On Saturday I was a participant in a masterclass, in which one point above all others was drilled into us - words! Too often we think "I am going to sing to you now.", and let the focus on this get in the way of conveying the text itself. The notes will come once learnt, and of course a rock solid technique is vital, but a song is nothing if there is no emotion or meaning in the words.
One way of helping with this is to recite the words without the music, in their original poetic format, taking great care and detail in the way you want each word to be expressed to carry your meaning over to the audience. Tell it as though you were a highly skilled actor delivering a monologue. Now keep doing this, until you are completely happy with your interpretation - how can you convey meaning unless you're sure of what you want it to mean yourself? And once you're completely happy? Forget that interpretation, find a new one. Explore the text from all possible angles, until you have the deepest understanding of it. Now, imagine that instead of "singing" you are "saying words to notes". Imagine that you are reciting the poem as before, but this time notes are coming out. It's such a hard thing for me to describe, whilst I am still only learning myself, but when you really get it, there is such a great feeling of freedom.
Wednesday 23 November 2011
Friday 4 March 2011
Keeping safe.
I was watching a masterclass last night, and something she said stuck in my head.
"If you break a violin bow, you can just buy another one. But you can't do that with your voice. You only get one. If you're lucky, you're born with one that's special, as most people here have been, but once it's gone there's nothing you can do about it."
Of course, this should seem obvious, but sometimes we all need a little reminder now and again.
"If you break a violin bow, you can just buy another one. But you can't do that with your voice. You only get one. If you're lucky, you're born with one that's special, as most people here have been, but once it's gone there's nothing you can do about it."
Of course, this should seem obvious, but sometimes we all need a little reminder now and again.
Tuesday 1 March 2011
Victory!
Last week was hectic. Asides from my sister coming home and having a pile of homework to complete, I had a fair amount going on musically.
Firstly, the North East Youth Chorale rehearsals. Tuesday - Thursday, 11-5.30 then 3-9.30 on Saturday (which included a concert). I have to admit, I'm not used to such long/intense rehearsals, though I did enjoy them. It left me realising just how my technique and support has improved - I was in sopranos and my voice was fine albeit slightly tired by Thursday night, whereas only a couple of years ago I'd be exhausted by then.
Quite amazingly the men almost doubled the women! I think at the concert there were 9 women and 16 men. Of course, that left me feeling very exposed, especially since I didn't know any of the pieces we were singing and, like most of us, was sight reading. However, we got through it well and the concert was a success.
In addition to this, I was singing at the Ryton Festival on the morning. My singing teacher told me not to expect to win and just to enjoy myself - she recognised the singers from previous festivals and knew how good they were, as well as me being one of the youngest singers in the adult class. So, this helped calm any nerves I had and I got up there and sang "Che faro senza Euridice". My introduction was a bit shaky... I'm far worse at talking to the audience than singing to them! But, the recitative went better than I could have imagined (I still remember how much I was struggling with it even a few weeks ago) and I was commended on my sense of style for this, and the aria went well too, though I had a lack brightness in places that let me down. Needs more ping! The next category was oratorio and I sand "O rest in the Lord". I feel that I got off to a bad start, though no-one seemed to notice, but soon recovered.
So how did I do? I got second in the operatic aria and first in the oratorio! This is great, especially since it's the first time I've done any solo performances since starting with a different teacher last October. I feel like I'm improving in leaps and bounds every day.
I've got another couple of classes in that festival coming up soon (it's split over several days) including the championship (was entered thanks to winning the oratorio) which I'm excited about, but even more I'm excited about what I'll learn next!
Firstly, the North East Youth Chorale rehearsals. Tuesday - Thursday, 11-5.30 then 3-9.30 on Saturday (which included a concert). I have to admit, I'm not used to such long/intense rehearsals, though I did enjoy them. It left me realising just how my technique and support has improved - I was in sopranos and my voice was fine albeit slightly tired by Thursday night, whereas only a couple of years ago I'd be exhausted by then.
Quite amazingly the men almost doubled the women! I think at the concert there were 9 women and 16 men. Of course, that left me feeling very exposed, especially since I didn't know any of the pieces we were singing and, like most of us, was sight reading. However, we got through it well and the concert was a success.
In addition to this, I was singing at the Ryton Festival on the morning. My singing teacher told me not to expect to win and just to enjoy myself - she recognised the singers from previous festivals and knew how good they were, as well as me being one of the youngest singers in the adult class. So, this helped calm any nerves I had and I got up there and sang "Che faro senza Euridice". My introduction was a bit shaky... I'm far worse at talking to the audience than singing to them! But, the recitative went better than I could have imagined (I still remember how much I was struggling with it even a few weeks ago) and I was commended on my sense of style for this, and the aria went well too, though I had a lack brightness in places that let me down. Needs more ping! The next category was oratorio and I sand "O rest in the Lord". I feel that I got off to a bad start, though no-one seemed to notice, but soon recovered.
