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”
Tag Archives: Singing
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”
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”
Easy home studio setup for Singer-Songwriter
This summer I have recommenced writing and recording songs by beginning with a simple set up of a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, Cloudlifter CL-1, Shure M7B, and MacBook Pro 2020. (Hot Tip: I am finding that writing and recording simultaneously have sped things up. The trick is to record in small units that can be cutContinue reading “Easy home studio setup for Singer-Songwriter”
Philosophy
In February 2020, while preparing for a lockdown in South Africa, I began a three-year project affectionally named the ‘Lilli Lehmann Project’. This project was inspired by the great German Soprano, Lilli Lehmann. Lehmann wrote several books including a book translated into English as ‘How to Sing’. It was a chance appearance of her bookContinue reading “Philosophy”
Adding to the vocal tool kit – musical theatre
Today’s post discusses and demonstrates some of the singing techniques required when including musical theatre pieces, from the golden age until the present day, in a concert. I am focussing on the singing techniques here. However, to make the transition truly authentic, the singer will need to spend time on accent. The correct accent willContinue reading “Adding to the vocal tool kit – musical theatre”
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”
‘Legit’
Musical Theatre refers to singing in a classical style as ‘legit’. However, it has bothered me for a long time that the classification is too broad. Therefore, I was pleased to read the following in the library today: Legit can be further divided into traditional legit and contemporary legit. Robert Edwin, A Broader Broadway, NATSContinue reading “‘Legit’”
Deborah Wai Kapohe 