Teaching and Technique
Christine Dix has over 20 years experience in singing tuition, working with renowned voice teachers and voice therapists, helping singers to acquire the 'tools of technique' essential for every professional musician. She is also a committed person-centred counsellor, and is dedicated to offering a positive attitude and sense of caring to all her students irrespective of status or ability.
The technigue is based on 'Natural pharyngeal resonance' and correct alignment of vowels so that the fully ringing voice can move easily through the passaggio. This methodology is both exciting because voices quickly begin to bloom, and challenging as it requires commitment to develop this skill. It is akin to the construction of a musical instrument, with all the complexity that this implies.This technique promotes healthy vocal habits and covers-
- breathing and body posture
- onset
- the NG ring and facial posture
- pharyngeal vowel exercises
- open throated singing
- cuperto
- laryngeal pivot exercises
- understanding of and exercises for passaggio
- the blending of registers
Research and Influences
Christine Dix was a prize-winning student at the Royal Academy of Music. She first studied piano and composition with Vivian Langrish and Eric Fenby before returning there to concentrate on singing and stagecraft on the Advanced Opera Course. Here she studied with Patricia Clark - singing - and Geoffrey Pratley - vocal coach.
This was followed by 6 years of studying lieder with the world renowned recitalist Ilse Wolf and early music with Sir Peter Pears at the Britten-Pears school for Advanced Musical Study in Aldeburgh.
In recent years she has been strongly influenced and excited by the clear teaching of the vocal pedagogue David Jones.
History
Christine Dix has appeared as an oratorio soloist throughout the country and has sung at The Barbican, the Queen Elizabeth Hall as well as Canterbury Cathedral and Westminster Hall. She took part as soloist in the first performance of Keith Burstein's Requiem for the Young performed at Southwark Cathedral and Verdi's Requiem also at Southwark. She also founded the a cappella singing group 'Musica Viva' which performed at the House of Lords and many National Trust houses throughout the country.
Christine Dix has toured extensively abroad most notably for the Orange Festival in 'Nabucco' the Berlioz Festival in Lyons in 'Les Troyens', and an extensive tour of Japan with Gubbay's production of 'Carmen'.
Now a member of the English National Opera, Christine Dix's operatic roles include Mrs Olsen (Street Scene), Third Lady (Magic Flute), Marcellina (Marriage of Figaro), Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica), Unulfo (Rodelinda), Florence (Albert Herring), Mercedes (Carmen), Dorabella (Cosi fan Tutte), Stable Girl (Königskinder).
Christine Dix has attained LRAM (performers), ARCM (teachers), RAM professional certificate, and was awarded the Frederick Westlake Prize for outstanding performance in recital.
She also has a good working knowledge of French German and Italian.
Contact
Email Christine Dix at info@classicalvoiceteacher.com or click here.