Messiah Concert

The Messiah is Handel's most famous work for good reason, and just for that reason you should come hear me sing the Tenor solos on Sunday Dec 12th at 2:30 pm.  St Mary Magdalene Church in Everett will present its first annual performance of this masterful work, with Organist David Lines and soloists Megan Chenovick, Jaci Cummings, myself and Ryan Bede.  Admission is free, but a free-will donation will be accepted with all proceeds benefiting the SMM Music Program.  Invite everyone you know, but especially those who have never heard this dramatic setting of Christ's birth told through scripture.  Hope to see you all there!

Musicality

I would like to share an idea given to me out of Steve Smith's book The Naked Voice, which I will now paraphrase.  The book is fabulous and I highly recommend it.  Smith articulates that musicality, or expressiveness, is innate to the human voice.  Musicality occurs by being sensitive to the music, giving more or less dynamically to stress and unstress certain pitches or parts of a phrase. It gives emotion to music that would otherwise be static.  When an instrumentalist tries to be musical, he must affect his instrument in some way to do so.  For example, a woodwind player must change his breath rate and/or the shape of his mouth to change the tone coming out of the instrument.  The instrument does nothing to adapt to the changes in the player's brain, where musicality comes from.  The wonderful thing about the human voice is that it is part of us as beings.  It adjusts to everything we think and feel as we sing, or otherwise.  We do not need to adjust our breath rate to be musical, the act of singing itself is inherently musical.  A free voice is an expressive one, and trying to change that by controlling our expression, or effectively inhibiting our natural musicality is completely unproductive, and in the end, not musical at all.  So the next time you feel like you need to give more in order to be musical, just remember, the freer your voice, the more natural musicality will come, instead of the fake stuff.  Trust those feelings, so you are able to let your voice be as musical as it naturally is.

How much breath do we need?

An important question in the development of vocal technique, the amount of breath one can use to turn into tone is the ultimate test of a singer's patience and trust.  Logically, one would think "the more the better, right?" Unfortunately, not true.  As singers, our primary job is to turn breath into energy through the mechanism of the larynx.  However, there is a definite limit to the amount of breath that our larynx can handle, and when we exceed that limit, tension ensues.  We need more breath for two specific instances in singing: to raise pitch and to gain volume.  Both, however, are done within the limits of a healthy vocalism.  To do an experiment, see how little breath you can use to make a sound, perhaps a small "s".  Then, simply by using your brain, change from "s" to "z".  This is singing at it's simplest.  Our vocal cords respond to the brain's messages (our thoughts), and not to an over production of breath.  Says Proctor, "the beautiful voice is the result not of exertion of great power, but rather of delicate control."  These words are so true, but only with time do they truly reveal their meaning.  In the meantime, trust in the process.  Be patient with your body as it changes, and in time you will learn to let your voice be as beautiful as it can be.

Opera at the Market

Check this link out.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds8ryWd5aFw.  Ah, that all the world would be like this.

Back to business

So, not to be dramatic or anything, but I will be returning to the concert stage for the first time in a year or two this coming February 20.  I will be singing as part of the "Pat Castro Vocal Excellence Scholarship Benefit Concert".  This scholarship was created a few years ago by the former choir director at Snohomish High, and is meant to sponsor a deserving vocal student from the school.  Applicants are judged on vocal skill, as well as academic achievement and community involvement.  Ticket sales will support the Scholarship's endowment fund, so bring as many people as you can find!  The concert will feature local professionals in the fields of Classical Music, Music Theater, and Vocal Jazz.  It should be fun for everyone involved. 

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.