Professional Ears Requested

[twistedtom]

I did not listen, but I have to say no mater how good or bad she is, when one asks "what do you think about this" people will feel they must find some criticism, this is just the way it is. Asking “what do you think can be very dangerous.

[Phil O]

Well, I spoke with Normma and very carefully voiced my concerns. It seems she's on the same page. I found it interesting that Sooshie said if she wants to make it she needs four years with a good vocal coach, and Normma said, "I wish I had four more years with her. That's what it will take to make her great." Once again, Shoosh, spot on. BTW, I don't know Olga's exact age, but she is much younger than she looks.

It seems that Normma WAS looking for criticism - validation, in fact, of her own assessment. Normma really is a great teacher and I've heard her take voices that are shower crooners at best and turn them into something wonderful. It's a shame she's not going to get a chance to put the polish on this one. Oh well. Students - can't live without them and torture is frowned upon.

Phil

[Shooshie]

Well, I spoke with Normma and very carefully voiced my concerns. It seems she's on the same page. I found it interesting that Sooshie said if she wants to make it she needs four years with a good vocal coach, and Normma said, "I wish I had four more years with her. That's what it will take to make her great." Once again, Shoosh, spot on. BTW, I don't know Olga's exact age, but she is much younger than she looks.

It seems that Normma WAS looking for criticism - validation, in fact, of her own assessment. Normma really is a great teacher and I've heard her take voices that are shower crooners at best and turn them into something wonderful. It's a shame she's not going to get a chance to put the polish on this one. Oh well. Students - can't live without them and torture is frowned upon.

Phil

Well, I've got some experience at this. I taught one of the worst students on earth: me.

After getting nowhere with frustrated teachers who didn't know how to deal with my own tortured psyche, I chose to get the best tape recorder I could buy (so that I couldn't blame the tape quality) and teach myself. Geez. Let's just say it was a miracle that I finally succeeded with that student. Oh, I had tons of talent and ability. I was about where Olga is. And after years of concentrated effort and a lot of tape and painful comparisons, I learned how the greats do what they do, and did it.

There's hope for Olga if she'll listen closely to herself and to others like Cecilia, and allow a really gifted teacher like Normma to take her there. I wish her luck.

Shooshie

[mikehalloran]

What a story! Thanks for sharing that, Mike. And it's great to know you're a classically trained musician, too. I've known for some time that the stroke partially disabled you, and many times have marveled that you haven't let it stop you completely, but I had no idea the true cost of it. Still, you're enjoying music, and you're able to use your talent at a level that some people never reach.

For years my wife and I had season tickets to the opera. We saw a lot of opera that way. I'm not sure why we stopped. The last time we went was about 5 years ago, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Now we have a new opera hall, and it is a wonderful venue. The irony is that we talked for years and years about how much we'd love to hear the Dallas Opera in a dedicated opera hall instead of the giant fan-shaped hall at Fair Park. Now we have the hall we always dreamed of, and they even took it far beyond our wildest dreams. But we haven't been there for a single opera. We've been to look around, but never for a concert. It's been about 4 years now, and I think it's time we did something about this. This fall I'm going to buy opera tickets. Opera is my favorite art form. I really miss it.

Shooshie

So, did you make it to the opera this fall?

I thought I'd update my situation a bit. I was unaware that my left side diaphragm muscles were still paralyzed. Essentially, I sing with one lung. I will never sing Mozart nor Wagner again as the lines are no longer sustainable for me but Gilbert & Sullivan gives me ample opportunities to breathe.

We had our orchestra only rehearsal today before we move into the theater tomorrow. Someone grabbed my aria on an iPhone and posted it on YouTube. I find it amusing that, from across the room, I was able to trigger the built in limiter and expose its slow release time. Anyway, I have come a very long way and never expected to get this far again. The intro before Beware! is almost never done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... klGEC1C-EY

[Phil O]

Mike, sorry to hear about your diaphragm but glad to hear you're able to still sing. I've had some medical issues myself that I thought might prevent me from continuing to play, but I've made it through relatively unscathed and recently landed a good job in a working band. I know how difficult it can be, but don't let it stop you. Onward and upward my friend. Now go forth and make some beautiful music!

Phil

[Shooshie]

So, did you make it to the opera this fall?

Not yet. It has been a most eventful summer and early fall. We're a little bewildered at the rapid rate of change around here (our place, not the forum), and are doing well to keep up with all that has been going on. I completely ignored music and DP for about two months! (and was absent from the forum for much of that) We may yet see if we can squeeze into a Dress Circle box somewhere. I hear that all the seats are good at this new hall.

I thought I'd update my situation a bit. I was unaware that my left side diaphragm muscles were still paralyzed. Essentially, I sing with one lung. I will never sing Mozart nor Wagner again as the lines are no longer sustainable for me but Gilbert & Sullivan gives me ample opportunities to breathe.

We had our orchestra only rehearsal today before we move into the theater tomorrow. Someone grabbed my aria on an iPhone and posted it on YouTube. I find it amusing that, from across the room, I was able to trigger the built in limiter and expose its slow release time. Anyway, I have come a very long way and never expected to get this far again. The intro before Beware! is almost never done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... klGEC1C-EY

That was really a hoot! I love G&S stuff, which was my earliest introduction to "opera." Even wrote some lyrics to a song or two. Who can resist making their own words to "Modern Major General?"

You were belting out those lines; your voice is bigger than the entire chorus, and on one lung, no less! And a very fine job of it. I'm glad to see you doing that. I wish I could come to the concert, but it'll be a while before I'm in the Bay Area again. My son lives there now, as does one of my best friends, so I'll be getting out there more often.

That's pretty cool, Mike!

Shoosh

[mikehalloran]

We open

[Phil O]

Bravissimo!