Expertise I am a professional vocal coach in San Francisco. In addition to answers from a previous web site (Askme.com - where my "tag" was "VocalCoach") I have published over 2000 responses related to vocal training - particularly as it relates to Musical Theatre and Opera. I have 24 years of experience as Personal Trainer to singers and actors in the San Francisco Bay Area. I sang professionally for 20 years and know what it means to live the life of a musician. I can determine your voice category, i.e., Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Alto Belter, etc., and how to broaden and strengthen your range. Need an audition song for a Broadway Musical? I will give you suggestions that are appropriate to your vocal category and to requirements specified in the audition notice. I have also created a vocal methodology, "The Belter`s Method". It will enable those in Musical Theatre to practice more efficiently because it focuses on the demands of professional performers as well as to those auditioning for school and community productions, and as University and Conservatory performing arts majors. If what you want is a better voice and more control over your career moves and choices, contact me. Also, as the Fine Arts Critic for SanFranciscoSentinel.com, it is my privilege to review productions at the San Francisco Opera, Ballet and Symphony, as well as Broadway National Tours booked into San Francisco's Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theatres. I also review works by A.C.T (the American Conservatory Theatre) and Magic Theatre. I cover select films, tributes and retrospects, and various international film festivals particulary those booked into The City's opulent Castro Theatre including both the San Francisco International and Silent Film Festivals. For private vocal instruction, I can be contacted through craigslist.com. Look under Musicians, then keyword: Martinfield.
Experience Distinctive celebrity voices and how they are used and promoted by the Entertainment Industry have always fascinated me. Drawing from all eras of film and animation, television, radio, Broadway plays and musicals, opera and a few politicians ? a huge bounty of actors and singers have had a profound effect upon my life, influencing all the choices I made with respect to my education and my dual careers as a professional singer and vocal coach. I am curious about what is promoted and, consequently, the competitive aspects of the Performing Arts.
I am a Theatre Arts Graduate from San Francisco State University. During the years of my attendance, the school enjoyed the reputation for having the best Theatre Department on the West Coast. My academic training equipped me as an actor, enabling me to prepare for professional auditions and to compete successfully. I learned how to take direction and to apply my skills during the rehearsal process. Along the way I learned to identify my assets as a performer, to market my particular abilities and to find the audiences interested in my particular product.
During my freshman year, I also began studying opera. For the next eight years, I trained as a baritone, learning the classical vocal methodology known as "Bel Canto" with well-respected coaches including Mr. James Schwabacher, then head of the San Francisco Opera's Marla Training Program. Because mastering the technique of Bel Canto is absolutely dependent upon its application to Italian opera and, consequently, perfect pronunciation of the language, I studied Italian as well as French and German with private coaches. I have performed the roles of ?Guglielmo" (COSI FAN TUTTE), "Marcello" (LA BOHEME), "Valentin" (FAUST), "Enrico" (LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR), "Dr. Miracle", (THE TALES OF HOFFMANN), "Top" (THE TENDER LAND), " Mr. Gedge, the Vicar" (ALBERT HERRING) and "Dr. Caius" (THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR). During these ten years, I also appeared in many classical recitals singing the standard classical Baritone repertoire. It was Mr. Schwabacher's training that expanded my upper range, turning me into a working tenor. My last appearances as a classical tenor were with conductor and pianist Robin Kay, performing Schubert's DIE SCHΦNE MULLERIN.
I then re-trained my voice, dropped the Bel Canto methodology, and went on to sustain another 10 years doing standard American repertoire including Broadway, Jazz, Blues and Standards. Throughout this period I appeared regularly on the San Francisco cabaret circuit and was a featured soloist with Bay Area bands, orchestras and choruses. I continued producing my own solo concerts, the last being at the New Conservatory Theatre.
As a vocal coach, I work primarily with singers and actors throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. My clientele ranges from absolute beginners to working professionals, from pre-schoolers to retired Senior Citizens. The vast majority of them come to me through recommendation. I know how to identify any singer's vocal category, i.e., soprano, tenor, alto, baritone, etc. I know how to muscle-up every singer's vocal range and to expand it beyond conventional definitions. I have developed a vocal methodology for those who want to know how to belt, THE BELTER'S METHOD. As a singer who spent half of his career doing Bel Canto, I know for certain that classical or Italian methodologies do not work in Standard American music. Bel Canto cannot be "adapted" to meet the needs of contemporary American music, including the demands of the Musical Theatre.
