Im about to go in, so if you do not want to hear a rather blunt rant, then I suggest you scroll past this post. This is something I must say because frankly I am tired of being treated in such a manner. I greatly dislike the way singers are treated as compared to instrumentalists. We, by the general population as well as by other musicians, are treated as an inferior subspecies of musician. This is absolutely absurd and unfounded. Dare I say quite an ignorant viewpoint, as well. After a performance, I have stood with an accompanist as the patrons passed by to congratulate them on what a superior musician they are as I get an Oh. That was pretty. I have stood and watched as people called an instrumentalist a musician, and then ask me what it is like to work with a musician. What is this melodic line coming from my mouth? These tones that add an interesting line to an orchestral piece, what are they? When I stand on stage, sweating, running around like a mad man, sometimes dancing, singing my guts out, what am I doing? Offering music to you. Henceforth, I am a musician. Just like instrumentalists, I have extensively studied theory, aural skills, music history, early music, 20th century music, dictation, ensemble work; but throw in English and foreign language diction and sight singing, to boot. I have been educated in the same courses as any other musician, except everything I do must be from memory... all of the rhythms, entrances, cut offs, dynamics, intervals, pitches, breathing, stage movement, facial expressions, emotion,sweating, all committed to memory. And I have to look pretty, too. I do not have the luxury of having my music on a stand in front of me. I have studied my craft for almost 20 years. I have sung to the point of exhaustion. I have had orchestra conductors scream obscenities toward me and the other musicians on stage. I have had vocal break-throughs, and emotional break downs. You see, my instrument is carried WITH me. All the time. And its rather personal. I will ignore any comments toward me from here out, that refer to singers as non-musicians. Its a better result than showing the sharp side of my tongue, and those who truly know me know that I have to work very adamantly to contain my inner Julia Sugarbakker. I am Joshua D Whitt, and I approve this message.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 18:03:02 +0000
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