December performances

Tis the season for lots of holiday concerts! Here’s what your fellow students are up to in December, plus a few other fun shows:

Saturday, December 12th, 4 pm
The Gift of Music holiday recital
Music Center Recital Hall
Come hear Lexi Hagans, Achil Jackson and many other Music Center students sing holiday favorites old and new.

Saturday, December 12th, 8 pm
The Esoterics present CHIAROSCURA
St. Joseph’s Cathedral, 18th and Aloha
Hear an unforgettable program of choral music, featuring the rarely-performed Concerto for Mixed Chorus by Alfred Schnittke.

Saturday, December 12th, 7:30 pm
Northwest Chamber Chorus presents Comfort and Joy
Greenlake United Methodist Church
Deon Miyoi is a member of NWCC and their holiday program looks fantastic.

*****
Sunday, December 13th, 6:30 pm
Messiah Sing/Playalong
St. John’s United Church, 55th and Phinney
Warm up those “Hallelujahs” and celebrate the season by participating as a singer or instrumentalist in Music Center’s annual sing and play along of the Christmas portion of Handel’s masterpiece. Please bring a food or cash donation for the FamilyWorks food bank.

Sunday, December 13th, 3 pm
The Esoterics present CHIAROSCURA
Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 4139 42nd Ave SW (West Seattle)

*****
Wednesday, December 16th, 7 pm
Ensemble Class Concert
Come see Janessa, Jonathan, Arlene, Barbara, Achil, Donnie and many more Music Center voice students as they present an evening of scenes from opera, musical theater and the choral catalogue. This is a MUST-SEE event!

*****
Saturday, December 19th, 8 pm
Seattle Women’s Chorus presents Making Spirits Bright
Meany Hall, UW Campus
Arlene Havlark and the rest of the amazing SWC singers will knock your socks off at their annual holiday concert.

Sunday, December 20th, 2 pm
Seattle Women’s Chorus presents Making Spirits Bright
Meany Hall, UW Campus

*****
December 4-21, Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 8 pm
PIECES (The Authors Voice and Salome)
TPS Theatre 4, Seattle Center
Janessa Cummings Penn is currently starring in a one-woman show! The full description is available at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/81566; please note that the production may not be appropriate for children under 17.

Also, congratulations to Barbara Leigh on her November concert with Seattle Bach Choir and to Halle Townes who has been cast as Mrs. Potts in Ingraham High’s production of Beauty and the Beast. I love to see so many students involved in the community arts scene! If you’re not performing but would like to be, talk to me at your next lesson about preparing for auditions.

A prescription...for dehydration

An entertaining article (with recipe) from the November 22 Sunday Styles...

Shaken & Stirred

Barkeep, a Placebo on the Rocks, Please

By JONATHAN MILES

Published: November 22, 2009

Bartenders, normally dispensers of pleasure, have lately been playing doctor behind the bar.

My favorite tidbit:

Consider the Flu Shot, a drink on the menu at Drop Off Service, a bar on Avenue A in Manhattan. It’s a mixture of garlic-infused honey, jalapeño-infused tequila, orange-lemon-ginger purée and a few drops of liquid echinacea. The Flu Shot — which is meant to be slugged, not sipped — sounds like a cheeky gimmick. But its creator, Signe Grant, is earnest.

“You’ve got your vitamin C in there, and the garlic is an antiviral, and the ginger is also an antiviral and an immunity booster,” she said. Ms. Grant is also the creator of another remedy, the Throat Coat, in which honey-and-pepper-infused vodka and B&B, a French liqueur, are combined in a snifter with a spoonful of honey. This one is meant for sipping, and is tasty enough for taking with symptoms or without — which is decidedly more than one can say about Robitussin.

I hate to judge before tasting, but I think The Flu Shot might work simply because after you drink it no one will come near you. These bartenders' hearts are in the right place, but if you're a singer coming down with a cold, drinking alcohol is generally a bad idea. Have as much garlic, vitamin C, honey or echinacea as you want - just hold the liquor till you're healthy.

On Staying Healthy

Fall and winter in Seattle seem to sneak up on us every year - the leaves change color, the air turns crisp, the rain begins...and within a week or so half the city is sick. I was just hit with the flu 2 weeks ago, and now the crud is making its way through the school, causing missed lessons and lingering coughs that make singing (or even walking up the stairs) a difficult task.

Living in a city that is damp for over half the year makes it nearly impossible to completely avoid illness; however, as singers we rely on our voices and really can't afford to be sick at any time. The best thing we can do is take preventive measures to lessen the chance of catching a virus and make sure we're in the best overall health possible. Most of these measures are pretty standard: maintain a healthy diet (lots of green vegetables, not too much junk), drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, wash your hands often, get enough sleep. Seriously, I can't stress enough the importance of getting enough sleep!

Every once in a while, though, you can feel something coming on. Is it a cold or just allergies? Do I need to drink more water or is my throat dry because I'm getting sick? For these occasions, I have a few favorite homeopathic tricks up my sleeve.

**Please note that these are observations based on my own experience and are not a substitute for professional medical advice. I recommend that you visit your primary care physician before embarking on a treatment plan, and always check to make sure that the remedy you choose does not conflict with any of your current medications.

Favorite over-the-counter cold/cough remedies

When I feel a cold or sore throat coming on, I swear by Anti - V Formula. It contains a potent form of echinacea along with astralagus root and reishi mushroom, and it tastes disgusting. But it really works for me, and has stopped many a cold before it started. (Couldn't stop the flu though.) I first took it two years ago when I had a throat infection that wouldn't go away; within a day and a half of taking this every 3 hours, it was gone. Love it!

Singer's Saving Grace is a natural throat spray that can really help with dry, scratchy throat. The mint flavor tastes sort of like Aveda products smell, but it makes my throat feel much happier and I'll put up with a lot of funny tastes for that.

If you've already got a cold, Umcka can help shorten the duration; I have several students who have great success with this product. If you decide to use it I'd recommend getting the alcohol-free drops so you don't get too dried out.

