At 06:14 PM 9/14/00 EDT, dorisopran@a... wrote:
>I had a friend who was an excellent lyric baritone and >studied with Cornelius Reid back in the mid sixties. >When people started flocking to Reid in droves, >Cornelius threw my friend out, even though he was >a longtime student and supposedly friend as well. [snip] >I believe when a teacher has a talented student, s/he >should advise and encourage as much as possible, >and discourage where appropriate.
["Standby to de-lurk, No. 1!"] I resonated with this post, partly because it gives me an opportunity to introduce myself and also to thank the list for all the very useful information I've gleaned as a kind of lurker over the past few months. After rummaging through the archives I feel like I know you all, somehow. Dr. Clark was kind enough to point me to the active list.
I resumed singing in our church choir about 5 years ago (was a choral tenor during high school and college years) after a verrrrry long hiatus trying to build a career/make a living, Then one night, I found myself at the church choir room asking to join in. Started as a bass because at the time it seemed less "exposed". However, it wasn't long before I noticed that after every service, and choir practice, my throat was a little sore, and my voice seemed "foggy". After a couple of years, I found a voice teacher. That was three years ago. She was wonderful, a coluratura soprano, former soloist for the Roger Wagner Chorale. Our first two years were spent undoing a lifetime of my bad habits. Surprise!--gradually, the range increased and my voice seemed to rise and acquire some ringy color, especially from g3-g4. But she seemed to be steering me into bass-hood. "There's more money in the low notes", she would tell me. "But I'm not singing for money", I would whine; and when I complained about still feeling sore after singing bass (by now I was in a respectable community choir), she told me I could learn to sing bass without becoming sore. "But I was a tenor before", I pleaded. "That was a long time ago" came the reply. So I sang baritone. But standing alongside the real basses and baritones with their marvelous rich, warm tones , I found my ear would automatically cause me to try to match timbre by "pressing" and more sore throats. I felt very discouraged.
After getting some advice from other singers, I decided it was time for a second opinion. Painfully, and with a strong feeling of insecurity, I decided to leave my first teacher and change to my current teacher. My new teacher is apparently very well-regarded in our area (Someone told me that two of his students were Met finalists). I know I'm not Met material, but I'm excited to have the opportunity to study with him. He has told me I am currently a high lyric baritone-low tenor; but that may change as my voice is still unsettled (even at my age!??) The director of our community chorus had already moved me to tenor-2. Finally, it's soooo goooood to sing, even for hours, and not be sore. This is a bit like reverse puberty!
Anyway, I apologize for this long post; and want to thank you all for how much you've already taught me.
GWendel
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