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Christina Rovics Vocal Studio Blog
Summer Opera in the Catskills
It’s something you can’t predict - when you might go to a performance and feel so overwhelmed by its magic that you are rendered speechless, buzzing with excitement yet drained by the intensity of it. This experience of a lifetime took place in a small theater on a Thursday matinee in a sleepy little town in the Catskills. We talked about it on the beautiful two (plus) hour drive home to Connecticut, reviewing a score of memorable impressions. Early in the summer a simple text email came from Jennifer Marshall letting some friends know that she had a leading role in Così fan tutte by Mozart in a production of the Delaware Valley Opera Company. Howard accompanies Jenn on the organ on occasion at St. Joseph Church in Danbury when he substitutes for her husband David Baranowski, a musician who we much admire. Eager to hear Jennifer in an operatic production we quickly sent off for tickets. Jennifer, First prize winner of the Jenny Lind Competition and just this year Classical Singer Convention Competition Winner was one singer we had to hear in the right setting.
Italian Festival in Danbury: Aug 8, '10
Here is sampling of an hour long program presented by students of the Christina Rovics Vocal Studio. Howard accompanied at the synthesizer. Our special guest Victoria Chiera sang two songs to karoake accompaniments, one in Italian and the other in English. Ten year old Mira sings in Italian behind the credits.
The Program - July 28, 2010
A Classical Program - July 28, 2010 - 7:30 pm - Danbury Music Centre
Students of the Christina Rovics Vocal Studio - Howard Rovics, pianist
Vivaldi’s Rain Arranged by David Downes
Lascia ch’io pianga Handel
Pastorale Stravinsky
Mira Zylali
Lascia ch’io pianga Handel
Pastorale Stravinsky
Mira Zylali
Reviewing the Classical Program
The Studio presented A Classical Program on July 28, 2010 at the Danbury Music Centre comprising seven students of Christina Rovics with Howard Rovics accompanying at the piano and synthesizer. It was an unusually long program (almost 2 hours) simply because we wanted to allow everyone a chance to sing as much as they wanted just as long as they were thoroughly prepared. It was really not intended to be a public event, but rather a chance to hear each other and enjoy the master composers that we had been studying all year. Most of the music was either Baroque or Romantic. The evening included a premiere of a new suite of piano pieces by a local composer, Stephen Becroft who had been studying composition with Howard, a nice reminder that in every era, when it came to the classics, people composed the music in all of its detail, precisely notating their intentions. The two youngest singers were Mira Zylali (age 10), singing a Handel aria and a Stravinsky vocalise and Maria LoStocco (age 13), who sang two early Italian arias. Their young voices project a purity of tone that is best achieved by transposing their songs upward to place the voice where they resonate best, quite high and effortless. They are both eager performers who won us over immediately.
College and Knowing What You Want
It’s the rare high school senior who knows exactly what she wants to major in in college and then finds the program that fits her aspirations. Emerson College in Boston is among the few that offer a degree in Theatre Education aligned with continued experience in Musical Theatre. Careful research and weighing several good options led Annie Smith to her final choice. She began voice training with Christina while still a student in Whisconier Middle School in 2005. Now in 2010 she just graduated from Brookfield High knowing what she wants to do with her life professionally. In many of the high schools in our area there are two activities that bring lots of people together outside of the classroom -- team sports and musical productions. A Broadway-style musical draws on many talents -- singing, acting, dancing, art (costume and scenic design), tech work (lighting, sound), and the musicians. Annie loves this, the challenge of it all, and she’s been involved in many productions. I asked her to tell me what she’s doing this summer.
“Well, Glee Camp starts next Monday, July 19th. I'm in charge of vocal technique, improv, singing and acting for auditions, as well as arranging music and writing the script for the shows which are performed for the parents at the end of every two-week session.”
