Wednesday, September 19, 2018 by Patti Barrow | General

Tips: Learning Musical Theatre Songs

Like classical Italian Opera, Musical Theatre repertoire can be challenging and time consuming to learn! But, the prep work is well worth it!

In order for any "scene" to be effective, we really benefit from developing and internalizing a history; details for the character to bring with them, so we begin already "in scene" when we open our mouths to sing their song.

Because singers are often hired as "actors who can sing" rather than "singers who can act", I strongly recommend these tips when preparing for our MT auditions, talent shows, broadway reviews or carpool Karaoke with James Cordon:

1. Read the full story of the show (synopsis). Pay close attention to:
- When the song comes in the show
- What happens right before the song, to set it up
- What makes THESE WORDS so pivotal in the story, so important for the character's development and so important for the audience to know right now? Why this character, these words, this song, and not something else?

2. Watch any live/recorded performances that you can, in context of the show.

3. Listen to at least five recordings of five different singers,
- Get a feel for each singers instrument, their interpretation and their individual delivery of the same song.

4. Questions from my handout "Develop Basic Acting in Your Singing":
- When does the story take place?
  (Era of time? Season of year? Month? Day of the week? Day? Night?)
- Where does this experience take place?
   (Location and surroundings... describe what you see, hear, smell and touch)
- Who is this person singing?
   (age, education, social status, personal traits, goals, trials, family dynamic, etc.)
- What goes on just minutes before the character sing, why these words?
   (a good story has some kind of conflict. In this song, is it laid out? resolved? gets more complicated?)
- Who is this person singing TO?
   (Themselves? If someone else, what is the relationship history?)
- Is this song representational or presentational?
  (are members of the audience merely witnesses to or are they active participants in your scene?)
- What experiences in your own life can you bring to this characters pain, joy, loss, strategizing, etc.)
- Choose and mark your emotional progression within the song
  (a great performance will builds and wanes in intensity, tempo, expression, etc. One emotion, no matter how passionate, will bore your audience).

So there we have it! Some things to think about when choosing and preparing a song! Find one that speaks to you, that you can pour a piece of yourself into.

Your heart can soar on vocal wings...I'm here to be your guide!

Wednesday, September 12, 2018 by Patti Barrow | General

What is YOUR story? Why do you sing?

I remember being about 16 years old, sitting by an old furnace in the middle of our home. We had a small 4' bookcase that held books my parents had collected through the years. Struggling to keep warm on an early school day, I found myself reading a book of poems by H. W. Longfellow.
Yeah. I know. Longfellow.
As a typical teen, I did love reading and writing poetry. It was an outlet for me, much like singing only through ink on paper.
This particular book was one of the volumes in a hardbound collection that my parents had purchased years and years earlier. (There was also an old set of Encyclopedia Brittanica...remember those? LOL). 

So, there I was, reading this book...and a poem popped up about three singers.  Oh... NOW we are talking my language!
I loved to sing. Ever since I was little I sang songs about anything in my head. You know... I was "that kid" LOL.  
But, I was also very insecure...there was always someone who teased me, made fun of me, and there was always someone who I knew was a better singer, a better actress, just better. Still, I couldn't just...stop. Singing was part of who I was. And I knew it.

In this poem, there were three singers.
Each with a different audience, a different voice.
No one was better than other, because they each filled a different need in their community.
They each had a different purpose in their song.

Wow, what a thought ... 

I read, read, and re-read that story ... 

Through my college and early performing career, there was always someone who everyone aspired to, someone "better" than I... around every turn, my natural tendency was to compare myself to singers, other performers, other people in general. Judging myself against someone "better", I lost sight of the "why" in my singing. My studies became more about doing what others felt was right for me and less about what I wanted to express, needed to express ...and to whom. I figuratively lost "my voice"... and lost who I was in the process.

But, eventually, this poem came back to me. I don't remember how, really, other than it was such a moving experience I remember being moved to tears... like seeing a best friend you haven't seen in years, stop off a train. It was an "aha" for my soul. Our songs, our voices, are a gift to us. A gift of expression. Where words may fail us, our music will not.

I found myself freed that day. From comparison. From obligation. Free from guilt. I was now free to explore, learn, and improve a talent that was mine, to be used for the purposes God intended...not anyone else. 

That is when I learned to let my heart soar on vocal wings. 

As a voice teacher, it is my goal to help my students find their own song, their own voice. To help them find their own audience and to use their talent, wether it be for a sold out house or a backyard barbecue. Every voice is unique. Every song deserves to be sung.

Make YOUR heart sing with vocal wings. I can be your guide.

"The Singers" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

God sent his Singers upon earth
With songs of sadness and of mirth,
That they might touch the hearts of men,
And bring them back to heaven again.

The first, a youth, with soul of fire,
Held in his hand a golden lyre;
Through groves he wandered, and by streams,
Playing the music of our dreams.

The second, with a bearded face,
Stood singing in the market-place,
And stirred with accents deep and loud
The hearts of all the listening crowd.

A gray old man, the third and last,
Sang in cathedrals dim and vast,
While the majestic organ rolled
Contrition from its mouths of gold.

And those who heard the Singers three
Disputed which the best might be;
For still their music seemed to start
Discordant echoes in each heart,

But the great Master said, "I see
No best in kind, but in degree;
I gave a various gift to each,
To charm, to strengthen, and to teach.

"These are the three great chords of might,
And he whose ear is tuned aright
Will hear no discord in the three,
But the most perfect harmony."

Saturday, September 8, 2018 by Patti Barrow | EVENTS

September is "Suicide Awareness Month",
but here in Herriman it is our battle-cry.

Here in Herriman, our community has been emotionally rocked to the core. After months of reeling, we have come up ready to fight.
 
With eight youth suicides in the past year, we've all been touched through a friend, a family member, a neighbor, a fellow parishioner, a co-worker, a schoolmate.  To aid in our efforts to heal our community, British pop star, YouTube singing sensation and America's Got Talent contestant, Alex Boyé, reached out to our community in a very special way.

Incredibly, Barrow Music Studio was invited to take part in the making of his Music Video "Bend Not Break". 
This video, a special one to Alex, focuses on suicide prevention. September is "Suicide Prevention Month", and we were honored to take part in this event.

Artistically speaking, we did not know what to expect going in. We showed up at the designated time and the students got their first experience in the world of "being an extra" on a set. Many of us got to visit with members of the production crew, actors and even Alex himself.  We are so very grateful for the opportunity to work with him and allow the students to meet with him afterward.

As a "Proud Teacher Moment", let me add this... Throughout the entire four hours of productions, my students were incredible. They handled themselves incredibly professionally, notably amid their peers who did everything but. I was very, very impressed, and shout out to all the kids' parents!  They did you, themselves and our Studio proud.

STUDIO PHOTOS and VIDEO

Below: It was wonderful sharing this experience with Rachel, a friend and now student!   That's Alex on my head LOL!

Pictures of the Kids! There were a few more students in attendance, but didn't get their pics before they went to hang with friends!

Below: Alex used to be in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir with my husband, John. They both sing Baritone, so Alex and I had a good chortle about John sitting in his seat LOL!  It was a very long day for all of us, especially Alex. He was very gracious to stand in the wanter as long as he did, taking pictures with whomever wanted... which included about five of my students LOL.

Click Here for the News Footage Video: Thank you, Alex! You are a blessing to many, evenmoreso in our community.

Click Here for the Finished Product video:   The video involved Herriman High School's Drum Line, Dance Team, Marching Band, and the Once Voice Children's Choir, and more community members than he anticipated! What an incredible message of hope, strength and reassurance that we can bend, and not break.