Sometimes you just need a lozenge. My new favorites are Halls Vitamin C drops and Ricola Honey-Herb, but I'm pretty fickle. Find your favorite flavor and keep a stash with you.

For more homeopathic remedies to help with sinus congestion, visit my March blog post about allergy remedies for singers. Whether it's allergies or a cold, the sinus pain and remedies are pretty much the same.

Sometimes you just get sick and there's nothing to be done about it but let the virus run its course. If this happens to you, do everyone a favor and stay home! No one wants to get sick because you were so dedicated to your rehearsal, lesson or class that you couldn't stay away. Take the time to care for yourself, watch some bad TV, get well and come back when you're healthy.

The Voice Box recommends

A selective listing of vocal performances 11/6 - 11/8:

Balagan Theatre presents The Full Monty

From MTI:

Seeing how much their wives enjoy watching male strippers during their "Girls' Night Out," unemployed steelworkers in Buffalo, New York come up with a bold way to make some quick cash. In the process they find renewed self-esteem, the importance of friendship and the ability to have fun.

Based on the 1997 film of the same name.


The Full Monty
Balagan Theatre
Friday, November 6th - 8 pm
Saturday, November 7th - 8 pm
Sunday, November 8th - 2 pm
Tickets $12 - 20, available at brownpapertickets.com

*****
Tacoma Opera presents The Daughter of the Regiment

From Tacoma Opera:

Boys meets girl. Boy sings a bunch of high notes. Boy loses girl. Girl sings a bunch of high notes. Boy gets girl. Everyone lives happily ever after.

This comedy about a young woman raised by a French regiment is that simple, that sweet, and that utterly delightful.

The Daughter of the Regiment
Tacoma Opera
Friday, November 6th - 8 pm
Sunday, November 8th - 2 pm
Tickets $12.50 - 62.00, call 253-627-7789

*****
Tacoma Little Theatre presents Lend Me A Tenor
LAST WEEKEND

From TLT:

It’s 1934 Cleveland. Saunders, the general manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, is expecting Tito Morelli, the greatest tenor of his generation, to appear for one night only as Otello. Through a hilarious series of comic mishaps, two Otellos end up running around in costume with two women chasing them in lingerie. For ages 13 and older.

Lend Me A Tenor
Tacoma Little Theatre
Friday, November 6th - 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 7th - 2 pm (Actor Benefit), 7:30 pm
Sunday, November 8th - 2 pm
Tickets $16 - 24, call 253-272-2281

Catching up

Whew! The end of October really flew by, and between coachings, dress rehearsals and recitals (congratulations to all the participants!), there wasn't much time for blogging. Getting back into the groove, though - check back this week for a post about staying healthy during the raging cold & flu season, as well as the latest edition of The Voice Box Recommends. In the meantime, enjoy this intriguing version of my favorite autumn song. Iggy proves that it's not how great a singer you are, it's how you deliver the song that counts.

Obama On My Mind

This Thursday Seattle's Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center will begin previews for their US premiere of the topical musical Obama On My Mind, written by London-based expat Teddy Hayes.

From Hayes' website:

OBAMA ON MY MIND is a musical comedy about a peculiar group of Obama campaign workers in a small American town and how these weird and humorous characters panic when Sarah Palin comes into the presidential race causing Obama to fall 20 points behind in the national polls.

This is a musical in the style of classic American musicals like “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum”, “Damned Yankees” and “The Music Man”, with lots of energetic dancing, catchy songs and great fun.

The soundtrack ranges from pop to gospel to soft rock bringing together a cast of 11 loyal, obsessive and plain peculiar personalities striving to get their man into the white house.

In a statement given to Broadway World, LHPAC Artistic Director Jacqueline Moscou said, "In the arts, opportunity is often fleeting and timing is everything. The election of Barack Obama was an historic moment in American history and resonated around the globe. This cross-Atlantic artistic collaboration with a Black American living in London is current and needs to be presented now. Like last season's Bobbie & Jerome, Obama on My Mind continues my commitment to seek out new voices and present new works. And I am thrilled to have cast this show entirely from within the Seattle community."

The show ran March 5 - 21 in London; most of the reviews I found didn't mince words, calling it "opportunistic even at its most syrupy"(The Guardian) and noting that there were "chances missed to give the hard-working cast more substantial characters."(Times Online) A common complaint in the reviews I read was that the characters were reduced to broad stereotypes. MusicOMH reviewer Sam Smith was kinder, observing that Obama On My Mind was "strong on characterisation." He added that "certainly, by the end, I doubt there was a single audience member who didn't emerge singing the catchy title song to themselves." (You can hear the title song for yourself at Hayes' website, sung by the gifted Ruby Turner - whether it's the song or her voice, there's no arguing that it is a catchy tune.)

I'll probably see this show for a few reasons: it's the US premiere; I firmly believe in supporting local theater; and after reading the London reviews I'm just plain curious.

Obama On My Mind
Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center
Previews October 15 - 22
Show runs October 23 - November 15
Showtime at 7:30 pm (10/24, 10/31, 11/7 at 2 pm)
$5 - 22.00
Tickets available at Brown Paper Tickets

Reviews of the London performance:
Guardian
The Londonist
MusicOMH
Times Online

The Voice Box recommends

Neighborhood festivals combine two of my favorite things: food and music, both prepared and shared with a love for the community that inspired them. Here's what's cookin' this weekend (9/25 - 9/27):


St. Demetrios Greek Festival
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2100 Boyer Ave E
Friday, September 25th, 12 - 9 pm
Saturday, September 26th, 10:30 am - 9 pm
Sunday, September 27th, 12 - 7 pm

Souvlaki, spanikopita, gyros, moussaka...are you hungry yet? Admission is free but bring plenty of cash for all the food you'll want to eat. After you grab your first plate, have a seat and enjoy the traditional Greek music and dancing.

*****

Wallingford Wurst Festival
St. Benedict School, 48th and Wallingford
Friday, September 25th, 4 - 10 pm
Saturday, September 26th, 11 am - 10 pm

Mmm...bratwurst and sauerkraut. Or grilled salmon and fried sweet corn if you prefer (but why would you when there's bratwurst to be had?). Also, lots of great local music including Portage Bay Big Band and Klez Katz!

