STEVEN FLAM BIO/CV
With over 33 years of experience teaching, Steven Flam has built a successful practice in New York City educating singers and voice teachers in breath support. Singers with asthma or chronic vocal or body tension also benefit from his programs. Mr. Flam began his studies in Breathing Coordination in 1977 with its inventor Carl Stough. Mr. Stough's work with singers, athletes and respiratory patients was renowned for its effectiveness in strengthening the diaphragm. After learning this new science and technique for maximum diaphragm development, Mr. Flam also enhanced his skills with studies in Anatomy and Physiology, Swedish Massage, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Mensendieck Body Alignment, Strain Counterstrain, Sports Injury Repair and many other alternative health modalities. Mr. Flam is also an accomplished lifetime bodyworker and has worked with wind instrumentalists, asthmatics, emphysematics and people with scoliosis.
BreathingRx For Singers has been presented throughout Europe and the United States, at The Sibelius Academy in Finland, at The Canadian Voice Care Symposium in Banff and at The Classical Singer Magazine Convention, among others.
With an Associates Degree from the Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, Mr. Flam also studied Jazz dance with Luigi and Continuum Movement with Robin Becker. His own personal experience in theater and musicals prepared him to understand the needs and artistic temperament of the performer. Steven’s first role on stage was as ‘Trouble’ while still in the womb of his mother in a production of ‘Madama Butterfly’. Born of two opera singers he went on to study singing with both parents and has been involved with the theatrical world all his life.
Utilizing the new science and techniques for maximum diaphragm development in Breathing Coordination, Steven Flam began a long collaboration with Atarah Hazzan, (Metropolitan Opera Star in the 70's and 80's.) Together they have given Master Classes and developed a comprehensive system for mastering vocal breath support called “BreathingRx For Singers”. Its purpose is to bring complete clarity to maximum diaphragm development and mastering vocal breath support. Little known secrets to correct body balance and movement for singing are learned, in order to support the entire instrument optimally, naturally protecting the voice. Fine vocal support control and the freest voice are the result. This system is easily learned and designed to remove the physical obstacles to reaching one’s potential.
Letters Of Thanks...
Dear Steven,
I wish to sincerely thank you for your contribution to and participation in the Canadian Voice Care Foundation's 5th International Voice Symposium: Care of the Professional and Occupational Voice. This meeting turned out to be a highly successful forum for all who came to the Banff Centre, taking part and gaining so much at this most informative and rewarding symposium. I am most grateful to you for the time you set aside for participating at this event. Thank you very much for the talk you gave. People were most appreciative of your masterclass workshop, where you were able to set examples and tools of core building which delegates could reinforce and use in their future work and teaching.
I am looking forward to keeping in contact with you, remaining informed about your activities in voice care, as well as letting you know about our work and ventures.
With many thanks and best regards,
Katherine
Katherine Ardo
Director
Canadian Voice Care Foundation
Dear Mr. Flam,
I was extremely pleased with your participation in the first Loimaan Kuunnelma-ja äännelmäpäivät, (voice conference,) from the 26th through the 28th of September, 2005. We are glad we chose to have you to present many of the workshop sections. All of your seminars, as well as your demonstration, were very well received. Your excellent presentations will insure our continued success in the next conference.
Thank you again for your participation in the Loimaan Kuunnelma-ja äännelmäpäivät.
Sincerely,
Marjaana kemppi
Loimaan Kuunnelma-ja äännelmäpäivät, Organizer
Finland
Dear Mr. Flam,
Thank you very much for your very interesting and inspiring lecture and demonstration here at Sibelius Academy June 29th, 2003.
Your subject Breathing Coordination, (Breathing Rx For Singers,) system of bodywork and coaching, was a very interesting and inspiring demonstration for our students.
I send out our best regards and thanks to you and we are very glad that you visited Helsinki and Sibelius Academy and had a possibility to give us a lecture and demonstration concerning your special area.
Sincerely,
Sirke Pekkilä
Education Manager
Sibelius Academy
Finland
Steven,
I would like to share some very positive experiences I’ve had thanks to your method, applied to myself, as well as to my students:
Generally speaking, I find my voice less strained, has more overtones, and it seems to come out more effortlessly. I still have trouble with breathlessness, which is why I would appreciate doing more work with you.
One of my students had been suffering from chronic tightness of the voice for the past 3-4 years. She had no vibrato whatsoever. The very first time I applied the BreathingRx For Singers method and a vibrato immediately appeared! Light and easy; it was a delight to finally see some results after so many years.
I’ve been noticing more and more how many singers out there push and strain throughout their studies and careers. I truly believe that this method is a wonderful way to introduce effortlessness into making beautiful sound.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and I hope you will come to Canada some day to share this valuable knowledge.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Kindly,
Sylvia Larrass, ARCT
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
With over 33 years of experience teaching, Steven Flam has built a successful practice in New York City educating singers and voice teachers in breath support. Singers with asthma or chronic vocal or body tension also benefit from his programs. Mr. Flam began his studies in Breathing Coordination in 1977 with its inventor Carl Stough. Mr. Stough's work with singers, athletes and respiratory patients was renowned for its effectiveness in strengthening the diaphragm. After learning this new science and technique for maximum diaphragm development, Mr. Flam also enhanced his skills with studies in Anatomy and Physiology, Swedish Massage, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Mensendieck Body Alignment, Strain Counterstrain, Sports Injury Repair and many other alternative health modalities. Mr. Flam is also an accomplished lifetime bodyworker and has worked with wind instrumentalists, asthmatics, emphysematics and people with scoliosis.
BreathingRx For Singers has been presented throughout Europe and the United States, at The Sibelius Academy in Finland, at The Canadian Voice Care Symposium in Banff and at The Classical Singer Magazine Convention, among others.
