The Voice: A Spiritual Approach to Singing, Speaking and Communicating--The First Lesson [Abridged] [Audio CD]

Miriam Jaskierowicz Arman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2000

THE FIRST LESSON is an actual First lesson with Dr. Arman and a new student who had never taken a lesson before. It is invaluable and a n excellent companion to the book

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Miriam Jaskierowicz Arman was born in post war Germany of Concentration Camp surviving parents and immigrated to America with her family in 1962.

She has lived in many parts of the world and taught in Israel, Italy, Hungary, Switzerland, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovania, Mexico, etc. and of course in the U.S.A.

She now resides and has her permanent studio in South Florida, where students from all parts of the world, come to study and apprentice with her.

Since her late teens, she has been passionately involved with the physiology of the voice. She underwent throat surgery for the removal of vocal nodules, which nearly ruined her voice.

Almost loosing her own instrument, set her on the quest of finding a methodolgy which would leave the voice without straining and forcing and achieve a perfectly vibrating, homogenized and "in line vocal production", without harming the instrument in any way. Giro-Vocal-Motion technique allows the Voice to develop in a free, relaxed and easy manner and is indicated for all types of voices and every genre.

For the past nineteen years, Ms. Arman has dedicated herself totally to working with the Voice, teaching and helping Singers at all stages of their careers in a multitude of ways. Many people who have speech problems of many kinds, seek her out and she has reconstructed instruments which have long been given up for lost.

Her teaching techniques are unique and without a doubt innovative and revolutionary. Her Master Classes, Seminars Lectures and Voice Clinics, are events not to be missed.

In 1981, she began her in-depth research of the Voice and Bel Canto Technique. In 1984, she moved to Italy and worked with Italian teachers and musicians;

During her eleven and half year stay in Europe, she has worked with countless singers at Opera Houses, in Conservatories, Choirs and Philharmonic Societies.

She is the founder of the INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF VOICE AND STAGE INC., which is dedicated to reaching talents from around the world and creating a Teachers Apprentice Program in Vocal Pedagogy.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Music Vision Intl Inc; Abridged edition (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967418119
• ISBN-13: 978-0967418117
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,679,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Miriam Jaskierowicz Arman

Born in post war Germany of concentration camp surviving parents, her family immigrated to America in 1962. Educated both in the USA and Europe, she has lived and taught in many parts of the world: Israel, Italy, Hungary, Switzerland, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Mexico and South America, etc.

Her life has been a kaleidoscope of activities: In 1982, she founded Music Culture/Visions International Inc., a company that she led until 2008. During that time, she wrote, directed, hosted and produced various radio and television shows in the States and in Europe. She produced for international recording labels (Olympia, Naxos etc.), taking lost music from Russia and the Ukraine and presenting it to the world at large.

She was Executive Producer and Director of the feature film "Ten Tenors from Ten Countries" dedicated to the life and 100th birthday of Benjamino Gigli filmed in Recanati, Italy. She returned to the United States In 1995.

In 1999, Miriam Jaskierowicz Arman authored the International Best Seller on Vocal Technique: "The Voice; A Spiritual Approach to Singing, Speaking and Communicating". In 2000 the CD, "The First Lesson" CD was released. In 2001/2003, the Second and Third Editions (The Revealed Version) followed.

Her teaching career spans over 28 years and her intimate involvement with vocal technique and vocal reconstruction began 40 years ago. She was the founder of The International Academy of Voice and Stage Inc., a Non-Profit organization, dedicated to the advancement of Bel Canto and Giro Vocal Motion Technique. Her work in the field of Vocal Pedagogy has been featured on ABC World News Now, PBS, Comcast Television, etc.

Her Fine Art career spans over 30 years, with prestigious exhibitions in the galleries and museums in many parts of the world. She has received important grants and worldwide recognition for her innovative works in holographic and three dimensional glass fusions. Miriam spends her time teaching, lecturing and writing.

Her book "Soul Reflections, A Personal Odyssey in Poetry and Paintings" and the matching CD, with original composed music by cellist Mme. Johanne Perron, were released in 2003.

In 2007, "Coming Home" outlines her arrival and life in the Lubavitch Community of Crown Heights, New York and features her speeches in the political arena as well as a deep recognition and salutation of her spiritual values.

In 2008 she moved to South America.

