How much to tell your students about the voice

Op-ed

Our style of learning may not suit our student, so sometimes we over explain technical concepts not because we're wrong, but because it loses our student. If you ever find yourself wondering why one student seems to understand an explanation perfectly well and another doesn't, this might be why.

The anxious singer: 10 tips to help with anxiety

Op-ed

This is why I have written down my Top 10 Tips for dealing with an anxiety disorder as a singer: to give a little bit of help to those who, like me, deal with anxiety on a daily basis, and also their colleagues/family/support system who wish to understand them a little better.

The flip side of the baby opera singer coin

Op-ed

What if instead of considering this some sort of bastardization of great art, you were to look at it as some sort of pop inspired by opera? What if you recognize that popular songs tend to get covered in any genre — as well as across genres — and that this is actually a part of our classical heritage also, even if we rarely celebrate it?

Talking opera & mythology with the TFCO

Op-ed

Day led us through a survey of the similarities between the two subjects. He explained the idea of the sword as mystical icon, how the sword embedded in stone had its roots in Norse mythology, as Odin stuck his sword in the family tree and said only he who could remove it would rule. The dragon slaying, the underdog being worthy, etc., they are all related to the same source material.

The score: how to see what a composer sees

Op-ed

What if, like the composer, you could look at the score as an output instead of an input? That is, instead of taking the score and making it sound, you take sound and make it into a score. And what if you could get a glimpse into the composer's relationship with the score, even as someone who has no inclination to compose?

What the eff is a Zarzuela, anyway?

Op-ed

A sparrow hawk is known in the wild for stealing the chicks of other birds from their nests. This Zarzuela tells the story of Juan, a man who left his poor fishing village in search of adventure and fortune in Peru. He returns twenty years later a millionaire - and that's when things get sticky. He agrees to marry Rosaura, a young maiden in the village who happens to be in love with Gustavo (the only guy in the village who's paid off his debts), and takes her from the young man's arms. See the metaphor?

Inspiration: seeing it for oneself

Op-ed

It's funny how imagination is strengthened by experience. Here in Britain, we've seen grassy hills, greener than ever seemed possible in real life, and populated with the cutest, shaggiest sheep you've ever seen. The Thames river is a heavy, looming landmark that's rarely blue, and it swerves and veers through the middle of London in a way that's unmistakable on a map.

The orchestra problem: should they smile more?

Op-ed

The necessities of large-scale concerts like these are a reality; bodies need to be shuffled, chairs need to be added, and tuning needs to happen. But, why ignore the listeners during any of this? There's a difference between a relaxed environment, and one that ignores the fact that they're performers. Onstage housekeeping is the perfect opportunity for musicians to communicate with their listeners, and prove that they're human beings as well as talented artists. Talk to them, guys!

Gimmicks & tactics: discouraging the new

Op-ed

What Christiansen calls gimmicks and tactics, we call creativity. In the case of ROH's Lucia, we clearly loved it, so on this particular point, we simply differ in opinion. There are "concept" productions that have fallen flat for us, too, so we're not out to blindly promote the wild, anything-goes ideas of today's directors. But to condemn creativity and attempts at novelty as Christiansen does is shameful.

Power plays and crossing lines

Op-ed

So, it comes down to an imbalance of power, and a blurry line between standing up for oneself and pissing off someone who can give an artist a serious leg up in their career. People who take advantage of their power within a competitive industry aren't good people - that's simple. And it's only fair to point out that the majority of people with whom I've worked have passed The Dad Test with flying colours.