Emotional Expression in Songs -- Buddy Holly style

Buddy Holly   (Sept. 7,1936--Feb. 3, 1959)

My favourite definition of a song  is an emotion put into words and music. 


I'm sure we have all experienced all kinds of emotions throughout our lives -- some emotions can feel really good, others can feel not so good, or maybe even really awful! However whatever the emotion we have experienced, it is pretty likely a song has been written about it. I find it really interesting to notice what particular songs and singers I am drawn to at various times in my life. Always I prefer songs and singers that move me emotionally or somehow touch my heart by expressing feelings or emotions that might be buried away in the depths of my heart (or wherever else we bury emotion). My current musical passion is for Buddy Holly's music. I really love what Buddy does with lyrics that, by themselves, are pretty sad -- tragic even. His song, "It Doesn't Matter Anymore", especially with that final line of  'You Don't Matter Anymore' is, in my experience of it, heart wrenching. But in the way that Buddy does it, with such a fast, bouncy and upbeat tempo, I find that I am left feeling energized. It is almost like a catharsis. It takes me into that deep, heart broken place and right through it into a place that is rhythmic and energized and, in a way, renewed. It is like experiencing heartbreak and joy at the same time. It is very powerful and brings in a real sense of wholeness, the complete picture. 

Rob Brezsny

For  Buddy's rendition of "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" click on the link below.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q80vPeejm7k

Just as I was thinking about all of this, I received my weekly horoscope reading from Rob Brezsny (author of "PRONOIA -- the antidote to Paranoia" Actually I find that reading and doing the exercises  offered in the book, PRONOIA also really help me to see the Whole Picture -- not just the sad side, not just the happy side. It is all there in us, and it is all there in some of Buddy Holly's songs and his performance of those songs).

It was amazing for me to read this week's horoscope and I think there is wonderful wisdom in this for all of us of any astrological sign! And there just  may be some wisdom in this for those of us that want to connect more deeply with the emotion of our songs that also takes in the Whole Picture. How amazing would it be for a singer to perform one of the many heart wrenching songs that are so popular, in a way the leaves people, the audience, deeply touched, not only by the sadness or heart break of the song, but also deeply touched by the beauty and the power of the song, the absolute joy of the music and the rhythm and, maybe most importantly, the freedom of the voice to express what is so close to the heart.

Here is my awesome horoscope for all to share!!

: Capricorn: Emotion is the resource we treasure when we're young, says poet Naomi Shihab Nye, but eventually what we thrive on even more is energy. "Energy is everything," she says, "not emotion." And where does energy come from?Often from juxtaposition, says Nye. "Rubbing happy and sad together creates energy, rubbing one image against another." That's what she loves about being a poet. Her specialty is to conjure magic through juxtaposition. "Our brains are desperate for that kind of energy," she concludes. I mention this, Capricorn, because the coming weeks will be prime time for you to drum up the vigor and vitality that come from mixing and melding and merging, particularly in unexpected or uncommon ways.


One Added Note:


Michael Goodrich, an LA based singing teacher with a background in Speech Level Singing, has come up with an interesting way of connecting more deeply with the emotion of a song. Check out the "Singing" video.
http://www.goodrichvocal.com/videos/weekly-tools-week-9.html

I think I have to go practice some more Buddy Holly songs!!

Take care til next time.    Barbara

Developing Our Full Vocal Range

Greetings,                                                                                  

   One of the many things that has really been exciting for me in exploring and developing my own voice over the past 3 years is discovering how much vocal range most of us have. Most of us probably have much more range in our voices than we ever dreamed possible. Generally we tend to speak and sing in a certain (limited) part of our voice.  The first singing teacher that I had lessons with for a short time 3 years ago, immediately classified my voice as Soprano because, at that point, I couldn't dip down into any low or chest range notes at all. In fact, with most of the songs that I wanted to sing, he (the teacher) had to raise the pitch of the songs so that I could sing them in my "soprano" voice. The problem with that approach is that my voice felt weak: it would "crack" as I was trying to sing. It just felt like there was no "body" or substance to my voice. I certainly couldn't get any volume except by really straining and pushing.

From there, I found a teacher with a background of Speech Level Singing. This is a technique which does really emphasize the development of and connection with chest voice. So I spent the next many months exploring and developing my low, chest voice range. Now I just love singing songs in my deep, low voice. It feels incredibly powerful and stable. That is a voice I didn't even have 3 years ago! Or at least I didn't know I had it and certainly had no idea how to access it prior to practicing this technique.

 I do still love playing with sounds and songs that move into my high or head voice, but now that I do have that connection with my deep voice, even my high voice is much stronger and more stable -- capable of much more volume with no strain.

So...just wanted to share this to illustrate what is possible (at any age!!)

