Foundational Movements

Learn these essential movements that will lay the groundwork for your journey in somatic movement.

Professional Guidance

Receive expert instruction from an experienced voice teacher and somatic educator.

Holistic Approach

Retrain the brain through movement that benefits not only your singing but also your overall well-being.

About the Course

Ever wonder why you have to keep working on the same chronic muscle tensions in your singing? Don’t you wish you could find the missing link so you could unleash your technique to work for you rather than against you? My Introductory Course in Somatic Movement is tailored for singers and individuals seeking to understand the "why" behind chronic muscle tension.  I'll introduce and "break down" four foundational movements that will serve as the building blocks for your somatic practice. I’ll help you navigate your way to lasting changes!

Meet Your Instructor

Lirico-spinto soprano, Cristina Castaldi, has been described as “a rare talent with a warm, agile, exciting voice… she moves like a dancer, looks like a model and is at home on stage as off…. her vocal technique is unfaltering and her pianissimo high floats are without comparison.” Dr. Castaldi specializes in bel canto, early Verdi and verismo repertoire. Dr. Castaldi is a fully certified Essential Somatics Movement Teacher (a practice based on the teachings of Thomas Hanna and Moshé Feldenkrais). She also has thirty years of yoga practice experience; including twelve years of teaching yoga classes. Dr. Castaldi created the courses “Essential Somatics for Singers” and “Essential Somatics for Instrumentalists.” They are the only Essential Somatics college courses in the nation. She is a sought-after movement teacher in Essential Somatics and gives master classes and individual sessions for singers. She is often a featured workshop presenter for KMEA, NATS and NOA; and regularly gives masterclasses at area schools and colleges. Her knowledge of body mechanics and brain/body connection aids her students in gaining a very clear, individualized understanding of their own body, their chronic muscle tensions, effects of performance anxiety, and the ability to learn how to sense and make changes that are lasting. Dr. Castaldi is passionate about this work and has witnessed with her students how empowered they feel both in and out of the studio. Her work as a holistic voice teacher and continued somatic research proves the importance of applying somatic education in vocal pedagogy.  Dr. Castaldi earned the Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance at The Mason Gross School of Music at Rutgers University. She holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance (with distinction) from The New England Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Kennesaw State University in Georgia.

Course Curriculum

6 Chapters · 7 Lessons

  1. 1

    Introduction to Somatic Movement

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Introduction

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Somatic Movement for Singers Handout - Understanding the Practice

  2. 2

    Arch and Release/Arch and Flatten

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Arch and Release/Arch and Flatten Movement Breakdown

  3. 3

    Backlift

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Backlift Movement Breakdown

  4. 4

    Side Bend

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Side Bend Movement Breakdown

  5. 5

    Washrag

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Washrag

  6. 6

    Bonus Class

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Bonus Class

Student Testimonials

Read From the Singer Point of View

”
“Dr. Castaldi has completely shaped and refined my technique. Her somatic-focused technique has given me a deep understanding of my body as my instrument. She knows exactly when to push me to reach my fullest potential. She has a vast knowledge of repertoire which she chooses thoughtfully for students. She cares very much about details, while still inspiring a broader love and understanding of the music. She is a mentor, friend, role model, and advocates for her students ferociously. Dr. Castaldi has built such a solid foundation of technique and work ethic in me, that I feel confident and prepared to enter the performance world.”
Ashley Ruckman

Soprano

”
“Dr. Castaldi’s teachings emphasize and encourage the holistic health of voice, mind, and body. Her development of the Essential Somatics practice specifically for singers encourages me to maintain a healthy lifestyle and mindset that will keep me singing happily and healthily for the rest of my life. Dr. Castaldi also practices what she preaches - she models a healthy, balanced life for her students. Her dedication to health and happiness encourages us to follow in her footsteps in a way that is so important for folks to see. I had never before encountered an example of a wholly healthy approach to singing, working, and living, and Dr. Castaldi is an example that I aspire to follow every day. ”
Amira Joy Coleman

Soprano

”
“Dr. Castaldi was my voice teacher, Somatics teacher, as well as my closest mentor during my Master’s Degree in Opera Performance at Wichita State University. There, she went above and beyond to teach me how to train my voice, my body, and my mind to prepare me for the next step in my career as a classical singer and voice teacher. Dr. Castaldi’s Essential Somatics for the Singer course provided not only a designated time to focus on wellness during the week, but equipped me with tools to mitigate my own tension and relieve pain with daily practice. I still use exercises I learned in this class daily.”
Josephine Barstad

Soprano

Ready to begin your somatic journey?

Enroll now to experience the transformative power of somatic movement and take the first step towards unleashing your full potential as a singer and performer.

Enroll Now