A Voice Teacher's Chrestomathy

A Voice Teacher's Chrestomathy

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A Voice Teacher's Chrestomathy
A Voice Teacher's Chrestomathy
Monday Musings

Monday Musings

An Old Idea for Breath Awareness - "Nota Mentale"

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Justin Jørgen Petersen
Mar 03, 2025
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A Voice Teacher's Chrestomathy
A Voice Teacher's Chrestomathy
Monday Musings
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One of the most imaginative concepts on breath development in historical voice pedagogy is the nota mentale, or “mental note,” a principle emphasized by Giovanni Battista Lamperti and passed down through his student William Shakespeare in The Art of Singing1 (quoted above).

The idea is simple: a singer should finish a phrase with breath still in reserve,…

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