50 shades of ....

I was thinking of how I would explain my feelings about a recent situation to my sister, the interior designer,  in a way that she would be able to relate to.

Imagine clients came to you and told you that they really, really liked the color red and wanted their house to reflect that.

So you create a palette of reds, reflecting the nuances and subtleties as well as having some bold accents here and there. A true example of chiaroscuro, bright and dark, light and shadow. Elegant, classy, at times understated, but definite pops of color in places where it would be warranted. There's rose, there's burgundy, there's some cherry red pillows, all of them helping to express what that room needs to express. You worked on that palette for months, consulting with the clients, getting to know their house and tastes and came up with the perfect design. Both you and the clients are totally thrilled with the design and are excited to see it implemented.

And then they went to buy paint and fabric, with their carefully selected design choices in hand, and the store manager told them that what they really want is fire engine red. Everywhere. On the walls, on the floor, the sofas, chairs, everything. That's what they really want and what's more, that's the only thing that the store manager will sell them.

So now you have a room with no subtlety, with no light, no shadow, and it just screams at everyone from the moment they walk in to the moment they hurriedly rush out the door.  And you are angry because they took someone else's advice in the moment after all the time you spent working together (plus people who know that you worked together will think that you're responsible for this one-dimensional outcome, and that does nothing for your reputation).

And that's how I feel.

All singers should have a palette of colors to draw from. You could define that as chest mix, head mix, belt, head voice, etc. You can define it by dynamics, by tempi, by every element that you have to offer as a performer.  I try my hardest to help you find that palette so that when you're ready to perform, you have something of beauty to show us (which goes beyond merely pretty) and to tell us a story, a story that has a beginning and an end.

Don't just throw the vocal equivalent of fire engine red paint at us willy-nilly. (Unless, of course, we're wearing fur.) Otherwise you have wasted the teacher's and your own time and your money. And you're not telling a story.

Why do singers think they're more broke than any OTHER artist??

I count myself in that subject line. Or at least I used to. I came from a mindset of poverty - do without, you can't afford that, you can buy something cheaper instead, even if it's not as good.

You get what you pay for. You need to invest in your craft, have the supplies you need.

These are the requirements for a Concordia University (WI) art class, "Drawing for Art Majors."

Nearly $70 in very specific supplies for one class.  Of stuff that will be used up and have to be replaced with more stuff at the same price.

I'm asking that my students buy books. At least one, maybe two books. Books that will cost $20 each  at the most. Books that can be used for more than just one semester, books that won't wear out or get used up.

Photocopies rip off so many people.

1. The composer/arranger
2. The performer (if it's a different person)
3. The printers
4. The office staff
5. The warehouse
6. The music store and all their assorted personnel

So I'm asking people to bite the bullet and buy some music next semester. Yes, we might still use copies, if I think of a song that's not in your book that I think would really suit you. But if you're a music major, or a musical theater major, you need to own music. You need to have a library of music that you can draw upon.

So if someone says, "What do you want for Christmas, dear?"

Music.

Not new socks.

Not new underwear.

But music.

You need these supplies to hone your craft, just like you'd need good brushes or canvas. I'm not saying spend a fortune. Go to Half Price Books. Buy things on sale at Amazon. Come to the MacDowell Club's used music sale on April 29 (more info on that later).

This is what you need.