What Is Bel Canto?
Katherine Kaufman Posner
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What is Bel Canto?
I teach Bel Canto. Bel canto translates as “beautiful song.” Actually, it is several things.
About Katherine
A proponent of a functional approach to singing, based on an understanding of the nature and physiology of the vocal mechanism. Her teaching brings about a transformative experience leading to healthy, free, and beautiful singing.
Why do I teach singing?
I teach singing because I consider singing to be a tremendously BIG DEAL. There is an ancient tradition that sound is spirit in action. If so, then making sound is an act of expressing the spirit in us. I believe this. Our voices express our very nature and creative power.
Wait! Breathe! Sing!
A short video documentary, detailing Katherine’s teaching style, vocal style, and singing technique along with 10 tracks from "Sweet Harmony" by Katherine Kaufman Posner.
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Whether you’d like to schedule online vocal lessons or follow-up with a question, I’d love to hear from you! Please use the form below to write me a message.
I teach Bel Canto. Bel canto translates as “beautiful song.” Actually, it is several things. Among these, it is a school of operatic composition and a style of florid singing used in bel canto operas. In the context of learning to sing, bel canto is an approach to acquiring a freely used vocal mechanism and a beautiful singing voice. The teaching of bel canto combines 400 years of experience in singing practice with modern insights into physiology and psychology. My longest running singing teacher, Cornelius Reid, defined the free voice or free singing as “a condition of natural, unforced and unrestricted operation of the vocal organs in which the singer enjoys complete and perfect command of his vocal resources at all times.” This is certainly accurate and a goal of performance to which all can aspire.
But, in more concrete terms, can we characterize the free voice? I believe we can, as follows:
- The free voice has a wide range, usually more than two octaves, up to three or more in some women.
- It exhibits a command of dynamics, that is, the ability to sing both softly and loudly.
- It can sing fast or intricate passages of music with relative ease.
- There is enough breath for singing phrases comfortably.
- The singer possesses good diction and can generally be understood.
- The singer does not tire quickly and does not show discomfort when singing.
If you can do these things, or even do them to some degree, you are singing at least fairly well and maybe very well. It seems to me that even if you couldn’t define the free voice, you would undoubtedly know it when you heard it, as it would be a pleasure to listen to.
My Inspiration
Many talented singers have inspired me over the years, probably too many to mention. There are those, however, that deserve special mention and are listed here:
Sopranos
- Luisa Tetrazzini
- Mary Garden
- Amelita Galli-Curci
- Alma Gluck
- Frida Leider
- Kirsten Flagstad
- Rosa Ponselle
- Hellen Traubel
- Zinka Milanov
- Dorothy Kirsten
- Eleanor Steber
- Birgit Nilsson
- Eileen Farrell
- Renata Tebaldi
- Leonie Rysanek
- Regine Crespin
- Montserrat Caballe
- Martina Arroyo
- Teresa Stratas
Mezzo-sopranos
- Gladys Swarthout
- Jennie Tourel
- Ebe Stigniani
- Regina Resnik
- Christa Ludwig
- Rosalind Elias
- Teresa Berganza
Contraltos
- Ernestine Schumann-Heink
- Louise Homer
- Maureen Forrester
Tenors
- Enrico Caruso
- Leo Slezak
- John McCormack
- Tito Schipa
- Beniamino Gigli
- Lauritz Melchior
- Jan Peerce
- Josef Schmidt
- Jussi Bjoerling
- Nicolai Gedda
- Jon Vickers
- Fritz Wunderlich
- Luciano Pavarotti
- Placido Domingo
Baritones
- Tita Ruffo
- Lawrence Tibbett
- Leonard Warren
- Herman Prey
Basses
- Feodor Chaliapin
- Ezio Pinza
- George London
- Cesare Siepi
- Giorgio Tozzi
- Norman Treigle
- Walter Berry
- Thomas Quasthoff
About Me
A proponent of a functional approach to singing, based on an understanding of the nature and physiology of the vocal mechanism. Her teaching brings about a transformative experience leading to healthy, free, and beautiful singing. Katherine has a reputation as a gifted, caring and down-to-earth instructor who is highly successful in leading singers to increased vocal health and high level performing ability.
In 1965, Katherine became a student of the world-renowned Cornelius L. Reid, author of five highly respected books on singing, including The Free Voice and Bel Canto: Principles and Practices. She became deeply committed to understanding and also replicating the teaching of the Italian masters of the bel canto tradition.
Reviews
“Katherine Kaufman captivated…She gave notice of a major talent.“
“The hit of the evening was Katherine Kaufman. Her voiced matched… her ability to communicate with the audience.”
“…the most brilliant was Katherine Kaufman…strong-voiced, well-controlled and superbly comic…”
A Special Thank You:
I am a disciple of the world-renowned Cornelius Reid, rediscoverer of the principles of the bel canto tradition. I was also was fortunate to study under the great Elisabeth Parham who was a professor of voice at Oklahoma University, and who guided me to a national award in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions. I will always be grateful to these two teachers who changed my life and made it possible for me not only to be successful as a singer, but also to teach in a way that enables the human voice to be as nature intended, to function correctly and therefore to be beautiful and free.
Contact me today!
You CAN improve your singing!
Tel: (984) 200-1344