Last week, we were delighted to welcome vocal coach and nutritionist Julie Cooper to Trinity to run some fascinating workshops with our staff and students.
A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, Julie is a leading soprano with many of the UK’s leading choral ensembles, touring all over the world. She is a vocal coach and qualified as a nutritional therapist, and now teaches people about the effect of nutrition on vocal performance.
The first workshop involved our trebles – many of whom are members of the Trinity Boys Choir – and focused on the importance of nutrition and good sleep habits for achieving the best performances on the opera stage. Julie reiterated the basics of how the voice works. The boys were interested to learn that when you are 12 years old your vocal cords are about 16mm long! The trebles often need to learn and deliver complex repertoire, and can be away on tour for days or weeks at a time, so we talked about the best foods for keeping energy levels steady and avoiding dreaded coughs and colds.
The second workshop run by Julie was open to our Girls Choir and first-study female singers. It focused on female hormones, their effect on the singing and speaking voice, and performance energy. Julie shared nutrition tips for optimising vocal performance and we looked at avoiding vocal injuries and making the most of the girls’ sparkling top notes! Staff were also invited to a separate session on this topic.
The students found the topics fascinating and all took away some useful tips. The girls’ choir are preparing for their first tour to Oxford later this month.
Ms Gill, Head of Singing, said, “The Singing Department is all about helping students to understand their voices, and to use them to their maximum potential. When singers know why their voice or energy might fluctuate, it builds confidence and takes away unhelpful stress. We encourage healthy, long term vocal habits, for a lifetime of happy singing and music making. Just as importantly, we create a supportive space for open conversation, empowering students to care for themselves and each other. Julie’s session was invaluable and we are grateful to her for sharing her knowledge honed from a singing career at the very highest level.”
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