Working with a Young Voice
An eight year old actor in need of vocal training was brought to Christina at the request of his theatrical director. A few months ago his singing ability was not nearly as good as his ability to act. Pitch matching seemed to be his main problem. His natural love of performing, his eagerness to succeed, and his love for music were obvious. After doing some research on strategies that have proven successful in learning to overcome a pitch-matching problem, Christina began to work with the child.Christina explained "whereas people commonly have pitch problems in the uncomfortable outer ranges of their voices, this student had a problem with anything in the middle of his range. It became apparent that he was confusing speaking with singing." By training his voice as a musical instrument, pitch by pitch, the child gained control of his singing voice quickly. In fact, he went back to the theater to audition for the role of Dodger in Oliver, belting Consider Yourself. Fifty young people auditioned and only five received call backs. Imagine his surprise (and Christina’s) when they offered him the role of Oliver! It was our student’s eagerness to do the work that made his accomplishment possible.
Pop Music and the Singer's Personality
It wasn’t that long ago that I was sending for karaoke catalogues to find material for my students who wanted to sing pop. You’d look up a song and find it on a CD with 10 other songs you couldn’t care less about, so your song track ended up costing $20 plus shipping. Then some companies started advertising custom karaoke CDs. You’d send them a list of the songs you wanted and they would make up your custom CD at $5 a song, minimum 5 songs, plus shipping. Forget about getting anything that was currently popular - the tracks weren’t available yet.Now we’re not even dealing with CDs at all. Everyone just downloads a song on itunes at .99 a pop, no shipping, and you have it instantly on your ipod. And everything is available. So here is the new protocol for working on pop music with karaoke tracks at Christina Rovics Vocal Studio: the student downloads the track on their ipod at home and we work with the I pod at the lesson, hooking it up to our sound system. It is possible for us to download the track here and make a CD for you and charge you for the download and the CD, but that wastes valuable lesson time. Also, it is important to bring printouts of the lyrics, as printing lyrics on lesson time in the studio also wastes lesson time.
Debut CD - Victoria Hamilton
Mirror, mirror
Our own Victoria Hamilton who studied voice with Christina Rovics for some eight years just released her debut CD, Little Red Book. It contains songs that she wrote and songs written for her, produced by Rob Fusari. One full track can be heard here, Mirror Mirror.
Victoria's story is an interesting one. You can learn about her by going to Our Students in this website. Victoria is there under Professional Achievements. In February 2010 she appeared at our Karaoke Songfest as our special guest. You can see her in the Karaoke Songfest Video on this blog.
Victoria will be appearing June 1st on channel 3 (WFSB) at 3:00 pm, before Oprah.
She has a strong presence in the social media. Click on any of these listed below:
PREPARING FOR AUDITIONS
Every year many of our students participate in musical theatre productions - mainly high school shows, community theatre, and summertime festivals. It is auditioning for these venues that this article is addressing although people also need to audition for admission to choral groups, solo parts in choral productions, school talent shows and participation in major all-state events.
A few have their eye on highly competitive venues like American Idol, America’s Got Talent, or contracting with an agent. Auditioning is challenging. and good preparation is essential. It helps to have an understanding of the overall process and a good attitude. What follows is some practical advice that comes from training people year after year. It’s an accomplishment to win a leading role in a production but it’s also a huge commitment of time and energy that often involves the family schedule -- getting to long, after-school rehearsals, being 100% reliable, staying healthy and, in the end doing anywhere from three to eight performances. Even a minor role in the ensemble is very time consuming but can be an important part of the learning process.
I’m often asked “what should I sing for an audition?”
First of all, check carefully all the information you can get about the specific audition. Do they want something from a specific show? Will they listen to a complete song or is the audition limited to part of a song, like one minute, or 32 bars, or even only 16 bars? When the selection is particular short it may take some guidance to determine which sixteen bars will show your voice in the best light.
First of all, check carefully all the information you can get about the specific audition. Do they want something from a specific show? Will they listen to a complete song or is the audition limited to part of a song, like one minute, or 32 bars, or even only 16 bars? When the selection is particular short it may take some guidance to determine which sixteen bars will show your voice in the best light.
Trio sings Duna
Duna by Josephine McGill has the quality of a little sea chantey folk song. Local composer/arranger Stephen Becroft turned it into a trio just for this concert. The main tenor solo line is carried by Tony Bruno with Meg Stoop and Christina Rovics supporting. A few of the group photos of all the participants in the Songs of Ireland concert at St. James' Episcopal Church in Danbury Connecticut on April 11, 2010 were added on at the end of Duna.
