PERFORMANCE ALERT: MTNA Recital!

Cummings Studio members Richard Davis and Ryan Bender will be performing at the local SCMTA Chapter recital this Sunday, December 6, at 2 pm.  The recital will take place at Mukilteo Presbyterian Church, located off of 84th St in Mukilteo (near Paine Field).  Please come support your fellow singers!

Recital Tomorrow!

Just a reminder that Tim Albertson will be presenting a recital tomorrow evening at Madison Community Church in Everett.  The recital will begin at 6 pm.  Italian art song, English art song, and Music theatre music will be presented.

Perseverance

What a month November turned out to be.  I decided to speak on a topic that every successful singer comes in contact with at some point in their life: perseverance.  The ability to overcome obstacles, in many forms, can make or break the success of any talented performer.  As performers, we are constantly subjected to criticisms, which, like it or not, are part of the business.  These come in many forms, and can range from a friendly suggestion to a scalding review.  Many successful singers have been quoted as saying an important trait central to their success is the ability to be "thick-skinned."  Working through difficult times is something central to every success story, in the performing world, business world, political world, etc.  We must hold true to our belief in ourselves, especially when things are not going as planned.  I personally can attest to this belief, as I have first hand struggled with obstacles that no singer would imagine as possible in their young training.  However, my belief in myself, and in the art of music has kept me afloat during these stormy months.  I say this not to elicit sympathy, but to personally attest to the power of belief.  There will be times in your journey when things do not make sense, when everything you knew to be right has turned upside down.  This is a challenge, to be sure, but it is only a temporary obstacle.  Things are always changing, and when they do, a mentally and emotionally strong performer will move forward with clarity, vision, and energy. 

Callas masterclasses

This post may be a little over the head of those of you who have never been exposed to opera, but for those of you who are interested, it will be fascinating, if not completely inspiring.  Maria Callas is known as one of the best singing actresses to ever grace the opera stage.  Although she has a rather polarizing voice, no one could ever question her ability to communicate text and emotion on the stage, something we strive to do as singers.  Over the two decades of her reign at the Metropolitan Opera, from roughly 1950-1970, she did a series of masterclasses at the Juillard School in Manhattan for budding opera singers.  These masterclasses were recorded, and have been subsequently uploaded to a Youtube playlist.  The repertoire is classic Italian opera, mostly Puccini, but the insights she provides on use of language and dramatic presentation are remarkable.  If you have extra time, I suggest you take a listen and enjoy these pearls from one of the greatest singers from the last century.  Search "Callas Masterclass" on youtube.

Singing makes you happy

Of course we all think it, but here's some other opinions on the matter.  This one comes from England, where apparently everyone wants to be a singer:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/wellbeing/5050461/Why-singing-makes-you-happy.html

Here's another article from the US:

http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-nature/emotions/happiness/science/singing-happy.htm/printable

And here's yet another:

http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/37761/hobbies_for_the_family/recreational_singing_may_make_you_live_longer.html

Just goes to show you that not only is singing a worthwhile pursuit for it's own reasons, but it can actually have serious benefits for your long term happiness and health!

Why wouldn't anyone want to sing?

Why do we sing?

This is a question all singers and performers should ask themselves from time to time.  It is the essence of what we are.  And I suppose, though I can't say for sure, that it must be different for, say, a plumber, or an electrician.  Because although we do sing for a living, to put bread on the table, that is not WHY we sing.  There are many profitable business ventures that are much more easily duplicated than a successful performing career, so why would you choose to sing over being a doctor or a real estate mogul.  The answer for me is I need to communicate.  I need to share something with the world that isn't already there.  I need to bring happiness and art into being.  Essentially, this is what we all strive to do in one way or the other, but as a performer it is a constant way of living.  Each time we perform we breathe life into a piece of paper with scribbles on it and make it a living spiritual being.  It can touch hearts, and anger them.  I think most people would agree that music has a power over the mind that few other experiences can match. This is why we demand it in our lives. 

The path of a singer is not easily followed.  As in any other profession it takes sincere dedication, perseverance, hard work, and a little bit of luck.  But the few who dare to try, and the even fewer who succeed, do it because they must.  And that has to be the answer here.  You must NEED to sing.  It must be part of your survival, your essentials for a healthy life.  It takes passion.  It takes dedication.  And patience. 

I would hate to pretend that singing is any different from any other high level occupation, because it's not.  You need to be driven to really succeed at anything.  But it helps to pretend.  It helps to make believe that your very life depends on your ability to perform.  To share.  To communicate. 

Ask yourself why you sing.  And be honest.  Then live up to your dreams.

What this blog is

This is a blog for singers.  It's a blog for teachers.  It's a blog for parents.  It's a blog for friends.  This blog will be many things, among them, I hope, fun!  I will try and share my insights on the music business, and how singing fits into it.  I will try and share wonderful and humorous information with you all, which hopefully will inspire you in your own journey.  I will try and give objective feedback on issues of technique, repertoire, and any other singing related issue you might have a question about.  I will try and share experiences which might give you an idea about whether or not this is the business for you.  Mostly though, I want this place to be a community where singers and musicians can come together and have fun with each other, learn about their art, and get information that otherwise is not available.  So come back often.  Leave many questions. Laugh.  Learn.  Communicate.