With an Associates Degree from the Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, Mr. Flam also studied Jazz dance with Luigi and Continuum Movement with Robin Becker. His own personal experience in theater and musicals prepared him to understand the needs and artistic temperament of the performer. Steven’s first role on stage was as ‘Trouble’ while still in the womb of his mother in a production of ‘Madama Butterfly’. Born of two opera singers he went on to study singing with both parents and has been involved with the theatrical world all his life.
Utilizing the new science and techniques for maximum diaphragm development in Breathing Coordination, Steven Flam began a long collaboration with Atarah Hazzan, (Metropolitan Opera Star in the 70's and 80's.) Together they have given Master Classes and developed a comprehensive system for mastering vocal breath support called “BreathingRx For Singers”. Its purpose is to bring complete clarity to maximum diaphragm development and mastering vocal breath support. Little known secrets to correct body balance and movement for singing are learned, in order to support the entire instrument optimally, naturally protecting the voice. Fine vocal support control and the freest voice are the result. This system is easily learned and designed to remove the physical obstacles to reaching one’s potential.
Letters Of Thanks...
Dear Steven,
I wish to sincerely thank you for your contribution to and participation in the Canadian Voice Care Foundation's 5th International Voice Symposium: Care of the Professional and Occupational Voice. This meeting turned out to be a highly successful forum for all who came to the Banff Centre, taking part and gaining so much at this most informative and rewarding symposium. I am most grateful to you for the time you set aside for participating at this event. Thank you very much for the talk you gave. People were most appreciative of your masterclass workshop, where you were able to set examples and tools of core building which delegates could reinforce and use in their future work and teaching.
I am looking forward to keeping in contact with you, remaining informed about your activities in voice care, as well as letting you know about our work and ventures.
With many thanks and best regards,
Katherine
Katherine Ardo
Director
Canadian Voice Care Foundation
Dear Mr. Flam,
I was extremely pleased with your participation in the first Loimaan Kuunnelma-ja äännelmäpäivät, (voice conference,) from the 26th through the 28th of September, 2005. We are glad we chose to have you to present many of the workshop sections. All of your seminars, as well as your demonstration, were very well received. Your excellent presentations will insure our continued success in the next conference.
Thank you again for your participation in the Loimaan Kuunnelma-ja äännelmäpäivät.
Sincerely,
Marjaana kemppi
Loimaan Kuunnelma-ja äännelmäpäivät, Organizer
Finland
Dear Mr. Flam,
Thank you very much for your very interesting and inspiring lecture and demonstration here at Sibelius Academy June 29th, 2003.
Your subject Breathing Coordination, (Breathing Rx For Singers,) system of bodywork and coaching, was a very interesting and inspiring demonstration for our students.
I send out our best regards and thanks to you and we are very glad that you visited Helsinki and Sibelius Academy and had a possibility to give us a lecture and demonstration concerning your special area.
Sincerely,
Sirke Pekkilä
Education Manager
Sibelius Academy
Finland
Steven,
I would like to share some very positive experiences I’ve had thanks to your method, applied to myself, as well as to my students:
Generally speaking, I find my voice less strained, has more overtones, and it seems to come out more effortlessly. I still have trouble with breathlessness, which is why I would appreciate doing more work with you.
One of my students had been suffering from chronic tightness of the voice for the past 3-4 years. She had no vibrato whatsoever. The very first time I applied the BreathingRx For Singers method and a vibrato immediately appeared! Light and easy; it was a delight to finally see some results after so many years.
I’ve been noticing more and more how many singers out there push and strain throughout their studies and careers. I truly believe that this method is a wonderful way to introduce effortlessness into making beautiful sound.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and I hope you will come to Canada some day to share this valuable knowledge.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Kindly,
Sylvia Larrass, ARCT
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
The Story of The Development of 'The BreathingRx For Singer's System'
I am a singer myself as are my parents. My first role on stage was as the unborn child, ‘Trouble’ in the opera “Madame Buttefly”. Yes, I was in my mother’s womb!
In 1977 my mother, Atarah Hazzan was already singing leading roles at the City Opera in New York. She had taken voice lessons for decades with many of the greatest voice teachers in the world. The often confusing and contradictory instruction my mother received from these many teachers, as well as too much forced breathing from Yoga practice, left her nearly suffering with the physical effort of singing. She was, amazingly, still able to perform on a world class level.
I was always interested in finding and expanding the potential of my own performances. So, we both started to see Carl Stough, the innovator of diaphragm target training, (called Breathing Coordination™,) for individual sessions. We learned his system and she was fortunate enough to be able to transform her body and understanding of breathing with his help. Within a year she was singing leading roles at the Metropolitan Opera due to Mr. Stough. By then I had already started working on others professionally doing the unique bodywork associated with Breathing Coordination™. In subsequent years I also studied and practiced many different forms of bodywork so I could understand how to effect the very deepest transformation that Mr. Stough had been able to facilitate.
Completely frustrated at the state of instruction even the greatest teachers were giving, regarding breath and support from the body, my mother and I were motivated to develop a clear and effective system.
We began a collaboration that would stretch over three decades doing Master Classes and working with singers individually. My aim was to then go a step further and be able to help the singer integrate this transformation completely into their singing ability so their actual potential could be realized.
I have traveled the world and shared this work with singers, voice teachers, vocal coaches, wind instrument players and people with breathing challenges due to health concerns. In that time I have distilled the steps to mastering the body as an instrument of vocal support and turned them into a series of exercises I call The BreathingRx For Singers System. These exercises are the most efficient path to the mastery of vocal support.
Steven Flam
Creator of 'The BreathingRx For Singers System'
All email communication will be sent to: [email protected]