Her articles and poetry have been published in many national and international publications and she is listed in the "Who's Who" in International Poetry.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The simplest theory is usually the correct theory, December 6, 1999

By 

Margaret (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Voice: A Spiritual Approach to Singing, Speaking & Communicating (Paperback)

I first started studying voice when I was 8 years old and worked very hard in choir and competitions, always trying to become a soloist. I never reached that goal and I finally gave up about 5 years later. I was completely convinced that I had no voice and no talent.

Almost 20 years later I finally began singing again, hoping against hope I would find a teacher who would be able to communicate how to place the voice.

I have found that teacher with Miriam Arman's book. Her writing is easy and enjoyable, making the voice not only technically correct but fun to learn. I now also firmly believe that I do have a voice and that it's strong and pure enough for all the classics that I love.

Many of my friends know that I sing and lately have been asking me why my voice has changed so much in such a short time. I owe it to Ms. Arman's amazingly simple, vivid techniques.

Thank you, Ms. Arman, for writing a book that even a tender beginner can understand. And thank you for teaching in such a way as to preserve, not damage, the voice.

I've never sounded better.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FINALLY!!!! a book that reveals the real secret of singing, April 30, 2003

By 

Elizabeth Cavallin (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Voice: A Spiritual Approach to Singing, Speaking & Communicating (Paperback)

I have been singing since I can remember. I never took classes as a kid, cause I thought back then that I didn't need them, and it was true back then...I didn't think of what I was doing, I just did it and my voice was at my command at all times, no matter which note I had to sing, or how loud I had to be...Sadly, as we mature and become more aware of ourselves and our surroundings, we start to forget what we used to know innately...I came to a stage in my life ( when my voice changed) when I couldn't rely on my instrument anymore, it seemed to have taken control over me instead!!!

I then decided I should take voice lessons in order to regain control of my instrument...I thought that singing teachers were supposed to help you remind yourself what you knew and could do as a child. So I started taking lessons, I learned all there is to know about vocal apparatus, vocal production, vocal health, but it still wasn't enough, my voice had grown unruly, I had two separate registers, with a big crack in the middle, I was told that I should learn to belt, but something inside told me that belting wasn't right ( with all due respect to belters) that there had to be another way, that I could use my upper range, that it had potential. And my memories as a child were of singing freely and effortlesly, staying in one place at all times...singing was about freedom back then, and it was starting to turn into something that kept me captive and stressed...so I turned myself to books because something inside me told me that there had to be a way of singing like I did as a child...and after a lot of reading and researching I have to say that Ms. Arman's book was exactly what I needed all of my life. I haven't even finished it, I'm still begining to read it, and only four chapters of it have given me more than years of lessons at the piano. She is able to deliver her concepts in such a precise way that you feel like she's right there beside you as you read the book. And she basically uses the technique that was used by the most important and beautiful voices in history, a knowledge that is so simple and easy no wonder we've forgotten it...
Ms. Arman I want you to know that what you've written here is worth more than all the gold and money in the world. You have helped me regain control of my voice, and I've realized that it was just waiting for me...it was waiting for me to call upon it once again as I did when I was a kid. God bless you Ms. Arman, you have no idea what a wonderful gift you possess...I wish you life and health so that you may teach these wonderful secrets to many many more singers...

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Professional Soprano ([e-mail]) from New York City, June 21, 2001

By 

Liisa Carey (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Voice: A Spiritual Approach to Singing, Speaking & Communicating (Paperback)

This book is a revolutionary ground breaking work for the singing art form. Ms. Arman teaches the reader how the voice is produced the way the Great Maestri taught the voices of the Golden Age.

She understands, explains clearly, and shares her knowledge in an intimate and gracious way with the reader. After studying classical voice at a famous conservatory and with famous teachers, I still was not able to produce effortless, beautiful sound. After reading her book, most serious students can't help but get on a plane and go meet her which is what I did. In one lesson, 13 years after serious vocal studying in 3 major US cities, I found my voice.

My experience is a testament to the truth and integrity of the technique outlined in this book. Because of the existence of the information in this book, a whole generation of new singers has the opportunity to bring back the great age of singing. I am absolutely positive that Miriam Jaskierowicz Arman will go down in history as a legend.

The work of her students who use the wisdom of this material and who sing on the major stages of the world, are a testament to the fact that she is a brilliant teacher, a great mind, a remarkable woman, and an international treasure to the Art.