Blue Ridge
Vocal Connection
My musical journey continues as I gain more insight and knowledge about the process of emanating pleasing sounds from my vocal equipment. Two specific areas gained focus for me this week.
I’m trying now to learn more about reading a musical score, which I find intensely complicated. For example, on a page of music may be 3-5 horizontal groupings of lines of music running simultaneously, each one for the various voices and accompanist. Sometimes there’s just one. In addition to all the normal pitch and duration notes, there are directional “arrows” that move us from page to page and sometimes back again. I often rely on my mentor Joe to show me where we are at any given time. Conductor Thomas suggested I take a highlighter to every song and coat the words and music that apply to me. I’ll do that before our next session.
One aspect of my voice’s discordance to my own ears is the “gravelly” sound. I’m coming to understand that it is from being lazy with where the force of my air originates, whether from my lower diaphragm or further upwards in my throat. If I can produce some volume from my diaphragm, the gravelliness abates somewhat and I can produce a crisper sound.
My lady-friend Susan is the accompanist and we’re building a routine for our session attendance which goes like this: I pick her up from her office, go to her place for dinner, then carpool to and from the church together. On our way home afterwards, we have a chance to talk about how we can improve (and by “we” I mean “me”) and often we keep singing. It is becoming still another of our bonding experiences, something I surely would never have taken on had she not been asked to do this. It is enhancing our lives and our relationship.
In addition to being a fine pianist, Susan also plays recorders. In this session, she played an intro for our singing of Shenandoah, which everyone enjoyed and appreciated.
Thomas mentioned several upcoming gigs. I’m undecided on how I’ll feel about singing in public; I’m still unsure about my abilities and contribution to the choir. At this point, I certainly don’t feel ready. But with time and practice, I can see improvement.
My musical journey continues.
Stay tuned.
Editor’s Note: Susan is a recorder ninja. She slayed Shenandoah and everybody swooned, no exaggeration.