*****

Music Back on Jackson Street
Flo Ware Park, 28th and Jackson
Sunday, September 27th, 12 - 5 pm

What a perfect way to spend a Sunday: a free concert in the park with a special musical tribute to John Coltrane. Plus there will be barbecue and a dunk-a-cop booth - love it.

Recital wrap-up 9/20/09

Whenever I watch my students perform, I try to listen with a neutral ear so I can give honest feedback if it's requested. Still, every once in a while I can't help but wonder if my reaction will be more like the mom in Bride and Prejudice during the "Cobra Dance":



Okay, I'm probably not quite that bad! But I definitely feel a sense of pride for my students and the work that they've put into their performances. Last night that feeling was especially warranted as Achil Jackson gave an impressive solo voice and composition recital. For the 45-minute program, she prepared 14 songs, including one solo and three ensemble pieces of her own composition. Jeremiah Oliver accompanied as Achil sang her way through a variety of musical genres and styles, with songs themed around the sun, moon and stars. Fellow students Arlene Havlark and Barbara Leigh lent their voices to the recital for the duet and trios that Achil had composed, and the three blended beautifully on the final two a cappella pieces.

Congratulations to Achil on an outstanding achievement, and thanks to everyone who participated and attended!

(And yes, this post was an awesome excuse to share that clip.)

Opera in the news

Two fun articles about opera in the NYT yesterday, one about the young American soprano Danielle DeNiese and another that provides an entertaining look inside the world of Ring enthusiasts (with special attention paid to Seattle Opera).

Magazine
Opera’s Coolest Soprano
By CHIP BROWN
Published: September 20, 2009
Danielle de Niese sings at Covent Garden, tops the iTunes classical-music chart and is about to marry opera royalty, but she isn’t above flexing her voice to the beat of Beyoncé.


Travel
If It’s Tuesday, It Must Be ‘Siegfried’
By HENRY ALFORD
Published: September 20, 2009
Wagner’s “Ring,” a towering blend of music and myth, continues to send a certain breed of operagoer in quest of the next performance.

TVBR: Another op'nin, another show

Lots to choose from this weekend in the local musical theatre department...let's get started!

The Secret Garden
Driftwood Players
Wade James Theatre, Edmonds
September 11 - October 4

I may be slightly biased since I'm in this show, but it's lovely. Beautiful songs, two amazing children, a tragic love story with an uplifting finale...they're all here. We opened last weekend and the show runs through October 4th. Contact me or become a fan of the show on Facebook to get the friends and family discount code!

Read the review from The Enterprise here.

*****

The Producers
Seattle Musical Theatre
Building 47, Magnuson Park
September 18 - October 4

One of my favorite things about SMT is that they provide study guides for their shows. These guides move beyond mere entertainment and encourage audience members to think about the larger societal issues that are being examined through the lens of musical theatre. The trivia, history and suggested activities for further study are sure to enhance your enjoyment of this hilarious musical satire.

*****
Chasing Nicolette
Village Theatre
Francis J. Gaudette Theatre, Issaquah
September 17 - October 25


Village Theatre has done a great job preparing the audience for this new musical, providing a production preview guide (available as a Word document, visit the show page for access) that contains the plot synopsis and content. You can also find a few song samples on the show page.

*****

Spotlight Night: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and White Christmas
5th Avenue Theatre
1308 5th Avenue, Downtown Seattle
September 20th - 3:00 pm

Spotlight Night events, free to the public, are an informative look behind the scenes of musical theatre productions and a great way to get a taste of upcoming performances (oh, and did I mention they're FREE?). This Sunday's performance will showcase Joseph, which opens October 10th, and the holiday favorite White Christmas which opens November 28th.

Upcoming choral auditions

From the Seattle Times' callboard:

Cantare Vocal Ensemble is seeking two tenors and one bass for its 40-member chorus. To schedule an audition, call 206-367-5667 or email mark.adrian@comcast.net.
More info at www.nwassociatedarts.org/cantare/

The Voice Box recommends-Bumbershoot edition

This is the first time in 4 years that I won't be attending all 3 days of Bumbershoot, due to tech week rehearsals. Am I bitter? Only a little...but it will be totally worth it when opening weekend hits and I know what I'm doing.

Here's where I'll be Saturday and where I would be Sunday and Monday. If you can only go one day I think Sunday looks the best. Hey Marseilles, Cold War Kids, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, U.S.E. and The Helio Sequence? That's a perfect day right there.

More info at www.bumbershoot.org.

Saturday, September 5th
11:00 am - The Seattle/Moscow Poster Show (NW Rooms)
12:00 pm - F Is For Food (Literary Arts)
1:30 pm - The Goldberg Variations (Performing Arts),
The Not-Its (NW Court)
2:30 pm - Natalie Portman's Shaved Head (Broad Street)
3:30 pm - Best of SIFF Award Winners (1 Reel Film Festival)
4:30 pm - Flatstock (Fisher Pavilion)
6:30 pm - The Whore Moans (Sky Church)
7:45 pm - The Old 97s (Mainstage), UH HUH HER (Broad Street)
9:30 pm - Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground (Sky Church),
The Long Winters (Broad Street)

Sunday, September 6th
11:00 am - Snack Bar (NW Rooms)
12:45 pm - Hey Marseilles (Broad Street)
1:00 pm - Cold War Kids (Mainstage),
Central Services Board of Education (NW Court)
1:30 pm - The Dusty 45s (Mural Amphitheatre)
2:45 pm - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Mainstage),
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band (Broad Street)
4:15 pm - U.S.E. (Broad Street)
5:00 pm - Sera Cahoone (Mural Amphitheatre)
5:45 pm - Common Market (Fisher Green)
7:00 pm - Aussie vs. Kiwi (1 Reel Film Festival)
7:15 pm - Michael Franti and Spearhead (Mainstage)
9:30 pm - The Helio Sequence (Broad Street)

Monday, September 7th
11:00 am - Kerfuffle (NW Rooms)
12:15 pm - Dept. of Energy (Sky Church)
12:45 pm - Visqueen (Broad Street)
1:30 pm - Recess Monkey (NW Court),
The Minus 5 (Mural Amphitheatre)
1:45 pm - Point Juncture, WA (Sky Church)
2:30 pm - Say Hi (Broad Street)
4:00 pm - The New Mastersounds (Fisher Green)
5:00 pm - Champagne Champagne (Sky Church)
5:30 pm - Made In Seattle (1 Reel Film Festival)
6:45 pm - The Cave Singers (Mural Amphitheatre)
7:30 pm - Vieux Farka Touré (Fisher Green)
7:45 pm - Franz Ferdinand (Mainstage)
9:30 pm - Metric (Broad Street)

Things that make you go hmm...

