The Invisible Instrument: Demystifying the Voice
Our names are Arielle Jacobs & J.J. Caruncho and we are so excited to take you on the journey of building the foundation for a lifetime of singing.
As multi-instrumentalists & actors, we know that the voice can offer the most direct access to music & self expression of any instrument. However, singing can also be the most difficult to learn…because it’s the only instrument that you can't see or hold.
It’s an Invisible Instrument.
You use it by learning to connect to dozens of muscles, many of which have very few nerve endings and can barely be felt, that most people never use.
However, it doesn’t need to be a mystery.
To be a vocalist is the perfect meeting of being a Musician, an Actor, & an Athlete. You need to learn to play this instrument, train & care for it physically like an athlete, & have the storytelling skills of an Actor. Having performed at a professional level in a wide variety of settings, in many musical genres, for our entire adult lives, while also being professional-level athletes & teachers, we know exactly what it takes to be able to sing as freely as possible, 8 times a week, for a lifetime.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
In this all-levels course (from beginner to advanced), we’ll be covering the Foundations of your vocal craft. We’ll be working from a singing perspective, an athletic perspective, and a storytelling perspective. Topics we will study & develop include:
- Breath Control
- Breath Support
- Physical techniques to stretch the diaphragm & use the lungs to their fullest potential
- Resonance
- Vocal Technique
- How to cross the “passagio” (the bridge between registers)
- How to warm up & cool down physically & vocally for singing
- Performance Psychology
- Vocal Health & Maintenance
- How to Practice and Learn anything Faster
- Many other skills, techniques, & areas of knowledge which we have found essential in sustaining a vocal career at a high level
- How to develop your vibrato
- Vocal styles (“Legit”, pop, & contemporary musical theatre)
We will spend 10 minutes at the end of every class answering individual questions about that day's work.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO PREPARE?
- Yourself
- Focus
- Water
- A fresh notebook
- A pen or pencil
Camp Schedule
This camp starts on July 14 and will meet twice a week on the following schedule:
Tuesdays and Thursdays , at 3 pm EDT | noon PDT | 7 pm UTC
• July 14
• July 16
• July 21
• July 23
Each camp day campers will meet for two 45-minute sessions with their counselors and fellow campers with a 10-minute break between parts. Campers can also attend other activities taking place during the week, including performances!
Age Range
14 and up - Adults welcome
Camps have sliding scale enrollment options. Choose your pricing level from the following:
• Suggested per student:$299 ($75 per class)
• Minimum per student: $99
• Buy one, give one: $349 to cover yourself and a friend, or sponsor another student
• Apply for a free, sponsored seat by filling out this short form
By enrolling for the price you can afford, you can make music education more accessible for others. Learn more about how Lessonface Camps work here.
How It Works
Students can connect to the online platform using a tablet or computer with reliable internet. To actively participate online students also need a webcam with microphone. This camp is capped at 30 students. The camp is covered by the Lessonface Guarantee.
Signed up already? Click here.
ABOUT ARIELLE JACOBS
Arielle Jacobs has starred on Broadway in several hit musicals such as Disney's Aladdin (Princess Jasmine), Wicked (Nessarose), & the final Broadway cast of the four-time Tony and Grammy award-winning musical In The Heights (Nina Rosario) across from Hamilton/Moana/In The Heights creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. She’s performed in many different venues, from singing in front of dozens of symphonies, headlining solo cabarets, and a stadium concert in Taiwan for an audience of 43,000 people. Ms. Jacobs originated the role of Gabriella in the first national tour of Disney’s High School Musical, starred in two off-Broadway world-premiere plays by Pulitzer-winning playwright Nilo Cruz, and also starred in Rent and Into the Woods where she performed opposite Emmy-nominated actor Tituss Burgess. Ms. Jacobs brings with her a firm belief in the ability to triumph over adversity, and a personal mission to keep positivity central in our lives.
ABOUT J.J. CARUNCHO
J.J. Caruncho has starred in musicals such as In The Heights and Into The Woods, as well as singing in everything from Gospel to Opera around the world. He sang at Carnegie Hall three times by the age of 30 and sang at The Kennedy Center with Wynton Marsalis & the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, as well as playing 8 other instruments & conducting orchestras professionally. He also is the founder of the wellness art Sanctavía which teaches people of all levels how to develop elite levels of bodyweight strength, mindfulness, meditation, & more for a lifetime.
As a team, they’ve performed all over the world- in New York City, Vancouver, Abu Dhabi, Jerusalem, Cartagena, Panama City, Miami, Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, & off the coast of Italy- all within the last 2 years while simultaneously starring in shows in Broadway & around the USA.
In terms of content, it was super absolutely fufilling, interesting, challenging, and enjoyable. It has been an experience that I will take with me for the rest of my life and I know that I have become a better singer since the first class. As for the teachers, Ari and J.J. were the most supportive voice godparents I and the rest of the class could ask for. They were super informed on the topic and successfully achieved what they were striving to do. They were incredible role models for the Broadway community and a pleasure to work with. At the end of the day, we became super close and will stay in contact ?
About Lessonface, PBC
Since 2013, Lessonface has connected more than 10,000 students with over 1000 great teachers for live music & language lessons online, delivering on our mission to help students achieve their goals while treating teachers equitably.
Join us for a summer of musical fun!
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