James Jordan, in his new book The Musician's Breath (G-7955), examines why and how the breath is the "delivery system" for human and musical ideas in performance. "The breath," Dr. Jordan writes, "is the most magical and human thing we can engage as artists."

This companion video guides viewers through yoga practices that can provide access points to understanding breath, free points of tension, and "holding" in the breathing process.

James Jordan, widely acknowledged as one of the most influential conductors in America, has brought about far-reaching pedagogical and philosophical changes not only in choral music, but also in the worlds of orchestral conducting, wind conducting, piano, and music education. The Choral Journal has described his writings as “visionary.” His conducting text, Evoking Sound, now in its second edition, has been named by The Choral Journal as one of the “must reads” for choral musicians.

Mark Moliterno holds BM and MM degrees in Voice and Opera from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. He is a certified yoga instructor through the YogaLife Institute of Pennsylvania. His yoga mentor is Robert Butera, PhD. As an Adjunct Associate Professor of Voice at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, Mr. Moliterno teaches private voice and yoga for a wide range of students and educational programs. During the summers, he is a faculty member of the CoOPERAtive program and the High School Vocal Institute. He is also a member of the teaching staff at the YogaLife Institute in Devon, PA. As a natural outgrowth of his background, interests, and expertise, he has developed YogaVoice™, the application of classical yoga principles and practices for the lives and work of performing artists.

Nova Thomas is Assistant Professor of Voice at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, and Professor of Professional Practice and departmental chair at the New School for Drama, New School University (formerly the Actors Studio Drama School) in New York City. Additionally, she is a teaching-artist and dramatic coach for Westminster Choir College’s summer CoOPERAtive program, and she co-teaches with renowned actor and TONY award winner Denis O’Hare, for the Summer Music Theater Immersion Experience in New York City. As a performer, Ms. Thomas is an internationally acclaimed soprano whose work has been consistently characterized as “ravishing in sound and magical in stage presence” (OPERA/London).