--- Dre de Man <dredeman@y...> wrote:
> Well Jennifer, I did something else a few months ago
> (and I know that everybody is going to jump at me,
> but
> since you asked): I stopped taking singing lessons,
> started practising with a very good pianist. I also
> record every minute I sing (about 60 a day),
> especially when singing with my pianist. I should
> add
> to that, that my recordings are quite profesional,
> and
> that I have very good speakers.
> Believe it or not, but since then my singing
> improved
> greatly. One example: I can sing now a complete
> program of 50 minutes continuous singing (Schubert,
> Schumann & Mozart songs) without tiring my voice,
> something I certainly could not do before.
> I finally have a good support, my legato is better,
> my
> voice is bigger, my diction is much better, my high
> notes are, my jaw is finally relaxed (I thinks that
> is
> where it all started) and my tongue is where it
> should
> be.
> But the most important thing: practising with my
> pianist makes me happy, because I am making music,
> instead of being told: 'this is not right and that
> is
> not ok and so so on'. Singing the Mozart songs did
> more good to me than all those terrible exercises.
> (of
> course hsi aria's are great as well, e.g. Il mio
> tesoro).
> And to become really naughty or nasty: I hate
> exercies! I am so happy I don't have to do them
> anymore! That stupid humming! You feel like a cow! I
> have honestly never learned anything from exercises.
> I
> think they are only good for a teacher, because with
> an exercise it is easy to hear what somebody does
> wrong. I can tell you, that I do a lot wrong when
> singing an exercise, I don't do wrong when singing
> the
> exact same notes in a piece. At home I have an
> interview with a very succesful tenor, that thinks
> the
> same, I forgot his name, but is he from some
> Latin-American country. I will qoute from it in my
> next mail.
> Despite all that: Of course, you will be right;
> somewhere out there should be somebody that could
> teach me a lot, since I also learned a lot from Mr.
> Hansons remarks. But for the moment, I must say, I
> am
> very happy not to have somebody that says: stand
> like
> that, look like that, breathe like this, and
> interpretate this song like I learned it. I must say
> that in the beginning I learned something from my
> teacher(s), and especially the last one was really
> nice.
> Maybe all this has also to do with the fact that I
> have an easy voice, I am a light lyrical tenor with
> easy high notes, but strangely enough with easy low
> notes as well and with a not too small voice, so if
> I
> just relax, support and keep my tongue in the right
> place, it already sounds quite nice.
>
> I will try to qoute from the interview this evening
> (European time)
> I hope I did not offend anybody, but not all people
> are the same, maybe I am just somebody that does not
> benefit much from singing lessons, somebody whose
> only
> option it is to find it out himself.
>
> Happy singing,
>
Well Dre,
You did need to get that off your chest! You may well
be right, who knows. I'm sorry that you've found your
singing lessons a chore! I've always loved mine even
if I was rubbish on a particular day!
However, the truth of the matter as far as I'm
concerned is that I firmly believe that in the end,
every student of singing teaches themselves; has too.
A teacher can only point a way, whether you are on
that wavelength or not is dependant on you the
student. Of course, being a teacher myself, I am
bound to say that another pair of ears, eyes etc are
useful, and hopefully the teacher should know more
than the student!
I hope you continue to enjoy your singing, and you
know, humming is very good for you!!!
Best wishes,
Ian Belsey. voice technician, Bromley, Kent, England
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