So how did I do? I got second in the operatic aria and first in the oratorio! This is great, especially since it's the first time I've done any solo performances since starting with a different teacher last October. I feel like I'm improving in leaps and bounds every day.
I've got another couple of classes in that festival coming up soon (it's split over several days) including the championship (was entered thanks to winning the oratorio) which I'm excited about, but even more I'm excited about what I'll learn next!
Thursday 17 February 2011
Festival preparation
I will be singing "Che faro senza Euridice" by Gluck and "O rest in the Lord" by Mendelssohn at the Ryton festival next Saturday.
Something I always struggle with is remembering the order of the music, when there are lots of similarities. For example, in Che faro, I sing the "Che faro senza..." part 3 times, as almost a chorus if you will, with little differences each time and with different things to put between. This is probably what I am struggling with most at the moment.
As for "O rest in the Lord", it is getting the brightness in the lower notes. I sometimes struggle to keep my lips and jaw relaxed whilst "pinging" from my cheeks... that is to say, using those muscles at the top of your cheeks that you feel when smiling without actually smiling fully. Breath support and singing through the line is also something I've found that is very important in this piece... some of the lines feel very long, especially when the pinnacle of that phrase comes at the end and you need to have a good supply of breath left to push through it and create an intense sound. Is intense the right word? Maybe not that strong, but leaning towards it.
My pronunciation of some of the words wasn't quite right, either... which considering it is in English, my first language, is slightly worrying! It was with the sustained "And waiiiiit", I think some of my dipthongs were out of place and I needed to keep my tongue up at the back to produce a better sound. So now I think of it as "Wey lad!" to get that tongue up there.
Another problem was that I'm singing on consonants sometimes, for example "O rest innnn the Lord" instead of "O rest iiiin the Lord". I've noticed this is a bad habit of mine and need to be extra careful at the festival.
All in all though, I'm feeling much more confident about it today. Or perhaps it is a surge of energy from the prospect of school holidays... either way, I'm sure I'm going to do well!
Something I always struggle with is remembering the order of the music, when there are lots of similarities. For example, in Che faro, I sing the "Che faro senza..." part 3 times, as almost a chorus if you will, with little differences each time and with different things to put between. This is probably what I am struggling with most at the moment.
As for "O rest in the Lord", it is getting the brightness in the lower notes. I sometimes struggle to keep my lips and jaw relaxed whilst "pinging" from my cheeks... that is to say, using those muscles at the top of your cheeks that you feel when smiling without actually smiling fully. Breath support and singing through the line is also something I've found that is very important in this piece... some of the lines feel very long, especially when the pinnacle of that phrase comes at the end and you need to have a good supply of breath left to push through it and create an intense sound. Is intense the right word? Maybe not that strong, but leaning towards it.
My pronunciation of some of the words wasn't quite right, either... which considering it is in English, my first language, is slightly worrying! It was with the sustained "And waiiiiit", I think some of my dipthongs were out of place and I needed to keep my tongue up at the back to produce a better sound. So now I think of it as "Wey lad!" to get that tongue up there.
Another problem was that I'm singing on consonants sometimes, for example "O rest innnn the Lord" instead of "O rest iiiin the Lord". I've noticed this is a bad habit of mine and need to be extra careful at the festival.
All in all though, I'm feeling much more confident about it today. Or perhaps it is a surge of energy from the prospect of school holidays... either way, I'm sure I'm going to do well!
Sunday 13 February 2011
Reflections on a concert
Last night was my singing teachers concert, a collaboration between her students from the weekend school and her university and private students.
It was very exciting to be singing at The Sage Gateshead, which is an absolutely amazing concert venue. Although we were in hall 2, the smaller room, the intimate feel with the audience was great and appropriate to our purposes and the acoustics were gorgeous.
We started at 1.30 with those of us who were there, though it was mainly the soloists. I got asked to be a page turner so I was busy throughout the day taking care of this (David Murray was accompanying us on the piano... he is amazing! He's also my Music Language teacher at the Sage weekend school incidentally). But, this proved to be a great thing - seeing the transition from rehearsal to concert for other singers, and how they flourished or stumbled in front of an audience in comparison to the rehearsal was quite useful to be able to look at from an outsiders point of view. Sometimes it's easy to forget that you're not the only one who feels insecure, forgets words, or gets too nervous! Not that they all were, they all did amazingly in the performance, but talking to some of my friends about it made me feel much better about my own singing insecurities, to know that people I see as far better than me have the same feelings.
