Vocalist.org archive


From:  LMorgan923@a...
Date:  Fri Sep 22, 2000  4:35 pm
Subject:  Re: [vocalist-temporary] learning a role pointers


In a message dated 9/21/2000 2:55:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
peggyh@i... writes:

<< There are no shortcuts on music this complex. The worst experiences my
director and I have had is with singers who learned their music (especially
rhythms) wrong by copying a recording. It is SO much harder to unlearn
something drilled in wrong, and so much wiser to learn the music accurately.
It's slower at first, but it actually saves time and grief in the long run. >>

I have a confession to make. I once actually learned an opera role from
a recording. It was the biggest mistake I've ever made in my life. It was
the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors. I'm a decent pianist, but
Menotti's accompaniments just fall beyond my grasp. I had to learn the role
fast, without coaching, and without my usual rehearsal pianist, and I
thought, I'll just make a tape and listen as much as I can and work at the
piano as much as I can. What I found when I got into rehearsals was that the
singer on the recording had sung every single 7th in the role as an octave,
and I had picked it up from her. And there are a lot of 7th's in that role!
That's a mistake I'll never make again.

Lee Morgan
Mezzo soprano and specialist in mother roles

emusic.com