For those of you who wonder about how to attain vibrato, here's a well-crafted answer from yesterday's Science Times:

Q & A

Trills and Thrills

By C. CLAIBORNE RAY

Published: September 1, 2009

Why do some people’s singing voices have more vibrato than others? Can it be taught?

The Voice Box recommends

A selective listing of performances for the weekend of August 28-30:

Das Barbecü

From the ACT website:

Seattle Opera originally commissioned this comic adaptation of Wagner's Ring Cycle in 1991. This year, The Ring returns – and so, lest we take it too seriously, does Das Barbecü. It's a lightning-paced musical that grafts Teutonic myth onto Texas twang. Big hair, big hats, and wonderful music – including an infectious ode to guacamole and a tender ditty entitled "Hog Tie Your Man" – make this show a blast for opera buffs and anybody who just loves a good time.

"The delicious fun of Das Barbecü is the deadpan way it superimposes the weirdest ancient Germanic lore onto a batch of down-home, straight-shootin' folk." —The Seattle Times

Friday, August 28th - 8:00 pm
Saturday, August 28th - 8:00 pm
Sunday, August 30th - 2:00 pm
The Falls Theatre at ACT

*****

The Wedding Sangers

From the ACT website:

Join country-tonk favorites Purty Mouth for The Weddin' Sangers, a Das Barbecü companion show that celebrates in song the dysfunction and redemption lurking at the heart of the modern American wedding.

Every Friday and Saturday, directly after Das Barbecü, The Weddin' Sangers will give you an hour of music and laughs from Purty Mouth and special guests.

Each weekend will feature a new theme, inspired by the shenanigans in Das Barbecü. Purty Mouth has been performing in Seattle for most of a decade; their unique take on country and pop music is dialed in from a universe where Brokeback Mountain sits comfortably alongside John Wayne.

Saturday, August 29th - 10:30 pm
The Bullitt Theatre at ACT

*****

The Ring not your thing? Head over to The Triple Door and check out the lovely pop/jazz harmonies of Les Nubians.

From their MySpace page:

Grammy Nominated international recording artists Les Nubians have intrigued audiences for almost a decade with their inventive and glamorous Afropean style. This distinctive sound embodies the timeless vibrations of Miriam Makeba, Ella Fitzgerald, Doudou N'diaye Rose, Fela Kuti, Edith Piaf, The Fugees, and Soul II Soul.

Recognized for their colorful auras, Les Nubians' vogue is a fusion of Funkin' Fashion and Modern Amazon. Adoring fans pay tribute to the French/Cameroonian sister duo for their continuous flow of jazzy nuances, hard hitting drum ‘n' bass lines, harmonious melodies, conscious proclamations and humanitarian endeavors.

Friday, August 28th - 7:30 pm, 10:30 pm
The Triple Door

Upcoming choral auditions

From the Seattle Times callboard:

Bellevue Chamber Chorus will hold auditions for singers in all voice parts on Sep 1. To schedule an audition call 425-881-0445 or visit www.bellevuechamberchorus.net.

ChoralSounds Northwest is holding auditions for new members.
To schedule an audition call 206-246-6040 or visit www.nwassociatedarts.org.

Master Chorus Eastside is holding auditions in all voice parts.
To schedule an audition call 425-392-8446 or visit www.masterchoruseastside.org.

Rainier Youth Choirs is offering auditions by appointment on Aug 27.
For more information, call 206-835-888 or visit www.rainieryouthchoirs.org.

Is It Over Yet?

I've always found that the perceived length of an opera is directly proportional to my level of interest in it; looks like Anthony Tommasini feels the same way. His article on the perception of time in opera is a fun read. He also seems to be trying to send a message to John Adams and Peter Sellars. I have to confess that I stopped watching the broadcast of their most recent work, Doctor Atomic, less than halfway through because I found the dramatic momentum so lacking as to be stagnant. I know I'll give it another chance at some point (and I LOVED the many-storied set piece for the chorus), but I agree wholeheartedly with Tommasini's last thought:

...a similarly gifted composer working in musical theater, especially during the glory days of yore, would have had directors and producers standing around during rehearsals shouting at him: “That song for the girl is too long. You gotta cut it by half!”

Mozart and Verdi had to deal with such people. And their operas are the better for it.

Music

An Opera Can Take Its Time, or Yours

By ANTHONY TOMMASINI

Published: August 25, 2009

The perception of time in music can be very subjective, and this is especially true in opera.

Letters, we've got letters

I read two letters in the NYTimes Magazine this past week that I thought were worth sharing:

Michael Pollan’s article reminded me of just how embedded Julia Child is in the American consciousness, even beyond her intended audience. As a voice teacher, I was feverishly trying to push one of my 20-year-old students to attain the right position on a certain vowel. After I demonstrated for the 50th time, she exclaimed, “You sound just like Julia Child!” After that, I simply asked the student for more Julia Child or sometimes less of her, and she knew exactly what I was talking about. I then tried it on several other students, always with excellent results. Out of the kitchen, onto the opera stage.

