“I Want Magic!”
It’s a line from Andre Previn’s operatic adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire; Blanche cries, “I want magic!” How many of us, as performances and spectators yearn for that magic …
Category: Articles
Singing with a Cold
I once went to a vocal recital at which the singer — a fairly big name in classical singing — apologized to her audience that she was fighting a …
Play better scales on classical guitar
Many classical guitarists find that to play better scales on classical guitar, that is, clear, fluid, and very fast scales, is something unattainable, something that only a few great players can …
When You Feel Like a Balloon, You’re Doing It Right
Air compression is essential for achieving a consistent, legitimate singing voice, and it should never be confused with tension or pushing air. How does one sing at all if …
Best age to start voice lessons
What is the best age to start voice lessons? Is it ever too late to start? I believe that anyone can learn to sing, at any age. I began …
The Importance of Singing Jazz: Part I
In 1987, Congress passed H. Con. Res. 57 (aka “HR-57”), an official act to declare Jazz a uniquely American musical art form and to protect and preserve its significance, …
Can I Increase My Vocal Range?
New singers often ask me, “Can I increase my vocal range?” Asking this question is like a new runner asking, Can I run 5 miles one day? How about …
Sing Without Tension
Problems with holding a pitch, lack of overtones, difficulty sustaining phrases: these are just a few examples of potential tension in a singer. There are so many ways a …
Are you practicing or performing?
Performing music is sometimes compared to an Olympic sport. You not only have to perform at your best, but you have only one chance of getting it right at …
Parents’ guide to music lessons
Research shows that children enrolled in music lessons perform on average 34 percent better in IQ tests and one to two grades better in math and reading, with the …