Nancy Brant, I Dreamt I Dwelt ...
Nancy Brant is singing I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls by the Irish operatic composer M.W.Balfe. Mrs. Brant is a nurse by profession and a dedicated vocalist who loves to study the classical, modern and operatic vocal repertoire. Stravinsky and Vivaldi are among her favorite composers. On weekends she works as a paid soloist in the choir of St. Mary's Church in Ridgefield CT. Nancy was one of only two of our students who appeared on the concert Christina Rovics and Friends in November 2009 at the Danbury Music Centre along with some of the finest professional singers in the area. This video is from our concert Songs of Ireland at St. James' Episcopal Church in Danbury on April 11, 2010.
Tony Bruno sings Danny Boy
Tony Bruno, a retired computer specialist who loves acting discovered that he had a most beautiful singing voice only six months ago. Just about everyone on our Songs of Ireland program wanted to sing Danny Boy but we saved it just for him. Howard Rovics accompanies at the piano playing the arrangement of this old Irish air by Fred E. Weatherly.
Emily DeGirolamo sings two Irish Songs
Emily DeGirolamo, age 13 can be seen here singing How are Things in Glocca Morra and The Kerry Dance. Christina asked her to learn the latter only a few days before the concert to replace someone who dropped out. It's a complex sort of tune, full of changes of mood with lots of words. She's quite a musician and she measured up to the task, glancing at the words occasionally just for security. Her ease of vocal production and naturally lovely sound is admirable for someone so young.
Maria LoStocco sings Suo-Gan in Gaelic
Maria LoStocco, age 13 studies voice with Christina and piano with Howard. She appeared on every studio event this season -- Singing for Joy in December, Karaoke Songfest in February and she made two professionally engineered studio recordings at AngelThorneMusic.Maria's soprano voice at this point is very high and ethereal particularly beautiful in this large and naturally resonant church setting. This video was made at April 11, 2010 at a recital of the Christina Rovics Vocal Studio given at St. James' Episcopal Church in Danbury Connecticut. The concert, Songs of Ireland presented some 15 singers of all ages. No amplification was used. The video and its microphone was at least 50 feet away from Maria. No audio processing was used to enhance her sound. The key that Maria sings in in Suo-Gan was arrived at by transposing upward to find her area of greatest comfort. Maria exemplifies the singer with two voices. Listen to Maria's recordings in Our Recordings to hear for yourself the two very different sides of her developing voice.
As she continues her training Maria's pure soprano voice and her male voice will work together to produce an instrument of great flexibility. One thing is certain. Right now, Maria loves to sing, she has an adventurous spirit and musical aptitude that shows in this lovely performance.
Annie Smith sings The Love of My Life
Annie Smith, a college bound senior from Brookfield Ct High School studied voice with Christina Rovics for several years. She has been in numerous theatrical and musical productions. The Love of My Life from Brigadoon by Lerner & Lowe added a comic touch to the Christina Rovics Vocal Studio concert, Songs of Ireland, given at St. James' Church in Danbury on April 11, 2010. Her pianist was Howard Rovics.
Maria's Musical Experience
We received an email recently that we thought would be fun to share with everyone. Here it is complete and unedited.
maria's experience with billy micheal's
...
Tue, March 9, 2010 7:19:41 AM
From:
joseph lostocco III < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >
...
View Contact
To: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
On Saturday, Maria and I were walking around the mall, minding our own business, when we happen to hear someone singing a Sinatra song. As we get closer, we see Bethel's own, Anthony Nazzaro, singing and Billy Michael acompanying. Billy flags us over and Anthony hands Maria the mike. Maria takes a little walk, to think about what to sing.When she gets back, She sings (and nailed it, thanks to Christina & Howard's excellent training) Close to You, by The Carpenters. Billy Pulls me aside, and says "bring her back tomorrow, I want her to sing two songs" On Sunday, she sings Somewhere Over The Rainbow & God Bless America, beautifully, if I may say so, proud mother bragging rights,aside and all. Billy tells Maria, she just keeps getting better and better each time he hears her, and now he want her to learn 5 or 6 more songs, for next time, because she can sing anytime for him. OK Billy. Thanks Christina & Howard, for the great training, which enabled Maria to sing off the cuff, and sound great. Francine LoStocco
...