There are two major components to my job. The first is to teach basic musical skills such as reading music, counting, breathing techniques, development and expansion of the vocal range, phonetics and diction ? specifically as it applies to Standard American English. The second is about presentation ? that is, everything involved with the client's audition and/or actual performance. In short, for any person relying upon their vocal endurance and performance skills to earn a living, my job is to enable them to compete for a job and, when hired, to maintain that job.
Over the years my clients have appeared in all of the available Broadway musicals produced in virtually every theater throughout the Bay Area. Some have worked in New York and gone on National Tours. Most recently, my clients have been praised for their work in AIDA and WICKED.
So, if you want to prepare for "American Idol" or the Broadway stage, contact me through http://www.geocities.com/broadwaybelters
Q: My name is Jenny and I'm having difficulty finding a comedic Shakespearean monologue for a younger ... A: Jenny, Don't worry about finding a monologue that fits your age - find a good monologue that you ...
Q: My high school is doing Taming of the Shrew and for auditions need to do a Shakespearean comedic ... A: Choosing the right monologue is always a challenge, but moreso with Shakespeare. Not to mention, as ...
Q: I hope you're doing well. I will be auditioning in April or May for Little Women the Musical, and ... A: Alex Thank you for the question. I absolutely disagree with your voice teacher about not being ...
Q: I'm having a hard time with college decisions as well as future-wise. I've taken dance for 2 years ... A: I know how confusing it is to try to chose a major in college - or even to decide which direction ...
Q: Mr. Martinfield. I am an alto, 17 years old, and aspiring to become a pop ballad singer in Korea. ... A: Yiling Thank you for the question. I watched the youtube. Speaking in treble clef, the range of ...
Q: What tricks do actors and actresses on stage do to memorize lines and songs when performing live on ... A: There are lots of different ways to learn lines and songs and every actor has his/her own different ...
Q: I am a soprano auditioning for Godspell and I have no idea what song to use from the show to ... A: Caroline Thank you for the question. Lucky you! "Bless The Lord" is the only "soprano" song in ...
Q: Hey my name is Tiff. Im going to be in 2 pageants in may and june and I cannot think of a song to ... A: Tiffany Thank you for the question. I'm assuming these events are Beauty-type pageants and that ...
Q: Um, I didn't mean to click private last time. I'm sorry. It's not clicked as of now... Hi Sean, I ... A: Hey, Jordan! Thank you so much for making my day. Some time ago I attended a two-week conference ...
Q: Hey x I am just writing to you as My school is putting on a production of Into the Woods and the ... A: Maisie Thank you for the question. All of Stephen Sondheim's musicals require superb ...
Q: Im 14 Years Old And I Have An Addution In NewYork City. Do U Think Im To Old To Start An Acting ... A: ..Thanks for writing. I think you are old enough to audition. I would say that it would be very ...
Q: very soon. I just want to get in I am not really aiming for a specific part, maybe Mrs. Meers I have ... A: Jessica Thank you for the question. My client recently appeared as "Mrs. Meers" in a fabulous ...
Q: I was just wondering if you knew much about the Boys from Syracuse show. I am auditioning with the ... A: I am somewhat familiar with "The Boys from Syracuse" (although it's been quite a while since I've ...
Q: Martinfeld, My name is Eica Crane, I am a theatre student at Five Towns college in Dix Hills Ny. ... A: Erica Thank you for the question. Consider the following songs. Click on or paste the URL into ...
Q: I'm audition for a production of Les Miserables, and planning to audition for the role of Javert. I ... A: Yu-San Thank you for the question. The role of "Javert" in LES MISΙRABLES belongs to a high ...
Q: I am currently directing a piece called terrorism by the presnyakov brothers and two characters are ... A: I don't have specific exercises, per se. But the best way to play a character very different from ...