The link below will take you to a You Tube video of Pam Gerrand (from Stratford, Ont.) who has an amazing vocal range -- from deep and earthy to very ethereal. I've heard her perform in person and her live performance is even more striking. She has a voice and vocal range that reaches into the depths of my Soul!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHbXW-WQUmY

And one more link to Michael Goodrich who has been doing some fascinating exploration of the connections between brain and singing. In the Mindset portion of this video, he explores the challenges of moving out of our comfort zone and into our full vocal range. Worth watching!

http://www.goodrichvocal.com/videos/weekly-tools-week-4.html

Til next time,

Barbara

Welcome to My New "Vocalize and Sing!" Blog.

This blog will be primarily focused on all things vocal and musical!.    


*****Scroll to the bottom if you are looking for the details of my upcoming 
                                 Sing Along on Fri. Nov. 11, 2011

This new blog will be an opportunity for me to let you know more about my vocal "offerings" in the way of workshops, classes, Sing Alongs, technique, insights, exercises etc. I will also provide info about and links to other teachers, workshops, videos and anything else I find helpful and interesting regarding singing and vocalizing. This blog will also be an opportunity to explore some of the music and singers that have, and continue to, influence me and many of us.


I hope you will also feel free to comment, to tell us about your vocal journey, your vocal insights and ideas, and your vocal and musical influences.  There is a lot of power in sharing ideas and information!!

My passion for developing and freeing my voice is continually growing and getting stronger, especially as I work more and more with vocal technique (see links to 3rd Voice and Michael Goodrich to the right of this blog). For more of my own vocal journey up to this point (mixed in with other types of insights, shamanic journeys, Chakra journeys, Artwork, etc.)  you can check out my Chakra Dancer blog (see link to the right)  My most recent Chakra Dancer blog will give you some insight as to the relationship between vocal technique and the Chakras. That is a relationship worth understanding whatever your vocal goals may be. The Chakras are the vital energy centres of the body and an awareness of them and their connection with voice can really help connect the voice more deeply to body/mind/soul/emotions and that alone will make for a more powerful singer or speaker or communicator.

In the meantime, I am currently having a blast re-exploring the early Beatles songs. I was a young teenager when the Beatles first appeared and made it big on the Ed Sullivan show. In those young days I had every album they made and I listened, over and over and over, to every song they sang. Now coming back to those same songs that I thought I knew so well, and learning to sing them with proper technique, getting rhythmically in tune etc. really makes me appreciate the musical genius of this group and their songs in a whole new way. There is much to discover and explore in those early Beatles songs.

And it is impossible to explore the Beatles music without also going back to some of the old Buddy Holly songs since he was one of the major influences on the Beatles and their early musical development. In a way, Buddy Holly was like a catalyst that  helped to blast the Beatles off into major stardom For a very moving and beautiful account of Buddy Holly's life and music, check out The Real Buddy Holly Story, done by Paul McCartney. It is available through the library. Well worth watching. The rhythms and the bounciness of Buddy Holly's songs are absolutely infectious. At my "Vocalize and Sing Along" evenings, we are currently exploring Buddy Holly songs, Beatles songs -- along with a variety of other well known voices and songs.

I would be happy to hear any comments, thoughts, vocal inspirations, suggestions, etc. I am always searching for a variety of Sing Along songs that we can sing together. All suggestions or ideas are welcome.

Thanks for checking out my Vocal Blog. Check below for the details of my upcoming Sing Along.

Barbara

                            ****Vocalize and Sing Along info*****

Hi,

   We are fast approaching 11-11-11. That powerful date is also the date of our next Vocalize and Sing Along evening. I hope some of you will be able to join me for that evening. 

   We will be exploring what it means to really "step into the voice" or to "be" in the voice with confidence. It seems to be an extremely important theme these days to be able to speak from our hearts and to have our voices heard. In our vocal warm up, we will explore how to connect more deeply with our voices and how to connect voice/heart/emotions. And, as always, we will explore and sing some interesting and fun songs.

If you have a chance, check out the video link below -- especially the Mindset video on the Power of Questions. It is only about 3 minutes long, but what a wonderful way to approach our vocal work and our lives in general!!! 

   http://www.goodrichvocal.com/videos/weekly-tools-week-2.html

Vocalize, Sing Along, etc. 

   Here is a chance to explore your voice as we explore songs from Pop, Country, R&B, Jazz, etc. The class will begin with caring for our voices through breathing, vocal exercises and sounding in order to relax, warm up and energize the voice.  We will end with some reflection and gratitude for the incredible gift and powers of Voice. 

 Location: Broadview and Danforth (Toronto)

near Broadview subway 

(e-mail me for exact for location)

Fri. Nov. 11, 2011

Doors open at 7 pm  

Start time 7:15 pm

$15.00 suggested donation (or PWYC)

 To register, e-mail barbarassong@gmail.com .