As the parent of two teenagers, the phrase "do your homework!" has been known to cross my lips on the odd occasion. There have been times when this has gone completely unheeded, as well as times when it has nearly meant the child pulling "all nighters". However, there have also been times when advance preparation and due diligence has produced wonderful results, and the child has realized that the hard work really can pay off in the long run.
I try to emphasize this with my singing students. As some of you will be aware, singers have a reputation for being slower on the uptake than other musicians when it comes to basic musicianship skills. I stress the word "reputation," lest some of my extremely talented singer friends take offence. The groans that echo down the hallways when they hear the words "theory, sight reading, dictation, and music history" are symptomatic of the culture of singers believing that all they need to do is: 1) listen to a recording/YouTube to learn the words and notes, and 2) imitate the famous singer to create the same results. They will do the absolute minimum required in order to increase their knowledge and improve their musicianship skills.
This is a serious mistake.
We are all warned that the music business is extremely competitive. I knew this from when I worked in the UK and Europe, and it is even more apparent here in Canada. I don't need many fingers to be able to count how many of my friends are able to make a living full time from singing in Calgary. As a result, it is imperative that students take every opportunity to increase their basic musicianship skills so that those skills are now not just basic but exceptional. They must be able to pick up a score and be able to read through it with little or no difficulty the first time! Yes, there will always be tricky passages, difficult text, runs that need to move effortlessly, and intervallic leaps that require a secure pair of ears to hear them, but this is the profession!! If you don't want to do the work, you shouldn't be in the business.
So what are the benefits of putting in the hard work? In recent years, I have had at least three occasions where I have been asked to step in at the last minute. The first was a Mozart Requiem with less than 24 hours' notice. I had never sung the soprano solo before, although I had been a chorister on a few occasions. I can't say that the music is technically or theoretically challenging, but my sight reading and musicianship skills enabled me to nail the performance the very next day.
Similarly, I received a call at very short notice regarding a world premiere of a piece for soprano and choir, as well as a second piece for bass clarinet, piano, and computer. Two rehearsals and a dress rehearsal later, and we were on our way. I'm not saying that this was the best performance of my life, but I was able to step in, perform the pieces, create some lovely music, and enjoy the experience!
And, finally, eight days ago I received an email from the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. A singer has had to cancel two concerts of Manuel de Falla's El Amor Brujo that take place this week. It's a fabulous 23-minute piece; no tricky intervals, but some deadly rhythms, and a very strong emphasis on chest register placement. In addition, it's in Andalusian Spanish. Vocal coaching and language tutoring is taking place, and rehearsals start on Tuesday.
Do your homework; this is where the hard work really pays off.
