September 2009

 

Everyone can sing!

I passed a park yesterday with a band shell sitting forlornly midst the trees and was transported back to the days of my youth when on a given Sunday afternoon, there would be a band concert with a Sing-A Long. Strangely, when I returned from my stint in the Navy four years later, the tradition had virtually ended, except for the occasional event.

Way back when, in the days when radio was in its infancy and balmy spring and summer nights beckoned, people actually left their respective dwellings and met in parks and on the beaches to join in song and listen to the local Barber Shop Quartet. Everyone sang, with few exceptions. At the Saturday Matinee double feature, in addition to the cartoon, one was often treated to a Sing-A Long—Follow the bouncing ball! Everyone knew all of the songs, passed down from generation to generation. Another reason was the book of songs in virtually every school kid’s desk.

This book was a collection of old songs that were a part of “everyone’s” musical experience. Columbia the Gem of the Ocean, By the Light of the Silvery Moon, America the Beautiful, In the Evening by the Moonlight, Shine on Harvest Moon, Abdul, the Bulbul Amir, God Bless America … Abdul, the Bulbul Amir?

With the arrival of TV … something lovely and vital was lost and as a consequence millions and millions of people never learned to sing … because there were no Sing-A Long’s anymore! Why is that so important, one might ask? Because, when learning to sing in a group, at an early age when everyone else was doing it … it just happened! Most people have the potential to be natural singers and when they grow up around others who sing all of the time … they do as well. For those who were less gifted or vocally challenged, the full sound of the combined voices helped mask the imperfections until they were swept along with the tide.

An anecdote: I remember my third grade teacher who was so pretty, I sat in the first seat of my row to be near her. A few days after our first singing session, she moved me to the last seat in my row. I was crushed and couldn’t help giving evidence of such … A few days later, she took me aside and asked what was wrong. I managed to get out why I was so distressed and she laughed softly and said, “So that’s it. Richie, I moved you back there because you are such a strong singer, when you sing up through the rest of the class, they all sing better!” I still wanted to sit in the front seat …

The sons of the prophet are hardy and bold And quite unaccustomed to fear But the bravest of all was a
man I am told Named Abdul, the Bulbul Amir …

JULY 09 - PRINCE IMRAN RAZA STATESMAN/ROCK STAR

JUNE 09 - ANOTHER NATURAL SINGER - DAVID BURKE

MAY 09 -DISCOVERY OF VOIC
E

APRIL 09 - I'M SICK, BUT I HAVE TO PERFORM TONIGHT  Part 2

MARCH 09 - I'M SICK, BUT I HAVE TO PERFORM TONIGHT

FEBRUARY 09 - SINGING IN ENGLISH

JANUARY 09 - GETTING AN AGENT AND/OR MANAGER (Part 4)

DECEMBER 08 - GETTING AN AGENT AND/OR MANAGER (Part 3)

NOVEMBER 08 -
GETTING AN AGENT AND/OR MANAGER (Part 2)

OCTOBER 08 - GETTING AN AGENT AND/OR MANAGER (Part 1)

SEPTEMBER 08 - HEAVY BREATHING ADVISED FOR JOCKS

AUGUST 08 -  THE VAGARIES OF AUDITIONS AND AUDITIONING (Part 3)

JULY 08 -
THE VAGARIES OF AUDITIONS AND AUDITIONING (Part 2)

JUNE 08 -
THE VAGARIES OF AUDITIONS AND AUDITIONING (Part 1)

MAY 08 - ABSENCE OF TENSION

APRIL 08 -
THE FLAT TONGUE TECHNIQUE AND HOW DO YOU MAKE A VOWEL

MARCH 08  - THE VOICE COACHING THAT  MADE MY CAREER

FEBRUARY 08 - WHAT ARE YOU SINGING?

JANUARY 08 -
VIBRATO/WOBBLE

DECEMBER 07 - BREATHING REVISITED

NOVEMBER  07 - HOW TO KILL A COLD IN FIVE DAYS

OCTOBER 07 - A BIT MORE SUPPORT

SEPTEMBER 07 - MORE SUPPORT

AUGUST 07 - INTRO & BREATHING/SUPPORT