Collaboration. It is a mysterious, sometimes joyous, sometimes gut-wrenching process. I have collaborated with various musicians over the years on songs with mixed emotions, (and mixed results!) but now I seem to be entering a phase where the joint creative process is more stimulating and more satisfying over all. I'm likin' it. So first of all, working on a new song with The Red Apples. This song is one of my "I went for a long walk and went into kind of a trance and was gifted with this song by the Universe" songs. It's kinda mystical and came more or less of a piece and immediately was recorded onto my little digital friend I carry around with me for just such moments. Then I took it home and nursed it and was thrilled and happy...a new birth! I fixed the wording, I polished up the bridge, I added the third verse I knew it needed...But then, in true Wendy fashion, I kinda ignored it for a long time. I let it languish ohhhh so sadly. I kept telling Ron I wanted to work on it with him, but I was afraid it might be too quirky and not "rootsy" enough for our band...Everyone would complain, the chick singer has another of her girlie songs. Ok this was all in my head I admit. I ADMIT IT!
Finally I played it for Ron, and he said yeah, let's bring it to the band. OK! It has been sooo much fun. The band has been really bringing their best to this song...Dave fleshed out the chords in a really perfect way, and came up with a cool guitar lick for the intro, Kenji has brought rhythmic bass lines and interesting vocal backup ideas, and Ron, as always, brought a sense of the overall feel of the song, the arrangement, and the instrumentation. I feel very grateful to have these creative and accomplished musicians working to bring my song to fruition! Wow, what did I do right?
And I ain't done yet! More about this to come....
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
How about going to lessons regularly?
Ok here we go...how many of us voice teachers as well as other music teachers have had this issue? (I'm guessing every single one!) Students who don't prioritize their lessons and miss them on a consistent basis. These are the same ones who inevitably cry and moan that they are having problems with their voice and/or lack consistency in their singing. WHA?????????????? Alright I'm kinda joking around but this is a real issue. IF you want to learn to, say, play the piano, you are gonna have to practice. Ditto guitar, flute, oboe, bagpipes, didgeridoo whatever! Yes? Well the same goes for your singing dudes and dudettes. Your voice is a musical instrument that you are attempting to master. It has all kinds of subtlety and nuance to come to terms with and even though you use your voice all day every day (more or less) becoming an excellent singer involves a true commitment to singing and music and the care and training of your voice. There are no shortcuts to the art of singing any more than there are to training for a marathon or getting a degree or any other pursuit that is worthwhile. So show up for the lesson! And practice!!!!!!!!!!
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