JULIAN RODESCU
Philadelphia

This cracked me up, because I have used Julia Child as an example more times than I can remember to help students find vowel positions - usually it helps with an "oo" vowel, but it's also helpful for feeling the open throat and forward, easy vowel position you get if you just relax (harder to do than it sounds, especially when someone is telling you, "Relax!").

Michael Pollan’s article was particularly fascinating in describing how we as a people have delegated cooking activities to others, reducing ourselves to the role of observers and suffering the losses. This sadly continues a progression that has been seen in two other areas of American culture — music and sports — with similar effects.

Broadly, we gave up making music to listen to others do it for us. In our more rural heritage, families and groups gathered around and played enthusiastically and with varying levels of talent, but nonetheless played together as active social groups. Now we pay others to play as we sit and listen, or we even play electronic games that reward pretending to play music. We pay financially and emotionally for sports too, where we pay professionals to play as we sit and watch; less and less often we go outside for a catch. We play video versions of sports now (again, pretendingto play) rather than the real activity, where we might benefit from the exercise and fresh air.

How long before we have a cooking video game called Super Mario’s Hell’s Kitchen?

DAVID VAN NOSTRAND
Oldsmar, Fla.

This letter is all the more interesting because of this week's main article, "While My Guitar Gently Beeps." I agree that in general we have become a nation of spectators rather than participants, particularly where music is concerned. It's part of the reason I continue to teach voice lessons - to help people break out of "spectator" mode and feel comfortable singing in front of others.

However, after having played the incredibly addictive Rock Band video game, I have to say that I think it's a positive development in terms of bringing people back to music participation. Yes, I understand that we're only pretending to play the instruments, but it still requires a sense of rhythm and spatial listening to play the game successfully. Additionally, it encourages singing with at least a basic sense of where the melody is headed, and as you move up the levels of difficulty you're required to have better pitch accuracy, rhythm, and dexterity with both lyrics and melody. But the best part in my opinion is that it gets people out of the mode of watching and judging (a la American Idol), and into actually doing something. No, it's not a substitute for taking guitar lessons or joining a choir, but it does bring family and friends together in the enjoyment of music. Plus, it's just a ridiculously fun game.

On a side note, there is a version of Super Mario Hell's Kitchen. It's called Cooking Mama and if you mess up Mama's eyes turn into fireballs. It's pretty awesome.

Want to share your own experience with video games and music, or just want to talk about how fabulous Julia Child was? Head to the comments section!

Read Michael Pollan's article here.
Read Daniel Radosh's article here.

Opera in 140 characters or less?

Not quite sure what to make of the Royal Opera House's idea to create an entire opera with compiled Twitter postings as the libretto...

From the NYTimes ArtsBeat:

Arts

ArtsBeat: The Twitter Opera and a Baseball Bat With Strings

By By Dave Itzkoff

Published: August 10, 2009

The Royal Opera House will produce a new work, called "The Twitter Opera," in which the libretto will be composed of short messages sent on the popular social network. Also: a violinist for the National Symphony Orchestra performs the national anthem using an electric violin made from a regulation bat.

A Remembrance

I have to apologize for my extended absence from the blog; the month of July was not a good one this year. My best friend Christine passed away July 18th after a 4 year battle with colon cancer. I was lucky enough to spend her last week with her, her other best friend Mandy, and her family in Nebraska, and was able to attend the funeral in Wisconsin as well. Thank you all for your support during this difficult time and for understanding when I had to cancel lessons.

Christine started a blog to chronicle her experience with cancer and chemotherapy that has helped thousands of people in similar situations; if you'd like to know more about her experience, feel free to visit and read. But Christine was not only a powerful advocate for colon cancer patients and survivors, she was also a grad student in the prestigious UCLA Public Health program, a wonderful friend, and an extremely talented actress with a deep love of musical theater. Two of her all-time favorite musicals were Cabaret and Gypsy, and in 2008 she was thrilled to see Patti LuPone perform the role of Mama Rose on Broadway.

This one's for you, Christine:




And here's a little Liza to remind us, as Christine would, to get out there and live!

The Voice Box recommends - Americana edition

A selective listing of performances for the weekend of July 10-12:

Moe and Aimee Bon Voyage Party
with The Starlings

Moe and Aimee played for our wedding reception cocktail hour as the amazing duo MoZo. Moe recently released her solo album, Blues Filter Through, and Aimee's band The Starlings are releasing their limited-edition EP tonight! I may be biased, but their music makes me really happy. Come out and support these two super cool gals (and of course their talented bandmates!).

Friday, July 10th - 9:00 pm
Conor Byrne Pub

*****

The Tallboys CD release party
with Slimpickins

From The Tallboys' website:

Based in Seattle, Washington, The Tallboys are a four piece old time string band well-versed in traditional fiddle tunes and mountain songs. They stay honest to their traditional inspirations, yet charge up their sound with a raw edge of gritty enthusiasm conjured from their years of street performing. The Tallboys consistently deliver exciting stage performances and hard-driving dance tunes.

We've listened to two members of The Tallboys nearly every Sunday for the past few years at the Ballard Farmers Market, and they're fantastic. Should be an excellent show.

Friday, July 10th - doors at 8:30 pm, show at 9:30 pm
Tractor Tavern

*****
No Depression Music Festival

From the No Depression website:

It's our great pleasure to announce the lineup for the first ever No Depression Festival, featuring Gillian Welch, Iron & Wine, Patterson Hood & the Screwtopians, Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter, Justin Townes Earle, Jessica Lea Mayfield, a Seattle roots-music all-star revue, and Zee Avi (see all scheduled set times).

8:45 - 9:45 Gillian Welch
7:25 - 8:25 Iron & Wine
6:05 - 7:05 Patterson Hood & The Screwtopians
5:00 - 5:45 Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter
4:00 - 4:45 Justin Townes Earle
3:00 - 3:45 Jessica Lea Mayfield
2:00 - 2:45 No Depression All Star Revue (featuring Star Anna, Sera Cahoone, Ian Moore, Zoe Muth, Mark Pickerel, Kristen Ward & members of the Maldives and North Twin backed by Jeff Fielder, Ty Bailie, Eric Eagle and Rebecca Young)
1:00 - 1:45 Zee Avi

Saturday, July 11th
Marymoor Park

Now that's devotion to your craft!

