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Acting in Plays, Singing/Starting out.
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Question
Hello!
It is my honor to ask you some questions because of your experience!
I am 14 right now and I have taken so much determining weather or not I would want to have a career in singing. I have been singing in a small choir and I LOVE it-- but I want to do more with my voice. The leader has said that I have a really good voice when he was testing my placement.(I have a three octave range.) I have a couple questions.
1. What are the steps I should take to start a career? (Step by step)
2. what are the steps to getting a record out?
3. Did you ever make a record?
4. If you did, what was it like? I have always wanted to know what it would be like to be in the studio, is it extremely hard? hard?
5. How do you do a vocal hiccup? (E.I. Michael Jackson's vocal hiccup?)
THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!
Hello, Nathan –
Thank you for contacting me.
Let’s do one question at a time, OK?
At 14, you are at the very beginning of what will be an onslaught of changes in your voice and body. At some point your voice will settle into an identifiable vocal category, i.e., tenor, baritone, bass, etc. At the present time, what your choir leader has determined as a “three octave range” probably includes the sound of your boy soprano. That will change. Most people have a legitimate two-octave range. My job as a professional vocal coach is to determine your true vocal category and to work with you on expanding and developing your range. For example, the standard range of a tenor is the two-octave stretch between Middle C and High C. All my tenors exercise between Low A and High D, some go higher.
Then it’s about repertoire. Building repertoire is crucial to your success as a solo artist. Again, this is dependent on your vocal category. In theatrical music, i.e., Broadway, Opera, Classical literature, etc., the material is specific to the type of singer. In other words, a bass-baritone cannot sing the role of a tenor, etc. But in the areas of Classical art song, Standard Pop, religious material, and more – the singer can place the song into the key that works best for him. Become familiar with every variety of music – including symphonies, ballets, film scores, etc. By the time I was 14, I had years of training on the piano and was able to play anything I wanted to sing. Four years later, I was an Acting Major and knew I wanted to study opera.
Your goal must be about earning a 4.5 grade average and becoming the most informed musician you know. Think and plan ahead! Gain the academic excellence and musical experience that will qualify you for maximum scholarship monies. Here in San Francisco we have one of the best Conservatories in the nation. Applicants come in from all over the world. Acceptance is based on your academic resumé, your audition, your performance history, and knowledge of music theory.
All that stuff about recordings and vocal gimmicks (like hiccups, yodeling, or Rock screaming) comes with time, training, and performance experience. That’s where I come in as a personal trainer.
I am a professional singing teacher and vocal coach in San Francisco. When you want to book an appointment, contact me through Craig's List. This week’s connection is: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/lss/1405517306.html I am also the Editor and Publisher of SanFranciscoSentinel.com. All my articles and interviews about the Performing Arts provide a link to my personal e-mail.
Download Carmen Milagro’s BlogTalkRadio and her recent interview with Seán Martinfield. It’s all about singing and the 2009/10 San Francisco Opera Season:
Women and Legends Who Really Rock, 9/11/2009
Take a look at my You Tubes:
Lorena Feijóo - A Look at "Giselle" with Seán Martinfield
SAMSON & DELILAH – Meet Seán Martinfield
CA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES – A Preview Look with Seán Martinfield
Below are links to my recent interviews and articles about what's happening on San Francisco's cultural scene:
JUAN DIEG FLÓREZ – To Sing “Tonio” in San Francisco Opera’s Daughter of the Regiment
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=44753
RENT – Jonathan Larson’s Popular Musical Returns to San Francisco October 6th – 18th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=44670
“Pulp Scripture”, Hélène Renaut, and teenage YouTube vocalist Jesaiah Baer
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=44489
CD – THE PLANETS, A Mind-Blowing Meditation
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=44236
SF ARTS COMMISSION – Catalogue of Posters from the 2008 Art On Market Street Public Art Program
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=44122
SF OPERA’S “Abduction From The Seraglio” – The Trills and Frills of Captivity
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=43985
SOUTH PACIFIC – A Total Winner In San Francisco
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=43862
ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO – Now At SF Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=43611
SOUTH PACIFIC – Now At San Francisco’s Golden Gate Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=43415
MACY’S PASSPORT 2009 – Glamour and Giving Galore in San Francisco
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=43233
MAYA LIN – Artist Debuts “What Is Missing?” at CA Academy of Sciences
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=43178
IL TRITTICO – Patricia Racette Debuts In Puccini’s Trio of One-Act Operas
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=43109
IL TROVATORE – Opening Night A Stunning Success For San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=42392
SF SYMPHONY OPENING NIGHT – Fabulous Start to 2009/10 Season
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=42228
ROMEO AND JULIEN – A New Set of Lovers At Boxcar Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=41746
NOEL COWARD’S BRIEF ENCOUNTER – Opens September 16th At A.C.T.
