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From:  LYNDA313@a...
Date:  Mon Apr 17, 2000  6:09 pm
Subject:  Re: [vocalist-temporary] the "wrong" singing teacher?


In a message dated Mon, 17 Apr 2000 11:35:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Dre de
Man <dredeman@y...> writes:

>many of you - especially the teachers -
> probably cannot imagine how utterly frustrating it is
> to spend a lot of time and money on lessons and
> practising, and not to be able to make progress, and
> what is even worse, not to understand why, while
> people keep telling you 'you have such an easy voice'.
> Well, if someone with an easy voice can make such
> experiences, how would it have been with a 'difficult'
> voice?

I am teacher and singer, Dre, and I feel your frustration, but let me see if I
can give you some insight, which is probably what most of these teachers here
are trying to do for you. I had a teacher once who made me feel I could do
nothing. He had no words which spoke to me, no ways to explain so that I
understood, and when I did NOT understand, I felt that he labled me
incompetent, stupid, and a poor singer. Everything he said or modeled for me
was auditory. In other words, I had no written-out exercises nor vocalise
books, and I was so young and inexperienced that I did not know they could be
helpful. I had songs to learn, and THAT I could do, but the moment he began
saying, "NO -- make THIS sound", and I was a soprano and he a tenor, I could
not imitate him. In addition, I just could never sing those vocalises he would
sing for me. Years later,I was at a workshop for teachers, one which
illustrated the techniques necessary for teaching students who possessed
different!
learning styles (visual, auditory, tactile/kinesthetic), and I had a
revelation: My teacher was auditory, and I was more visual!!! All I needed was
to see some diagrams of the anatomy of the voice, and to see some notated
versions of the vocalises and vowels. All of a sudden I "discovered" vocalise
collections and vocal production books and diagrams, as well as IPA and much
insight. I learned that I was NOT stupid; I had just had the wrong teacher -- a
well-meaning teacher who liked my voice but who did not know how to talk to me
about its use. From that time on, I was able to HELP my teachers help ME.

I hope sincerely that you find the right teacher for you someday. As thrilling
as it is to sing away with a marvelous, empathetic accompanist, it is not the
same as studying. As wonderful as it may be to hear other singers and learn
from recordings (as we all do), that is only a part of a complete vocal
education.

I wish you all the best.

Sincerely,
Lynda Lacy,Soprano
Director of Choral Activities, Jackson Preparatory School,
Jackson, Mississippi USA


  Replies Name/Email Yahoo! ID Date Size
877 Re: the "wrong" singing teacher? Jocelyn Gooch   Mon  4/17/2000   3 KB

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