Full article here.

ArtsBeat: At the Royal Opera, Rosina Wears a Cast

By Anthony Tommasini

Published: July 8, 2009

The mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, who broke her leg Saturday onstage, performed in a cast at the Royal Opera House in London on Tuesday night.

Just Breathe

NPR's "Morning Edition" program featured a terrific piece on breathing this week. Allison Aubrey interviewed a soprano and her breathing coach, an Alexander Technique instructor. One of the many interesting excerpts:

If you've ever been in your car when suddenly the person in front of you slams on the brakes, the typical reaction is to gasp — taking a quick in breath.

"It's a natural response," says Edward Bilanchone, a long-time instructor of breath and movement using the Alexander Technique. The quick inhale brings more oxygen in and sets off a flood of hormones that heighten our senses and help us respond quickly. "It helps us survive."

The trouble comes when chronic stress sets in. Under stress, a lot of interactions start to feel like near-collisions. "It becomes a part of us and we never release out of it," says Bilanchone. When we're stressed we may cheat the exhale or even hold our breath for moments. As adults, we can develop these bad habits that interfere with the natural rhythm of breath.

"Babies breathe easily, softly," says Bilanchone. Their backs and bellies move as their diaphragms move. "It's just happening." [emphasis mine]

Babies breathe naturally because they don't know to do anything else. Unfortunately as we become older we become simultaneously more aware and more disconnected from our breath. We try not to breathe too loudly, or to let our bellies expand too much in the process. Budding dancers and athletes begin to breathe higher in their bodies to avoid side cramps. Employees stuck in cubicles breathe more shallowly or even hold their breath as they sit in meetings. Particularly in these modern times, when we spend large parts of our day in front of a computer or hunched over a desk, it's easy to develop poor breathing habits which over time begin to feel "normal."

The first thing I typically do with a new student is ask them to breathe. Often, as they inhale I see their shoulders rise and their belly move up and in. Not only is this way of breathing inefficient, it also creates tension in the upper body that makes singing more difficult. Yet because it has become a habit for them to breathe this way, when they try a diaphragmatic breath for the first time it feels strange, even wrong. I tell these students to go home and lie on the floor, couch or bed and just take a few breaths: when you're lying down, it feels natural to allow the belly to move up and down as you breathe. For some students I have even conducted part of the lesson with them singing while lying on their back.

Another good way to feel the diaphragm is to bend at the waist and place your hands on either side of the spine, just above the hips. Taking in a deep breath, students can feel the diaphragm expand against their hands as they inhale and feel it relax as they exhale. With these small movements, they start to become aware of how their body naturally breathes. Combining this breath with proper abdominal support while singing, students find that they are able to produce a fuller, clearer sound with little effort.

I wish I could say that after one breathing lesson students never forget, but I'd be lying. The reality is that just as poor breathing habits develop slowly over time, developing healthy, efficient breathing takes time and practice. It also helps to have a teacher or coach there to remind you. But then again, I think we can all use that reminder. It's no coincidence that there are so many t-shirts around town printed with that simple instruction: "Breathe."

Link to the article here.
Link to animated demonstration of the diaphragm here. (found on NPR site)
Information about the Alexander Technique here.

The Voice Box recommends

A selective listing of performances for the weekend of June 26-28:

mewithoutyou with
The Dear Hunter and
Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground

Go - you'll be glad you did.

Friday, June 26th - doors at 7 pm
all ages show
Neumos

*****
Timeout to Rock!
Seattle's First Annual Children's Music Festival
featuring:

Recess Monkey
Caspar Babypants (Chris Ballew of The Presidents)
The Not It's!
Board of Education

From the poster: "A day of kid friendly music with proceeds benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Association." More info at the excellent Zooglobble blog.

Saturday June 27th - 11:00 am
The Vera Project

*****
Toy Box Trio

From Toy Box Trio's MySpace page:

The Toy-Box Trio was founded in early 2007 by classical composer Harlan Glotzer while studying at Cornish College of the Arts. During Harlan's studies, he experimented with bringing different ensembles together. The Toy-Box Trio was born out of a search for an unlikely–yet musically functional–ensemble that would cause listeners to experience through-composed music in an entirely different way. The pairing of concertina, toy piano, and violoncello is reminiscent of the classical piano trio–a staple in chamber repertoire–but able to extend into the 21st century by creating a sonic landscape evocative of dusty old music boxes and haunted carnivals. The Toy-Box Trio is committed to approaching time worn ideas and concepts from unexpected, untraditional, and rarely used angles, as well as providing a light and fanciful sonic atmosphere.

Saturday, June 27th - 8:00 pm
Trabant Coffee and Chai

*****
The Esoterics present
CONSTANTINESCU
Paul Constantinescu Centennial

From The Esoterics' website:

Virtually unknown to audiences in America, Paul Constantinescu (1909-1963) was one of Romania’s most cherished composers. A master of orchestral and vocal genres, Constantinescu was foremost among his generation of artists; as he infused the demands of Western counterpoint into the eccentricities of his native folk art, he breathed a new nationalism into Romanian classical music. Constantinescu’s fascinating blend of sacred, poetic, and folk influences shines through in each of his choral works.

For this concert, The Esoterics will be joined by Romanian conductor Gabriel Dumitrescu and pianist Kevin Johnson, to perform all of Constantinescu’s compositions for chamber choir – including his setting of the orthodox liturgy, ten folksong settings, and four madrigals.

Saturday, June 27th - 8:00 pm
Holy Rosary Catholic Church
4139 42nd Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98116

Sunday 28 Jun 3:00 pm
St Joseph's Catholic Church
732 18th Avenue E
Seattle, WA 98112

C'est si bon...

If you're out and about on Capitol Hill tonight or tomorrow, stop by Julia's for drag chanteuse Arnaldo's tribute to Eartha Kitt, C'est si bon! Arnaldo is a consummate performer with a beautiful voice, and his latest show looks fabulous.