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=41449
VICTOR ARIMONDI – A Compassionate Eye
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=41078
CARMEN MILAGRO – Popular Latin Favorite Takes the Stage At SFFD Annual Chili Cook-Off, September 19th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=41006
IL TRITTICO – Puccini’s Complete Set of Three One-Act Operas Opens Tuesday, September 15th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=40640
THE PALACE HOTEL – Ten-Tier Chocolate Cake For 100th Anniversary
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=40462
TOM ORR – in “A Crass Act”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=40313
FREE SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK – Opens Saturday Night At The Presidio
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=40199
IL TROVATORE – Opens SF Opera’s 87th Season, September 11th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=39892
FILM NOIR – 22 Newly Restored Classics Coming To The Roxie
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=39755
CD – ZUILL BAILEY and SIMONE DINNERSTEIN, Beethoven’sComplete Works for Piano and Cello
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=39415
MAURICE SENDAK – At the Contemporary Jewish Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=39005
NICOLA LUISOTTI – Begins Inaugural Season As Music Director of SF Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=38821
AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY – Opens Tonight At The Curran Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=38348
NORMA SHEARER – Hollywood Dreams Made Real
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=38082
JULIE & JULIA – Pleasing To The Palate
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=37855
THE EGYPTIAN (1954) – A Swords & Sandals Cultural Encounter at the de Young Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=37554
JAMES JUDD – Whoop Click! Now At The Dark Room
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=37175
NEW CONSERVATORY THEATRE CENTER – Pride Season 2009/10
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=36938
DANCING WITH THE DRAG QUEEN STARS – Who will be crowned Champion
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=36249
SAN FRANCISCO JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL – Saturday and Sunday At The Castro Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=35970
JOHN BALDESSARI: A Print Retrospective – Now at the Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=35799
JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL – 29th Anniversary Opens July 23rd at the Castro Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=35558
PATTY DUKE – Gala Appearance and Tribute at the Castro Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=35016
MONT ALTO MOTION PICURE ORCHESTRA – Accompanies Opening Night of the 14th Annual San Francisco Silent Film Festival
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=34306
SALLY KELLERMAN – Hot Lips for Hot Hits at The Rrazz Room
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=33009
TUTANKHAMUN – And The Golden Age Of Pharaohs
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=32878
DIANE BAKER – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=32007
AMANDA KING – AT THE RRAZZ ROOM, THIS SATURDAY NIGHT
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=30037
RENT: THE BROADWAY TOUR – Returns To The Curran Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=29872
WESLA WHITFIELD – At The Rrazz Room
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=29588
SPAMALOT – THE “MONTY PYTHON” MUSICAL THAT GOES LIKE THIS
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=29401
CAMERON CARPENTER – An Interview with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=24462
AT LAST! – ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY – An Interview with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=27122
CHAGALL AND THE ARTISTS OF THE RUSSIAN JEWISH THEATER, 1919-1949 – Now AT San Francisco’s Contemporary Jewish Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=22321
Best regards,
Seán Martinfield
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Answers by Expert:
Sean Martinfield
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 Editor of 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 the LGBT Frameline Festival, International Film Festival, Silent Film Festival, Jewish Film Festival, etc. For private vocal instruction, I can be contacted through SanFranciscoSentinel.com. Look under: Seán Martinfield, Sentinel Editor and Publisher.
Experience
As a vocal coach, I work primarily with singers and actors throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. My students range from absolute beginners to working professionals, from pre-schoolers to senior citizens. The vast majority of my clients 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 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 a number of major components to my work as a vocal coach. The first is to identify the client's vocal category and to strengthen and maximize the vocal range accordingly. Then it's about teaching a reliable vocal workout that will enable the client to gain better control of their musicianship. That includes scale work to expand the vocal range and to improve placement, breath control, and diction. Then we work on material for the audition portfolio, the immediate job or assignment, a recording session, etc. My task to is to better equip singers and actors who are hoping to or relying upon their performance skills and vocal endurance to maintain a career in the Performing Arts. My clients regularly appear in cabarets and musical productions throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Some have worked in New York and gone on National Tours. For more information, Contact me at: Broadwaybelters@yahoo.com
Education/Credentials
San Francisco State University – BA in Theatre Arts; graduate work in Theatre, Philosophy, and Comparative Reiligion.
Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley – Graduate work in Ethics
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