Dear All,

The wonderful Dame Janet Baker. Listen to her use of text and how she conveys emotion through her wonderful line and shaping of words. This is the fabulous ‘Where Corals Lie’ by Elgar.

Here is the text;

The deeps have music soft and low
When winds awake the airy spry,
It lures me, lures me on to go
And see the land where corals lie.
The land, the land, where corals lie.

By mount and mead, by lawn and rill,
When night is deep, and moon is high,
That music seeks and finds me still,
And tells me where the corals lie.
And tells me where the corals lie.

Yes, press my eyelids close, ’tis well,
Yes, press my eyelids close, ’tis well,
But far the rapid fancies fly
To rolling worlds of wave and shell,
And all the land where corals lie.

Thy lips are like a sunset glow,
Thy smile is like a morning sky,
Yet leave me, leave me, let me go
And see the land where corals lie.
The land, the land, where corals lie.

Enjoy

 

 

 

This piece of music sums up what being a singer or instrumentalist is all about. If you get the singing blues occasionally then perhaps come back to this:

We are the music-makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers,
And sitting by desolate streams.
World-losers and world forsakers,
Upon whom the pale moon gleams;
Yet we are the movers and shakers,
Of the world forever, it seems.

(Extract) by Arthur William Edgar O’Shaughnessy

Happy Singing

Charlotte

 

 

 

Dear all,

Singing is an all encompassing area of study. It involves Music, Art, History, Text, Poetry, Prose, Philosophy, Language study and even maths!It is also highly practical and requires application of the body and mind in order to succeed at it.

PRACTICE IS ALL. Below are some tips:

Remember:

1) Practice is a chance to get even better at something you love  to do. It is 20 minutes a day to yourself to spend on wonderful music and be able to express it your own way. It is not just about technique but feeling.

2) Prepare yourself to practice. Make sure you warm up your voice with some Brrrs and breathing exercises and ensure your body is not tense.

2) 10 minutes a day is better than 30 minutes 2 days a week. Get those 2 bars perfect. Next session add on another few bars and so on. Aim for 5 practice sessions a week and ideally 20 minutes a day.

3) Singing is a physical activity and relies on muscular memory. You need to keep doing it and improving the quality of the sound at each practice. You will be amazed at the results of regular practice.

4) Set Goals, know what you need to achieve at each practice and make sure you understand what has been asked of you and why you are doing something.

5)Practice is not just about singing but also includes thinking about words and sometimes even learning a new language. Practice saying the words in different ways, thinking about character and feelings and make notes of these on your music. Try reading poetry or play extracts out loud to help you learn about setting the mood of the piece through text.

6) Motivation. Write down your singing goals and review them regularly. You may have something specific or more general but try to remember why you wanted lessons and what you want from them now. I am a facilitator to help you achieve this.

7) Get involved. Plan to put on informal concerts for friends in your living room, join a group or choir. Have a go.

8) Be curious about music. Music is amazing, use YOUTUBE or SPOTIFY to listen to a wide variety of music. Listen to lots of interpretations of your songs to give you ideas for your own performance.Read about the songs your are learning and the composers who wrote them.

9) Be prepared for ups and downs. Singing is an amazing journey but to sing well doesn’t just happen. There will be all sorts of fences to jump and rivers to cross and the journey never really ends so make friends with it. Singing can be deeply personal but try to stay positive. Leave the ‘I Can’t’ outside the door. Remember success is about PRACTICE.

10) Enjoy yourself. Have fun with it. Change rhythms, start at the end and go backwards, try things out and be creative.

 

Happy Singing

Charlotte

 

 

 

Dear all,

Here are some links for children/ teenagers looking to participate in a choir or group. If you are keen to join any, please consult me first as some may require an audition and a big commitment:

For 5-11

http://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/page/3027/the+egg+Club

http://www.bathabbey.org/melody-makers

http://www.bathabbey.org/music/summer-music-school

http://www.bathchildrenschoir.org.uk/

All Ages

http://chippenhamyouththeatre.com/#when-and-where

http://courageperformers.com/

http://www.sonnets-tas.co.uk/

http://www.malmesburymusicacademy.co.uk/about-us/

http://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/page/3025/Young+Peoples+Theatre

Advanced Students

http://www.swms.org.uk/

http://www.rwcmd.ac.uk/junior_conservatoire.aspx

http://www.nymt.org.uk/

http://www.nycgb.net/

Happy Singing

Charlotte

 

 

Dear all,

If you are feeling more confident with your performing then why not join a choir, performing arts group or Opera Group?

Here are some links for you:

Musical Theatre and Opera

http://chippenham-clogs.co.uk/

http://www.bathoperatic.co.uk/

http://www.bathopera.org/Main/HomePage.html

http://www.bathgands.co.uk/

http://www.chippenhammethodistcircuit.org.uk/welcome-page/mask/

World and community choirs

http://www.thecausemusicandarts.com/world-music-choir/

http://www.allsortschippenham.co.uk/

http://www.singingwithattitude.com/Community-Choirs.html

Welcome

https://sites.google.com/site/cmvchoir/home

Classical and Church Choirs

http://www.corshamchoralsociety.co.uk/

http://www.choir.musicatchippenham.org.uk/

http://calnechoral.co.uk/4.html

New Gospel Choir in Derry Hill Primary school near Calne:

https://www.facebook.com/PSGchoirs?fref=ts

Joining a group is really good way to make friends and share music making with others. It will also increase your confidence. Some choirs require good sight reading or at least the ability to learn music quickly. If you are not too confident or just want a more relaxed experience then try a community choir first. These are lots of fun and make little demand on other skills.

Dear all,

I am here to strongly encourage you to go and see as many live performances as possible. Below are some local places you may find enjoyable:

http://www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk/

http://www.poundarts.org.uk/pound/default.aspx

http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome/

http://www.thecausemusicandarts.com/

http://www.northwiltsorchestra.org.uk/

http://www.standrewschippenham.org.uk/?id=placehold

http://www.mardenhouseconcerts.co.uk/Concerts/concerts.html

http://www.bathabbey.org/music/recitals

http://www.arctheatre.org.uk/events.asp

These are all good starting points but keep an eye out. Some places have free lunchtime recitals!!!

Happy Singing

Charlotte

Dear all,

Here are some links to places that offer weekend or day courses in Singing that you might enjoy, please read course descriptions carefully to get the right level:

http://farncombecourses.co.uk/our-courses/category/singing-and-voice-workshops/#.Uyq4l_i9W3Q

http://www.jackdaws.org.uk/events/day-courses-jackdaws/

http://bathminervachoir.co.uk/events/

I will be adding more on here as they come up.

 

Happy Singing

Charlotte

 

Hello,

 

Here is the link to an excellent video by the wonderful Mary King with tips on Breathing. It is very interesting.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01bp4j4

Happy Singing

Charlotte

Dear Students,

I have started this blog in order to further enhance the work you are doing with me in lessons. I will put on hints and tips, useful videos, event information and general thoughts about performing etc.

I hope you find it useful and enjoyable.

Happy Singing

Charlotte