Q: I read that you are a vocal coach/instructor and thought that you could help me with a slight ... A: Kaitlyn Thank you for the question. All of your song choices are good. URINETOWN is a wonderful ...
Q: I'm a 27 year-old mezzo belter who is interested in auditioning for Thoroughly Modern Millie. What ... A: Blair Thank you for the question. My client recently appeared as "Mrs. Meers" in a fabulous ...
Q: I am 16 with a range from a (thin) high C to a (doable) low F, and i know my range is pretty ... A: Tylinn Thank you for the question. I appreciate all the information about your range. ...
Q: I am a 34 year old housewife who just wants to sing in the church choir. I have no musical ... A: Michelle Thank you for the question. In the world of church choirs, women's ensembles, and even ...
Q: So about a month from now my school is holding auditions to Cabaret and I don't know what song to ... A: Ryan Thank you for the question. It sounds like you don't know the musical. Click on or paste ...
Q: I'm a professional singer and i have to do an audition they have asked me what my top note is and my ... A: Sarah Thank you for the follow-through question. I listened to your samples on YouTube. You ...
Q: I'm 13 and live in the cincinnati tristate, i would like to start a career as an actress and be on ... A: You are at a good age to start training. May I first suggest that you think about your personal ...
Q: and Happy Fall! I have a 15 year old daughter who is wonderfully talented, very positive, and ... A: Susan Thank you for the question. I appreciate all the information. No matter what you do or ...
Q: I hail from England, UK and part of my Drama degree is devising scripts and characters. In the UK, ... A: First of all, sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I've been traveling like crazy - just ...
Q: I'm having trouble doing my monologue that my coach gave me. It's from the Blair Witch Project, and ... A: First of all, sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I've been traveling like crazy - just ...
Q: I am auditioning for a community theatre production of Oklahoma! and am wanting to audition for ... A: Katy Thank you for the question. The role of "Laurey" in OKLAHOMA is definitely written for a ...
Q: I'm a dramatic tenor who is just now coming to a point where my voice has the control and quality to ... A: Josh Thank you for the question. If you are referring to musical theatre, then I want you to get ...
Q: So, I'm a 20 year old baritone with a range from about a Low C to a High G Belt on a good day. (That ... A: Nick Thank you for the question. Both men in SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD are tenors. Baritones with ...
Q: I am auditioning for The Miracle Worker - role of Annie or Kate. I've been out of this for a while ... A: Generally, there are two schools of thought regarding monologues to choose for an audition. One is ...
Q: I've got an audition for a uni production of Into the Woods coming up in a few months, and was ... A: Dylan Great question. Thank you. The musicals of Stephen Sondheim are very demanding and ...
Q: Like many others coming to you for advice, I am auditioning for a musical very soon and need some ... A: Rhonda Thank you for the question. Natalie is the leading female role and Miss Sandra is a ...
Q: I'm a professional singer and i have to do an audition they have asked me what my top note is and my ... A: Sarah Thank you for the question. Who are "they"? Speaking in treble clef, from Middle C your ...
Q: Our school is doing M*A*S*H and I have the part of Lt. Janice Fury. While it's not a lead role, ... A: Creating any character depends on more than just what is in the script, which is why two actors can ...
Q: I'm a baritone and have had some private training along with being in my schools chorus and I'm ... A: Hey, John Thank you for the question. Rodgers and Hammerstein's STATE FAIR is about as American ...
Q: I need an audition song for my high school's musical. We are doing All Shook Up. I'm a 17 year ... A: Hey, JJ Thank you for the question. Seventeen is rather old for your voice to not have changed. ...
Q: Sean! I hope this finds you well. My name is Dane Paul and I am auditioning for In The Heights this ... A: Dane Thank you for the question. The score of IN THE HEIGHTS contains a number of various ...
Q: I am 14 and live in Australia. I have been learning singing for 6 years now from a pricate teacher ... A: Hope Thank you for the question. Don't sing "Panis Angelicus". It's too much like "Wishing you ...
Q: After finding a post of your randomly on the internet, I became very interested in your knowledge. ... A: Ari Thank you for the question and all the surrounding information. I believe every singer ...
