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
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