Tag Archives: bel canto technique

Guitar & Voice Recitals

I became interested in the idea of Guitar & Voice Recitals in the 90s; this interest led to a tour with Chamber Music New Zealand using my Paul Fischer Classical Guitar. It was a very popular tour; I performed throughout New Zealand. Other performances with the Paul Fischer Guitar included St. James Palace (London, UK),Continue reading “Guitar & Voice Recitals”

Aotearoa New Zealand Opera School

Today’s blog is to say how much I enjoyed watching Nikki Li Hartliep teach at the Aotearoa New Zealand Opera School at the Prince Edward Auditorium, Whanganui Collegiate School, Whanganui, January 2024. Thank you to the school for allowing me to observe the school! If you have never been to a masterclass before, I urgeContinue reading “Aotearoa New Zealand Opera School”

Dreams Do Come True

From 2024, I will be an Artist in Residence at The Piano in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand. Several years ago, it was only but a dream to have my own music school. From 2024, I will teach in a space devoted to the musical arts where I will be working alongside fabulous colleagues. TheContinue reading “Dreams Do Come True”

Vocals for DJ Strange

Here is a snippet of a recording session with House musician, DJ Strange. The sound track is a snippet of Strange’s composition ‘Matariki’; one of the tracks that I recorded with him and that he is currently editing. Strange’s music is an unique blend of House, Taonga Pūoro and Waiata (Song). Here is his FacebookContinue reading “Vocals for DJ Strange”

Advice for the Rock Voice

Here is a soundtrack of a 14-year-old singer, pictured here (his guitar teacher is Michael Sumner). Here is the vocal advice that I gave him when I coached him and assisted with the band’s writing of this song. The human voice can only take so much; work out how to achieve an effect as efficientlyContinue reading “Advice for the Rock Voice”

Developing a Partnership with a Microphone

Recently, my exploration into vocal technique has involved working with a Shure SM7B to record a variety of songs using a range of techniques from the Old Italian Style right through to belt voice. I found the Shure SM7B to be poor for classical which is to be expected; truckloads of the colour in myContinue reading “Developing a Partnership with a Microphone”

Cross-training, really?

I have recently discovered the term ‘cross-training’. This method justifies itself by saying it creates commercial opportunities for the singer. I agree with this. However, it also claims to be a healthy way, perhaps even healthier way, to train the voice. Well…I have worked as a fully professional singer for a few decades. I haveContinue reading “Cross-training, really?”

Buying a voice

Over the last six months, I have observed a number of young singers learning from two singing teachers at once. Often, without the singing teachers agreeing to this or, even worse, being told! This trend is understandable if the teachers complement each other and work together. For example, one teacher is a classical teacher andContinue reading “Buying a voice”

Sticking your neck out (literally)

The attitude of the pupil, in singing, should be as natural and easy as possible. Mathilde Marchesi, Bel Canto: A theoretical & practical vocal method. Dover Publications, Inc., New York. The image above says it all. Here are two audio examples to demonstrate the importance of the neck position for singing. Example one demonstrates aContinue reading “Sticking your neck out (literally)”

Recommended Reading and Listening: Bel Canto/The Old Italian School of Singing

I have found the following books, manuals and listening to be a ‘pathway’ to studying a way of singing that some refer to as ‘Bel Canto’. Others may refer to it as the ‘Old Italian School of Singing’. Others may describe it as the ‘Italian School of Singing’. (For me, the last description is unreliableContinue reading “Recommended Reading and Listening: Bel Canto/The Old Italian School of Singing”