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Archives for December 2010

Power of Human Voice – Eddi Reader and the Scottish Parliament

December 31, 2010 by George Leave a Comment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MX60CAaDbQ

Eddi Reader is one of my absolute favorite pop singers. Born and raised in Scotland, she was a member of the band Fairground Attraction before striking out on a solo career. One of the high points of her album output was 2003’s Sings the Songs of Robert Burns. Reader sets some of Scots poet Robert Burns’ poetry to music, including such old charms as “My Love is Like a Red Red Rose,” complete with her usually well hidden Scottish brogue.

The final track on the original release is the New Years chestnut “Auld Lang Syne.” But she sings it with a different melody than we in the States are used to hearing. Pardon the quality of the recording, but here is Eddi Reader performing “Auld Lang Syne” for the Scottish Parliament in 2004, where Burns is considered a national treasure.

And to all of my friends and colleagues, Happy New Year to you and yours!

The full lyrics to “Auld Lang Syne”

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet
For auld lang syne

We twa hae run aboot the braes
And pou’d the gowans fine;
we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot
Sin’ auld lang syne

We two hae paidled i’ the burn,
Frae mornin’ sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin’ auld lang syne

And here’s a hand, my trusty friend,
And gie’s a hand o’ thine;
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet
For auld lang syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet
For auld lang syne

Filed Under: Music, Power of Human Voice, Random Thoughts Tagged With: Auld Lang Syne, Eddi Reader, poetry, Robert Burns, Scotland, Scottish Parliament, singing, tearjerker

Christmas Eve Music

December 27, 2010 by George 2 Comments

My wife Katherine and I were asked to sing at St. Mark’s ELCA Church here in Charlotte for Christmas Eve, and since we have not gotten many opportunities to sing in the same room recently (we have to work on this!), we gladly accepted. I am waiting for the videographer to post her stunning rendition of “Gesu Bambino” by Pietro Yon, but I will share my “O Holy Night” and “Some Children See Him.”

My own beliefs have changed over the years, but Christmas music still holds a special place in my heart. Hope you enjoy them, and I will definitely post her video as soon as I have it! Thank you to Les Ackerman for inviting us to join the wonderful men and women of the choir to sing with them on a special night.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9yGd3cuX4I]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDh5jg4oleU]

Filed Under: Music, Random Thoughts Tagged With: Christmas, O Holy Night, singing, Some Children See Him, St. Mark's Lutheran

Vocal Rest from Dialect 411

December 22, 2010 by George Leave a Comment

Dialect Coach Pamela Vanderway of Dialect 411
Dialect Coach Pamela Vanderway of Dialect 411

My friend Pamela Vanderway, aside from being an outstanding dialect coach in Los Angeles, is also a fountain of ideas. On her blog Dialect 411, Pamela wrote about a topic that every person who uses their voice for a living should read and take to heart about vocal rest.

Singers often know about the concept, but people who talk for a living may not, unless they have had a shoot or session that required a lot of shouting or screaming. Pamela goes in depth about what it is, the reasons for vocal rest, and the best ways  to achieve it. Even if you never stress your voice in this manner, you will learn a lot about the vocal mechanism and how to take care of it.

But don’t just take my word for it. Go read her post right now,  and subscribe to her blog. You are missing out on a great person and a wonderful resource if you don’t.

Filed Under: Career Development Tagged With: Dialect 411, recovery, rest, screaming, shouting, vocal rest

Sound editing help via sticker?

December 17, 2010 by George 1 Comment

Apple Keyboard Macrophoto © 2007 Declan Jewell | more info (via: Wylio)Using your DAW (digital audio workstation) of choice can be made easier by learning the shortcut keys that all of them offer to help you speed through your recording and edit process. But there are as many key combinations out there as you can come up with by pressing your CTRL and ALT keys (or Command and Apple keys for the Mac fans). That’s a lot of shortcuts…how do you remember them all?

