9/20/2012
Sore throats are the bane of a singer's existence. Besides being uncomfortable, singing on an inflamed pharynx (throat) can result in permanent injury to one's voice. Usually, sore throats are caused by a virus and go away with a week to 10 days of rest. But if sore throats are chronic, there may be an underlying cause. I've taught voice for 25 years, and the most frequent reason for sore throats I've seen is Acid Reflux Disease, or GERD. I am not a medical person, but as I understand it, stomach acid can travel up the throat and actually burn the vocal folds, resulting in pain, hoarseness and laryngitis. Treating it requires a change in diet (i.e., no caffeine or tomato sauce), and perhaps medication as well. The good news is, treatment is fairly easy, though it takes some weeks to hear the results. If your voice is chronically breathy, this may be the culprit. Sore throats can also be caused by dehydration and bacterial infections. It takes a good doctor to make an accurate diagnosis. I highly recommend the doctors at Bellevue Ear, Nose and Throat; they have been very helpful to me, and to my students.
4/15/2012
It is important to have realistic expectations when embarking on a musical career. I've seen students and their parents come in with ideas that had no basis in reality. One family brought in their 16 year old daughter who had never had a voice lesson in her life: they wanted me to get her ready to win a high-pressure competition in Los Angeles, in two weeks. I told them as tactfully as I could that I thought she was not ready to attempt something like that, and should study for at least a year before she tried it. They rushed out of my house and I never saw them again. Several weeks ago, a 14 year old with a pretty voice came in who wanted to be famous. I explained to her the work involved and told her that she could probably start doing small auditions in a year. She got a defiant look, and said, "Well, I want to be discovered no later than age 16." I repeated that this is a process, and most people are not discovered overnight. I never heard from her again.
So what is realistic? Hard work. Learning the techniques of good singing, and then doing auditions that are on a level with your talent. To look for overnight success is setting oneself up for crashing disappointment. For most of us, its a slow but steady climb up a steep ladder. If you keep climbing, you're bound to get somewhere. But the most important thing is to go into this because of a love for the music, not fame.
The best career building book I've found is "Beyond Talent", put out by the Career Services Center at New England Conservatory. It answers all the questions in specific detail, and is a terrific guide.
3/21/2012
How much vibrato is too much? Vibrato is a normal part of healthy singing, and there is nothing wrong with it. Except when there is too much of it. We seem to have an alarming number of singers out there who sound like machine guns. It sets my teeth on edge to hear it. I am not a fan of straight tone singing, but the amount of over-vibrato going on is ridiculous. How do you know if its too much? Simple: if the pitch can't be clearly heard. Correct vibrato does not obscure the notes being sung. For an example of a fine singer with both clear pitch and vibrato, go to YouTube and type in "Benita Valente." A vocal treasure.
3/11/2012
Today I went to SIFF and saw a movie of the opera La Boheme, with Anna Netrobko singing the role of Mimi. It was incredible. I've seen productions of Boheme that left me cold, but this one made me cry like a child. That opera depends on how good the Mimi is: if she is cold, then it just comes across as a silly story. If the Mimi is warm, then the opera flies like a bird. Netrebko was fabulous, a very natural, unaffected actress and singer, with a voice like gold. Doesn't hurt that she's beautiful as well. Five stars!
3/6/2012
How do you know if you are with the right voice teacher or not? In terms of competency, voice teachers run the gamut of the good, the bad and the ugly. Here are some warning signs to watch for:
- Confusion. Learning to sing can be confusing at times, but if you are in a habitual state of bewilderment, and your teacher is not clarifying issues, your lessons are a waste of time and money.
- Abusive teaching. This isn't necessary, and is usually counter productive. Abusive behavior on the part of the teacher can cause extreme nervous tension for the singer, resulting in vocal problems.
-A teacher who focuses on direct manipulation of the larynx, rather than on breath control, support and focus. This will create chronic sore throats, a machine gun vibrato and possibly vocal damage.