I got to know some of the other singers much better, which is great because I have a hard time talking to people sometimes. So it was really fun backstage. And everyone loved my dress which is always great. There were certainly some lush dresses worn by others, though many of them I'd have to be at least half my size to fit into! Exercise motivation? Perhaps...
The first song went great, I smiled (but kept my mouth relaxed at the same time, I think/hope) and then I was done until the interval so I got to enjoy the performances. Even though I'd seen them all in the rehearsal, I loved all of their voices so it was great to be able to hear such high quality music for free.
The second half opened with an excerpt from pirates of penzance, which went amazingly well. I think my acting skills are slowly improving and that I did a great job of being angry with him for suggesting that we were all "homely faced with bad complexion". The rest of the solos were great, and a lot more light hearted than the first half, and the finale went really well. Although, I didn't expect to be walking onto stage with anyone so when I was offered a hand to be led on I ended up looking slightly blankly at him for a while and probably made a complete fool of myself. But hopefully it was only my parents who noticed.
Overall it was a great night, though I was dissapointed not to have a chance to sing a solo this time. Hopefully I'll be offered the opportunity next year.
It was very exciting to be singing at The Sage Gateshead, which is an absolutely amazing concert venue. Although we were in hall 2, the smaller room, the intimate feel with the audience was great and appropriate to our purposes and the acoustics were gorgeous.
We started at 1.30 with those of us who were there, though it was mainly the soloists. I got asked to be a page turner so I was busy throughout the day taking care of this (David Murray was accompanying us on the piano... he is amazing! He's also my Music Language teacher at the Sage weekend school incidentally). But, this proved to be a great thing - seeing the transition from rehearsal to concert for other singers, and how they flourished or stumbled in front of an audience in comparison to the rehearsal was quite useful to be able to look at from an outsiders point of view. Sometimes it's easy to forget that you're not the only one who feels insecure, forgets words, or gets too nervous! Not that they all were, they all did amazingly in the performance, but talking to some of my friends about it made me feel much better about my own singing insecurities, to know that people I see as far better than me have the same feelings.
I got to know some of the other singers much better, which is great because I have a hard time talking to people sometimes. So it was really fun backstage. And everyone loved my dress which is always great. There were certainly some lush dresses worn by others, though many of them I'd have to be at least half my size to fit into! Exercise motivation? Perhaps...
The first song went great, I smiled (but kept my mouth relaxed at the same time, I think/hope) and then I was done until the interval so I got to enjoy the performances. Even though I'd seen them all in the rehearsal, I loved all of their voices so it was great to be able to hear such high quality music for free.
The second half opened with an excerpt from pirates of penzance, which went amazingly well. I think my acting skills are slowly improving and that I did a great job of being angry with him for suggesting that we were all "homely faced with bad complexion". The rest of the solos were great, and a lot more light hearted than the first half, and the finale went really well. Although, I didn't expect to be walking onto stage with anyone so when I was offered a hand to be led on I ended up looking slightly blankly at him for a while and probably made a complete fool of myself. But hopefully it was only my parents who noticed.
Overall it was a great night, though I was dissapointed not to have a chance to sing a solo this time. Hopefully I'll be offered the opportunity next year.
Friday 11 February 2011
Gabrieli Young Singers' Scheme
Gabrieli Young Singers' Scheme from Gabrieli Consort & Players on Vimeo.
Last October I went down to London to be part of an exciting new project starting for young singers. At the launch event, 4 choirs from across the country joined together to perform excerpts from Handel's Solomon. The video is pretty much self-explanatory but well worth a watch.
To read more about the project go here: http://www.gabrieli.com/aboutus/gabrieli-young-singers-scheme.html
As for future things that I'll be involved in with the Gabrieli's, the North East Youth Chorale will be taking part in a festival with the director some time in July, and we may be performing "Elijah" with them at the BBC proms, although I don't believe that is fully confirmed and won't be confirmed until April.
It's all exciting stuff that I'm glad and proud to be a part of.
p.s. I'm second from the front on the left hand side :D
Welcome to "Melodious mirth"!
An insight into the life of a fledging young singer and her music.
I had planned on giving a list of things that you may or may not see in this blog... but to be honest, I'm not entirely sure what to expect myself yet!
In any case I hope you enjoy reading and joining me on my path to what may or may not end up as a lifelong career in singing and opera.
I had planned on giving a list of things that you may or may not see in this blog... but to be honest, I'm not entirely sure what to expect myself yet!
In any case I hope you enjoy reading and joining me on my path to what may or may not end up as a lifelong career in singing and opera.
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