Well, according to EditorsKeys, you don’t. With their keyboard sticker sets, you can have the entire set of shortcuts your program offers right at your….erm, fingertips. For $15.99, there are sticker sets for the following products:

  • Ableton Live
  • Cubase
  • Logic/Logic Express
  • Pro Tools
  • Reason
  • Sibelius
  • Sonar
  • Sound Forge

And if you really want a dedicated keyboard, they also sell keyboards with the shortcuts already labeled for Pro Tools, Cubase, and Logic. These same keyboards and sticker sets are offered for graphic editors and video editors as well. They also sell one of my favorite pieces of editing hardware, the Contour ShuttlePRO v2. Finally, they have a regular newsletter with audio editing tips and tricks you can sign up for.

Becoming fluent in your audio editing tool of choice is critical in your progress as a voice artist, because speed from recording to finished product is something you absolutely must have. These tools can help you get your editing “up to speed” for not a lot of money. And that helps you get auditions and production projects out faster. Who can argue with that?

Filed Under: Sound Resources Tagged With: audio editors, bad pun, DAW, EditorsKeys, help, stickers

Power of Human Voice – Your Gifts

December 16, 2010 by George 1 Comment

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA45TnJQxhU]The last few weeks I have posted a “Power of the Human Voice” post, spotlighting some vocalists and performers that I thought I wanted to to share. This week, I’m going to take a slightly different tack.

One of the many things I see suggested to beginning voice talent is that they volunteer to read for the blind. Organizations like RFB&D help create and distribute content to those who cannot read or struggle to do so through no fault of their own. For the voice artist, it give you the chance to work on your chops, your characterization and your endurance, as well as giving you a chance to give back to the greater community.

I have not done this, but I wanted to let people know that what you do can have an enormous impact on people you don’t even know. This came to mind after an event I have been involved in the last few years. Here in the Charlotte area, The Havens, an Alzheimer’s and dementia home for the elderly, has asked me to come in and sing Christmas songs for the residents for the past 4 or 5 years. If you haven’t experienced what being around Alzheimer’s patients is like, it can be heartbreaking. Many times they move around in their own haze, or not at all. Even with the caring staff around them, they can be unresponsive. Those who are responsive often struggle to make sense of things around them, and comments can come out of the blue. One year I sang there, a little lady very earnestly discussed her little dog with me for 3 minutes, and abruptly turned away to speak on some new topic with a neighbor.

However off-putting it may seem to be, I try to make sure to do it every year. Because for those few minutes  that I sing for them, I can see the impact for many almost immediately. Some sing along lustily, some merely murmur the words. And some just cry.

When I sing for them, I have learned that the most important choices I make for music are the ones that bring them memories. No unique Christmas tunes here: “White Christmas” never fails for the good people in the Havens. “Winter Wonderland,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” and more of the all time favorites are the way to go. And I hear it from the families who come year after year that they appreciate having Mom or Dad hear those old songs at this time of year.

This is the impact you and your voice can have on those who need it the most. As a voice artist, you are already used to not having people leap to their feet in applause after your finest performance. Keep in mind that sometimes what you do with your voice affects people in very small, but still very important ways. Reading for those who cannot, singing for those who need it most, using your gift in the finest way possible. Especially this time of year.

So go ahead and start doing some reading or singing. For you, because it is always good for your soul. And for the people who need your gifts. Even those who cannot tell you they need it.

Filed Under: Power of Human Voice, Random Thoughts Tagged With: Alzheimer's, giving back, reading to the blind, singing, voice

Another VO Newbie Resource – The VO Minute

December 8, 2010 by George Leave a Comment

Last week,VO Minute I posted a lot of information for new voice actors. And I knew the instant I hit “publish” that there were a lot of things I left out of the considerable list. The first omission I want to correct is this one: The VO Minute.

The VO Minute is a 1 minute podcast created by Allison Moffett and Marktree Productions in Huntington Beach, California. A brisk and informative blast of good information for anyone unfamiliar with the ins and outs of voiceover, audio recording, and sound, you should definitely be subscribing to it in iTunes or checking it out directly on the website. They are now up to 11 episodes, and going strong.

If audio isn’t in your background, I strongly recommend checking out this podcast. You can only gain from it. You can also follow Allison on Twitter @VOMinuteAlli do find out when each new podcast is coming. Anne Ganguzza  had already pointed out this great resource, but I thought I would add to the chorus. Go check it out!

Filed Under: Career Development Tagged With: Marktree Productions, newbie, podcast, resource, VO Minute

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