C'est Si Bon!
a Pride cabaret tribute to the one and only Eartha Kitt

Featuring Arnaldo!
Bob Bruneau, Musical Director
Kenny Coulter, Percussion

Tuesday, June 23
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Dinner seating 6pm; Show 7:30pm
Julia's, 300 Broadway E
$15 cover + 2 drink minimum with no dinner
Reservations available, call 206.334.0513
Purchase tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com
More information about Arnaldo! at www.dragchanteuse.com

Recital wrap-up 6/20/09

Congratulations to Achil, Arlene, Donna and Taryn who were fantastic in Sunday's student recital! I received many compliments about the caliber of preparation and performance by everyone on the program, and I have to say I wholeheartedly agree. It was a real treat to sit back and watch the fruition of all your hard work, and everyone looked so comfortable onstage. Thanks again for your contribution to a lovely evening of music.

If you didn't sing this time but would like to in the future, here's your chance. Shawna and I are planning a joint studio recital for October, so start thinking about what you might like to sing. There will also be other performance and ensemble opportunities available this fall - stay tuned!

Duet recital postponed

Just a reminder that tonight's scheduled recital, Shawna and Kristen Sing Their Faces Off, has been postponed to August 8th at 7:30 pm, still at Music Center of the Northwest. We apologize for any inconvenience but promise you an amazing show in August!

Upcoming Performances

Lots of opportunities to hear your fellow students (and teachers) perform this month:

Thoroughly Modern Millie

From the Ingraham High website:

Thoroughly Modern Millie is a Tony Award-winning musical with music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by Dick Scanlan, and a book by Richard Morris and Scanlan. Based on the 1967 film of the same name, Thoroughly Modern Millie tells the story of a small-town girl, Millie Dillmount, who comes to New York City to marry for money instead of love – a thoroughly modern aim in 1922, when women were just entering the workforce. Millie soon begins to take to delight in the flapper lifestyle, but problems arise when she checks into a hotel owned by the leader of a white slavery ring in China.

Featuring fellow student Celia Buckingham as Millie, not to mention impressive sets, lots of fun musical numbers and some excellent tap dancing.

Friday, June 5th - 7 pm
Saturday, June 6th - 7 pm
Sunday, June 7th - 2 pm

Ingraham High School
1819 135th Street
Seattle, WA 98133

*****
Duet Recital featuring Shawna Avinger and Kristen Ramer Liang

UPDATE: This recital has been postponed to Saturday, August 8th, same time and place.

Come see your two favorite voice teachers sing classic Mozart duets, Schumann lieder, and a slew of musical theater numbers. We'll be joined by the talented Jeremiah Oliver at the piano.

Saturday, June 13th - 7:30 pm
Music Center of the Northwest
901 N 96th Street
Seattle, WA 98103

*****
Northwest Chamber Chorus presents
The American Spirit:
Songs of Faith in the Americas

From the NWCC website:

Sacred music has arrived in America from many different directions and places, and has developed from influences just as diverse. This is not a program of music of Christianity, but a celebration of the diversity of spirituality in America in the 21st century. We’ll trace the musical paths that have led us to where we are today. South American music will include Kasar Mie la Gaji (Earth is Tired) on a sub-Saharan African text set by Venezuelan composer Alberto Grau, Salmo 150 by Brazil's Ernani Aguiar, and Hanacpachap, arranged by Oscar Escalada and believed to be the first piece of music published in the New World. North America will be well-represented as well, with Magic Songs by trail-blazing Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer, Shaker Songs arranged by Kevin Siegfried, and Deep River arranged by Swedish composer Anders Paulsson for choir and soprano saxophone and featuring saxophonist Michael Brockman.

Saturday, June 13th - 7:30 pm
Green Lake United Methodist Church
6415 1st Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98115

Sunday, June 14th - 3:00 pm
Plymouth Congregational Church
1218 6th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101

*****
Adult Student Recital

Two voice studios combine with Vicki Boeckman's recorder students for a fantastic all-adult student recital. Featuring a set of Britten duets, a quartet, beautiful art songs and a little Broadway and jazz for good measure.

Sunday, June 21st - 6:30 pm

Music Center of the Northwest
901 N 96th Street
Seattle, WA 98103

*****
The Esoterics present
CONSTANTINESCU
Paul Constantinescu Centennial

From The Esoterics' website:

Virtually unknown to audiences in America, Paul Constantinescu (1909-1963) was one of Romania’s most cherished composers. A master of orchestral and vocal genres, Constantinescu was foremost among his generation of artists; as he infused the demands of Western counterpoint into the eccentricities of his native folk art, he breathed a new nationalism into Romanian classical music. Constantinescu’s fascinating blend of sacred, poetic, and folk influences shines through in each of his choral works.

For this concert, The Esoterics will be joined by Romanian conductor Gabriel Dumitrescu and pianist Kevin Johnson, to perform all of Constantinescu’s compositions for chamber choir – including his setting of the orthodox liturgy, ten folksong settings, and four madrigals.

Saturday, June 20th - 7:00 pm
Trinity Lutheran Church
6215 196th Street SW
Lynnwood, WA 98036

Sunday, June 21st - 3:00 pm
Christ Episcopal Church
310 N K Street
Tacoma, WA 98403

Saturday, June 27th - 8:00 pm
Holy Rosary Catholic Church
4139 42nd Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98116

Sunday 28 Jun 3:00 pm
St Joseph's Catholic Church
732 18th Avenue E
Seattle, WA 98112

It's A Wonderful Town

I've been back from Taiwan for a little over a week and am just starting to get caught up - lots to post this week about upcoming student performances, Chinese opera and more. In the meantime, here's a Memorial Day clip that celebrates the lighter side of military life (and features one of my favorite cities):

So long, farewell

...just till May 16th! I'll be on vacation for the next couple of weeks - see you when I get back.

Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater auditions

Want to perform Oklahoma in the open air? Here's your chance...

