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.