I have a rehearsal this morning. Next month I am going to be singing the full Britten Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings, of which did I did a portion last November, and it requires some serious rehearsal. This is not a piece for the casual Tenor Dad. And since Edward’s preschool ended last week, […]
Category Archives: Singing
How to Sing When You’re Nervous
I know how to sing when I am sick. Many people tell me. “Oh, I’m not feeling well today. I can’t sing. I have a cold.” But the truth is, professional singers often don’t have that luxury. I would have to be preeeeeety sick to cancel a performance. But the thing is, being sick doesn’t […]
How ADHD Can Affect a Singing Career
My regular readers, along with anyone who has ever met me for more than three seconds, is aware that I am somewhat afflicted with ADHD, and that it often wreaks havoc on my personal life, in terms of general distractability, forgetfulness, and bouncing hypersplosions. But what many of you may not realize is the toll […]
Watchers and Doers, Sitters and Singers
In any arts organization that provides some sort of live production (and probably those that don’t), there is a constant struggle to fill the seats with more butts. For financial reasons, ticket sales are important. For spiritual reasons, audience cultivation gives one a sense of purpose and the hope that perhaps one is not wasting […]
My First Voice Lesson
Today I finished up my first year of teaching voice at an official college. Last night two of my students sang in a recital, and this morning, between hospital drop off and pick up times for my son, I taught my last lessons of the semester. Now that I am on the other side of […]
If You Can’t Understand the Words, You Won’t Enjoy It
Iway eednay otay ieflybray iscussday otway ingsthay erehay odaytay. Ethay irstfay, isway ictionday. Ingerssay. Easeplay enunciateway enwhay ouyay areway ingingsay! Ifway eoplepay areway ugglingstray otay understandway ethay ordsway atthay ouyay areway attemptingway otay ommunicatecay, eythay illway otnay ebay ableway ableway otay aypay attentionway otay ethay essagemay ehindbay osethay ordsway. Away ustratedfray audienceway isway anway unhappyway […]
How to Shave During a Concert
Being the attention-loving, extroverted, fame-whore that I am, the center of attention is often where I like to be, so it only stands to reason that some of my stupider ideas have spawned from a need to shock and awe whomever I happen to be with. Perhaps you know this about me already, and so […]
A Few Thoughts on Pink, Pharrell, Bette Midler, and Adele Dazeem
Sunday night, as I invented a new dessert, a group of friends sat around my apartment and watched the 86th Academy Awards. This year, there were a lot of things that people were not able to complain about. The orchestra generally did not cut people’s speeches short. The “filler” segments were kept to a minimum. […]
It Runs in the Family
Though I admit the sound was not very good (turn your speakers way up!), you have already heard my daughter sing a little when I posted her version of “Frozen Heart.” I love hearing her sing, and taking after her old Dad (not to discount the good musicianship and musical influences of Tenor Mom!). But […]
How Important is This Rehearsal?
There is a classic, unanswerable question that seems to constantly be flowing from someone’s lips on the day of almost every rehearsal. I’m not pointing fingers here, because this is not confined to one person; it’s more of an epidemic. But last week, a few hours before choir rehearsal, I got a message from one […]