From the SFFT website:

SNOQUALMIE FALLS FOREST THEATER announces auditions for Rodgers & Hammerstein's Classic Musical OKLAHOMA! April 25th & 26th! The show opens on July 25th and runs weekends through August 30th at our beautiful out-of-doors setting - performing Saturday at 3:00pm & 8:00pm / Sundays at 3:00pm. Rehearsals will be in the Seattle area. Paid. Please prepare a ONE MINUTE MONOLOGUE & a selection of a Broadway song. Photo and resume are always a plus!

Please call for an audition appointment: Roger Westberg, (206)365-8475 or email rainbowmaker@earthlink.net

The Voice Box recommends

A selective listing of performances for the weekend of 4/17 - 4/19:

Seattle Children's Theater presents Goodnight, Moon

From the SCT website:

“Enchanting…Feat of inspired genius.” – Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Little Bunny’s imagination is a wondrous place when he must say his goodnights. A place where toys come to life and pictures are filled with real, talking, breathing people. After all the pandemonium of getting ready for bed, Little Bunny finally closes his eyes and drifts off to sleep.

Eve Alvord Theatre
Friday, April 17 - 7:00 pm
(runs through June 7)

*****

ArtsWest presents Gutenberg! The Musical!

From the ArtsWest Playhouse website:

“Uproarious and hysterically funny!” - Associated Press

GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! is a loving spoof in which two aspiring playwrights perform a backers’ audition for their new project: A big, splashy musical about printing press inventor Johann Gutenberg (not Steve Guttenberg from the cinema classic Short Circuit).

"I don't recall the last time I left a theater with a face that ached from laughing way too much." - Paul Constant, The Stranger

With an unending supply of enthusiasm, Bud and Doug sing all the songs and play all the parts in their crass historical epic, with the hope that one of the producers in attendance will give them a Broadway contract – fulfilling their sky-high, if simple-minded, dreams.

ArtsWest Playhouse
Friday, April 17th - 7:30 pm
Saturday, April 18th - 7:30 pm
Sunday, April 19th - 3:00 pm

*****

Northwest Puppet Center presents Don Quixote
Baroque Marionette Opera

From the NWPC website:

Each year, Northwest Puppet Center presents an elaborate baroque marionette opera. Hand-carved figures take the stage with chamber orchestra and singers on either side of the proscenium.

The Carter Family Marionettes are joined by an ensemble of outstanding musicians and singers for this unique production of Don Quixote.

George Philipp Telemann's Don Quixote Suite is a well known instrumental delight. Rarely seen, however, is his one act operetta, in which the chivalrous Don and the earthy Sancho Panza attend and disrupt a shepherd's wedding. These two works are combined by Carter Family Marionettes and Maestra di Musica, Margriet Tindemanns. Sancho Panza's aria to his donkey and the attack on the windmills are among the treats to be dished up by hand-carved marionettes and our beloved musical collaborators. This is our 10th live opera, with nearly a decade of these unique and challenging presentations at the Northwest Puppet Center. Please join us for a night at the opera with this quixotic delectation!

Northwest Puppet Center
Friday, April 17th - 8:00 pm
Saturday, April 18th - 2:00 pm, 8:00 pm
Sunday, April 19th - 2:00 pm

Pregnancy and singing - one performer's perspective

The New York Times has an interesting article today about Kelli O'Hara's experience with performing while pregnant. I particularly like the accompanying slideshow, which combines excerpts from Ms. O'Hara's cabaret with her own comments on how being pregnant has changed her singing voice.

Come on along and listen to...

The Lullaby of Broadway! I've had that song stuck in my head ever since I first saw the poster for the Seattle Women's Chorus concert series. Good thing I love that song, although now I have a total urge to rent Gold Diggers of 1935 just so I can watch the amazing, slightly creepy Busby Berkely number that goes along with it. Thank goodness for YouTube - I've posted the sequence below.

Seattle Times has a nice article today about the upcoming SWC concerts at Meany Hall - student Arlene Havlark is a member of the chorus and is featured in a quartet. The Broadway theme promises lots of great music as well as fodder for some classic SWC comedy. With selections from 45 different musicals, you're bound to hear one of your musical theatre favorites. I highly recommend you check it out; we'll be going Friday and I'm really looking forward to the show!

The Voice Box recommends

A selective listing of performances for the weekend of 4/10 - 4/12:

Seattle Women's Chorus presents Lullaby of Broadway

From the SWC website:

"This harmonious musical staging celebrates the women of Broadway: Mama Rose, Auntie Mame, Annie Oakley, Mrs. Lovett, Evita, Elphaba, and Tracy Turnblad to name a few. Seattle Women's Chorus will pay tribute to these great characters, as well as shining the spotlight on some of the many great musical numbers for women, about women, and written by women."

Meany Theater (UW Campus)
Friday, April 10 - 8 pm
Saturday, April 11 - 2 pm

*****
Hapa

from the Hapa website:

"Like the Hawaiian Islands themselves, HAPA's Pan-Polynesian music is an amalgam of infuences ranging from ancient genealogical chants to the strummed ballads of Portuguese fisherman, Spanish cowboys, and the inspired melodies and harmonies of the traditional church choirs of the early missionaries. Add to this a dose of American acoustic folk/rock, and you have what has been described as the 'most exciting and beautiful contemporary Hawaiian music the world knows!'… (Maui Times)."

The Triple Door
Saturday, April 11 - 5:30 pm, 8:30 pm

*****
The Thermals record release party

from their recent SXSW review in the NYT:

"...everything jumped up a notch with the Thermals, a Portland trio that demonstrated that elemental three-piece rock, accompanied by proper conviction, can approach majesty, or at least bliss under a metal roof. An incantatory “Now We Can See” included chanting from the bassist Kathy Foster, whose vigorous playing and a bouncing rock-fro were performance art in the best sense of the term. There will be a lot of lead singers in Austin this week who will do their best to plunge fully into the matters at hand, but few will match Hutch Harris, whose joyous possession let Austin know that some of the bands here play music because they almost have to. The exalt bounced off the roof and into the ears of an increasingly into-it crowd."

Neumos
Sunday, April 11 - doors at 8 pm