Back to Basics

I recently took a voice lesson that consisted almost entirely of just starting the tone, over and over again. Keep in mind that I have been singing professionally and teaching for almost thirty years. One would think, then, that this lesson was both boring and useless to me. Instead, it was one of the best lessons I’ve had. It is precisely because I have been singing and teaching for so long that this was terrific. One gets so used to one’s routine as well as seeking newer and better ways of doing things that it is easy to forget that the simplest and most basic of elements can often be the most profound.

Particularly in the last decade or so, the voice teaching profession seems to have gotten more competitive with more and more business minded types out on the internet, advertising, blogging, and, sometimes, hyping their wares. “You, too, can learn the secrets to a high C and ultimate success.” In this environment it is easy to think that one is not up to date, or providing the best information and service to one’s students. Yet when I go to a lesson myself, I am not looking for the newest, shiniest “toy”. I am looking for someone to care about me and to hone in on and help me with whatever issue I may be having with my voice; or, just helping me to stay on track. So, it is an excellent lesson to realize that sometimes the simplest of things can be the best of things.

In practicing and in teaching, don’t be afraid to revisit basic tenets of singing and performance. In our quest to constantly advance, these basics can often get left by the wayside. Yet they are the core of what we do. Breathing, easy onsets and phonation; how to walk onto the stage and just be present; these are things that are worth our time and effort, even if it IS the thousandth time!

Confidence Wins Over Smarts

Frustrated because you are not taken seriously? Other people get opportunities that you don't? Maybe they are just speaking up more than you. In an article published in Scientific American Mind (September/October 2009) by Robert Goodier, new research shows that leaders are not necessarily more intelligent than others, but rather they simply speak up more often. People believe that those who speak up more often in a group are the smartest even though, in reality, they have the same intelligence as others in the group.

How does this relate to performance? We've all seen the person who, when performing or auditioning, does not exude confidence. While we may feel for that person's discomfort, we do tend to perceive that person as not being very capable. On the other hand, the person who confidently presents his performance, regardless of its true quality, is often judged to have been "better" or more successful.

What if you are not that naturally confident, outgoing animal to which I refer. What if, instead, you are NOT sure of yourself -- you are innately quiet and unassuming. This is where one's acting chops have to come in to play. Behave AS IF you are confident. That's number one!

Secondly, no one can hope to step on stage with a sense of empowerment if he or she is not completely prepared. Do your homework! Learn everything you can about the material you are performing. Plan every moment of your execution of the piece. If you don't know how to sing or how to act, take lessons! Practice, practice, practice. And, by all means, practice behaving in a confident manner.

Other interesting research (same issue of Scientific American Mind) shows that the way we feel emotions isn't just restricted to our brain. There are parts of our bodies that help and reinforce the feelings we're having. If we act and smile in a confident manner, we are more likely to actually feel that way.

So let's get started. Ready? Smile, step forward, and speak up!

Why Can't Singers Act? (Or vice-versa)

If you are in the world of song performance, you’ve seen the following: a fabulous singer who is, nevertheless, boring on stage. Or, the wonderful actor who, when singing, suddenly looks like he’s never been on stage before. What is it about the act of singing that turns even the most accomplished performer and expressive person into a stiff, awkward, untruthful, and less than human being on stage? And is it the singing or the acting that needs the attention?

Well, if you are a trained singer, chances are that you are at least somewhat comfortable with the singing aspect of your performance. If you are not yet at the level you wish to be, at least you have some sense of control over your voice and what is expected of you. However, the acting of the song often leaves something to be desired because, as singers, we are not trained in what to do. We are left to our instincts rather than a methodology for buiding an effective performance.

On the flip side is the trained actor who, robbed of his usual timing and vocal contr0l (let alone an acting partner), is left to flop his way through a territory that he is already terrified of — singing.

What is little known to both the singer and actor is that there IS a method for building one’s performance. All of the elements of good acting: point of view, objective, obstacle, tactics, etc. are involved. But above and beyond that is how to apply them to song in an interesting, rather than cliched way, and to move with appropriate timing.

My premise here is that the singer who “can’t” act, as well as the actor who performs dismally when singing, are both simply the victims of a lack of the appropriate tools. The singer must learn the language and methodology of acting. The actor must become confident that what eminates from his mouth when he opens it to sing is something he has control over – achieved through technique and training. And both must learn how things are different in a song from any other type of performance. The timing is different.

With that said, it is my intention to post articles here that relate to the topics of voice training and to performance training for singers. Stay tuned for more....