Tue, March 9, 2010 7:19:41 AM
From:
joseph lostocco III < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >
...
View Contact
To: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
On Saturday, Maria and I were walking around the mall, minding our own business, when we happen to hear someone singing a Sinatra song. As we get closer, we see Bethel's own, Anthony Nazzaro, singing and Billy Michael acompanying. Billy flags us over and Anthony hands Maria the mike. Maria takes a little walk, to think about what to sing.When she gets back, She sings (and nailed it, thanks to Christina & Howard's excellent training) Close to You, by The Carpenters. Billy Pulls me aside, and says "bring her back tomorrow, I want her to sing two songs" On Sunday, she sings Somewhere Over The Rainbow & God Bless America, beautifully, if I may say so, proud mother bragging rights,aside and all. Billy tells Maria, she just keeps getting better and better each time he hears her, and now he want her to learn 5 or 6 more songs, for next time, because she can sing anytime for him. OK Billy. Thanks Christina & Howard, for the great training, which enabled Maria to sing off the cuff, and sound great. Francine LoStocco
On Saturday
PREPARING THE IRISH CONCERT
Songs of Ireland, the fifth studio event of the 2009-10 season is developing nicely. It will take place at St. James Episcopal Church in Danbury on Sunday April 11th at 3 pm. Ever since our Karaoke Songfest in February and the Recording Day that followed a week later at Angel Thorne Music the Irish program has been a focus of attention for most most of our students. Now in its final stage of preparation we would like to share some thoughts about the event and some behind-the-scenes details.
You have all heard Christina speak of the two voices that we all embody, the male voice and the female voice. Not all teachers will teach the female singer how to use her male voice and some even warn against its use as inherently damaging. But not only do we speak in that voice, most popular and theatrical music is specifically written for it. The female voice has a vast tradition behind it which finds expression in choral music, classical song (in numerous languages), opera, operetta and certain Broadway leading- lady roles. For example, some of our students participated in the production of Oklahoma! at Ridgefield High School. There are two leads for women: one (Laurie) is written for female (legitimate) voice; the other (Ado Annie) is written for male (belting) voice.
From the very beginning students at Christina Rovics Vocal Studio train in the use of both voices, with specific exercises for each voice, (For men, this involves use of the falsetto (female) voice.) Students who practice every day show tremendous growth in a very short time, discovering areas of their voices they never knew existed.
Oklahoma at Ridgefield High: Our Review
Ridgefield High’s Visual and Performing Arts Department put on Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma which we attended the night of March 13th. Despite the heavy rain all that day and evening the school’s large auditorium was packed with an enthusiastic crowd. While we waited for the doors to open we watched a slide show that featured the elaborate process of set construction, a series of projects that the students undertook.Once in our seats there was time to read the very informative program notes. In the 32 years that RHS has been presenting fully staged musicals Oklahoma was done twice before, in 1986 and again in 1995. The story itself is a slice of American history and reading about the context of this show made it all the more enjoyable.
Everything started on time. The lights dimmed, the conductor Albert Montecalvo, started the overture and from the outset we could hardly believe that the group we were hearing was a student orchestra, so professional was the sound.
We were especially excited because five of our singing students were in this show, one of whom, Dylan Manderlink had the lead role of Ado Annie. We knew she’d be good, an ambitious young actress/singer/dancer intent on a performing career, but we were equally impressed by the vocal quality of all of the other leads, both the men and the women. Complements to the audio people who skillfully delivered a clear, beautiful sound throughout the show.
Karaoke Songfest Video Feb 7 '10
This is a short video of excerpts from our Sunday afternoon Karaoke event on February 7th at Empire Szechuan. Karaoke Songfest Feb 7, 2010.YouTube as an Inspiring Resource
For the last several months Christina frequently invites students over to the computer to look at items on YouTube that are inspiring and instructional. Now she is compiling a playlist in our channel, CRovicsVocalStudio of these favorites. Here is today's favorite:
Nathan Gardner performs "Not a Day Goes By" by Stephen Sondheim. Nathan is a recent graduate (BFA) of the Penn State Music Theatre program.
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