, people standing back from the microphones, etc.
> 
> 
> 
> I am not sure how to address this and how to manage it. It makes me feel anxious that this is actively out of my control as a director. I can't see what's happening on the stage as our singers are getting into place, and I don't see a way I can change that. Short of teaching my choir telepathy, there is no way I will know what's happening while I'm taking my place to conduct before our song.
> 
> 
> 
> Has anyone directed a choir and dealt with this before? What did you do? I don't think it would undermine my authority to ask a section leader to take point on this while we are on the stage, but I do have that nagging fear that this would somehow confuse the choir, since the director should be doing this part. Choirs only have one director for a reason after all.
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks for any thoughts you have,
> 
> 
> 
> Julie
> 
> Julie A. Orozco MM, JD
> 
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> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2026 18:11:42 -0400
> From: Katelyn MacIntyre <katelynmacmusic at gmail.com>
> To: Performing Arts Division list <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>,
>    musictlk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Perform-Talk] Fwd: 2027 Registration starts today, and still
>    more happening in 2026
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> ------------------------------
> 
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