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: I am auditioning for The Merry Widow in October and was wondering if you could recommend any good ... A: Seems crossing over from opera to musical theater is pretty common. You are only the second person ...
Q: I had a question concerning what range I am. I would like to say I'm a Baritone, but my voice ... A: ! This seems to be the age old question when it comes to male singing; Am I a Bari? Tenor? Bass? ...
Q: My name is Christina Lara and I am a freshman at California State UNiversity Fullerton. I am ... A: Hey, Christina: Sorry it's taken me a few days to get back to you...I was stuck out of town due to ...
Q: I'm a 14 yr. old high school student who is looking for a song to sing for a musical theatre class. ... A: Rachel- Thanks for your question! I just love to find obscure but good songs! The first one to come ...
Q: So for my musical theatre class we are being asked to pick an obscure Broadway ballad that we can ... A: Rachel Thank you for the question. Based on your description, I'm assuming that by "High C" you ...
Q: I am a college student (and I think I have determined I am a mezzo- I played Rizzo in Grease, but ... A: Rebecca Thank you for the question. If you can sing both "Marion" in THE MUSIC MAN and "Rizzo" ...
Q: Could you tell me please whom I would contact to audition for a Broadway touring show? I am a ... A: Hey, Patrick Thank you for the question. Every instrumentalist in a Broadway musical belongs to ...
Q: Your question was Hello, I am auditioning for High school musical at my community theatre. This ... A: Mark- Thanks for your question! As for song selection, since it isn't specific, sing a song that ...
Q: I am only 14 and really want to be a singer when I grow up. I would like to begin now, so I ... A: Charlie- Thanks for your question! Here's the very simple answer, get yourself a vocal coach. Never ...
Q: Hey sean, I am trying to audition for a part in a musical as part of a class assignment. I am not a ... A: Jessica Thank you for the question. The term is: contralto. All my contraltos sing to at least ...
Q: Just so you know my background I recently finished my Math degree at La Sierra University, a small, ... A: Nicholas Thank you for the question. I appreciate all the information. The first thing you are ...
Q: I am working on the production staff for a community theater production of OLIVER! I often have ... A: Therese Thank you for the question. You don't need to re-invent the wheel. Listen to the ...
Q: I'm looking for a super good Broadway song for me (bass) and my friend who is a soprano. If we could ... A: Matthew Thank you for the question. Go to this web site: Singer's Musical Theatre Anthology ...
Q: My name is Trevor P and I'm a Junior in High School. My school is putting on Once Upon a Mattress ... A: That seems to be the issue most of the time. The best suggestion I can give you is to check out ...
Q: I am auditioning for the part of Belle in Beauty and the Beast at my school, and am wanting a good ... A: Kylee Thank you for the question. The vocal range of "Belle" in Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ...
Q: I have an audition comming up in a month at my local community theatre. They ask for a headshotm, ... A: Headshots can be a daunting issue, and there are a wide variety of opinions, not to mention sources. ...
Q: I'm auditioning for the part of Franz Liebkind in The Producers and need an audition song. I'm a ... A: Mark Thank you for the question. I have a better suggestion. Go to this website to purchase or ...
Q: I am auditioning for the part of Lorraine, and need some help choosing an audition song. I've been ... A: Carey- Thanks for your question! Sounds like you're in a good area for theater. Where are you, if ...
Q: First, thank you very much for reading my question! Second, my apologies for my lack of knowlege in ... A: Alex Thank you for the question. Do you know the score of THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE? My client ...
Q: I'm a 15 year old Baritone and i have an audition in a couple of months for my schools production of ... A: Hey, Nicky Thank you for the question. The role of "Rooster" in ANNIE sits high in the voice, ...
Q: I'm nearly 19 and I really badly want to give acting a try, but I'm just way too shy and nervous to ... A: The first thing I'd suggest is to write down WHY you want to give acting a try - and is that a good ...
Q: My name is Justin and I am a 15 year old boy from New York. I am a tenor who is in the middle of ... A: Justin- Thanks for your question! To be honest, asking me only a day or 2 before an audition isn't ...
Q: My name is Trevor P and I'm a Junior in High School. My school is putting on Once Upon a Mattress ... A: Trevor Thank you for the question and all the information. Nobody wants to hear a baritone ...
Q: My name is Trevor P and I'm a Junior in High School. My school is putting on Once Upon a Mattress ... A: I LOVE 'Once Upon A Mattress'. Great show! While I agree with you wanting to sing a little more ...
Q: Like many others, I'm seeking advice on picking an appropriate song for an upcoming audition. I ... A: Steve Thank you for the question. The dual role of "Jekyll & Hyde" requires a strong tenor. ...
Q: I have the blues (if that doesn't make any sense because it's a french expression that I just ... A: I had the same problem not so long ago. But what I've come to realize is that the spectators are ...
Q: hey sean martinfeild hows it going? i just wanted to know were i could learn how to sing that well. ... A: Hey, Brianna Thank you for the question. I don't know any professional singers who aren't ...
Q: I am interested in finding Musical Theater classes, schools, or coaches that work with adults in ... A: Coming in "late in the game" should not matter if you have talent and perseverance. My advice is to ...
Q: After I graduated from college I got scared about getting into the performing world because of ... A: Catherine Thank you for the question. No matter how old you are or however many degrees you may ...
Q: my name is brigid, and i want to audition for my high school rendition of GREASE, but i don't have a ... A: Brigid Thank you for the question. From your description, you may very well be a standard ...
Q: I have an audition for a Halloween varitety song and i was wondering what would be a good Halloween ... A: Nicky Thank you for the question. Consider any of the following pop songs for Halloween: Bo ...
Q: When I was in second grade, my grandpa, who had been a singer, and musical theatre supporter for ... A: Emily Thank you for the question and all the surrounding information. I appreciate and ...
Q: Hey! I'm Mary Kathryn and I'm involved in my high school's showchoir program, which has 2 musicals a ... A: I agree, "Into The Woods" is a great show. Thank you for sending this question along to me. It seems ...
Q: I am a 15 year old who loves musical theater. My acting is strong. My problem is that when I ... A: Grace Thank you for the question. Why are you taking lessons from / why are your parents ...
Q: I am a doctoral level vocal performance student (coloratura soprano) at a university and the first ... A: Megan Thank you for the question. Your job as a coloratura soprano and, thus, a perpetual ...
Q: I am auditioning for Victor/victoria and need an audition song.I am a mezzo soprano/belter, there ... A: Wow, I'm so sorry Deandriea for the misspelling of your name, I just caught that! Sondheim was the ...
Q: I am 16 years old and I go to a magnet school for performing arts. As you can imagine, we have a lot ... A: Are you currently taking voice lessons? I highly encourage you to do so. The range is something ...
Q: I am 16 years old and I go to a school that has a magnet program for performing arts. As you can ... A: Samantha Thank you for the question. Let me help you, OK? Your job as a potential cast member ...
Q: I am 12 years old, and I want to know where i could get a talent scout from Disney Channel, or ... A: You wouldn't believe the amount of questions I receive regarding "Disney Channel." The fact is that ...
Q: and thank you for reading my question. I've read many of your responses and have heard you many ... A: Mike Thank you for the question. So why are you paying money to some teacher who cannot answer ...
