Adventure, Transformation and Choice
My fascination with voice comes from three early childhood memories: The Wizard of Oz, My Fair Lady and the Greek Orthodox Church.
Each year I would excitedly await the airing of the The Wizard of Oz. Judy Garland’s youthful and yet deeply emotional singing of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” resonated with my innate hopefulness of a life of adventure. Watching someone close to my age “sing” themselves over the rainbow was the ultimate in magic.
The only popular music album in our house was an original cast recording of My Fair Lady. Julie Andrew’s crystalline voice transcended class and social station but I came to understand through that story that manipulating the sound of the voice was transformative.
The sights and smells of the Greek Orthodox weekly Sunday service are full of ritual and grandeur but it was the singing that captured my attention as a youngster. Whether it was the deep, three- dimensional singing voice of the priest, the high-pitched chanting of the chantor or the full-throated- operatic choir soloist, I knew these voice qualities were distinct and held much mystery.
As I look back on those memories, adventure, transformation and choice have guided my life in music. I began my musical life as a pianist: weekly piano lessons, annual recitals and workshops, summer camps. By college and law school, I was singing every opportunity I had whether it was cabaret, music theatre, choral, big band or a cappella. Starting in music theatre, I paid attention as my voice developed and transformed into a more legitimate classical instrument. I studied, entered competitions and discovered that I enjoyed the repertoire. Through my studies I learned that once I understood the physiology of my instrument I had a many choices. All sounds were interesting and enhanced my interpretive abilities.
I have approached my teaching in the same way. For success, the student should be open to adventure, risk, willing to see what lies beyond habit. With practice and attention, the student will follow the voice as it transforms to its most efficient and natural place. This new-found awareness will help a student make choices, not only artistically but importantly, technically, in order to communicate what means the most to them.
My journey through music has been wide and varied. I invite you to explore the rest of my website to know my experience in vocal performance, teaching and therapeutic practice. We sing how we are, we are how we sing.