Sunday, April 17, 2011

New Musical Terms

Music Majors and even Musical Minors read on--a little light relief!
NEW MUSICAL TERMS
(by Tom Hurd on piano-teachers@yahoo.com)
ALLREGRETTO
When you're 16 measures into the piece and realize you took too fast a tempo
ANGUS DEI
To play with a divinely beefy tone
A PATELLA
Accompanied by knee-slapping
APPOLOGGIATURA
A composition that you regret playing
APPROXIMATURA
A series of notes not intended by the composer, yet played with an "I meant to do that" attitude
APPROXIMENTO
 A musical entrance that is somewhere in the vicinityof the correct pitch
CACOPHANY [aka CACOUGHONY -psl]
A composition incorporating many people with chest colds
CORAL SYMPHONY
A large, multi-movement work from Beethoven's Caribbean Period
DILL PICCOLINI
An exceedingly small wind instrument that plays only sour notes
 FERMANTRA
A note held over and over and over and over and . . .
FERMOOTA
A note of dubious value held for indefinite length
FIDDLER CRABS
Grumpy string players
FLUTE FLIES
Those tiny mosquitos that bother musicians on outdoor gigs
FRUGALHORN
A sensible and inexpensive brass instrument
GAUL BLATTER
 A French horn player
GREGORIAN CHAMP
The title bestowed upon the monk who can hold a note the longest
GROUND HOG
Someone who takes control of the repeated bass line and won't let anyone else play it
PLACEBO DOMINGO
A faux tenor
SCHMALZANDO
A sudden burst of music from the Guy Lombardo band
THE RIGHT OF STRINGS
Manifesto of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Violists
SPRITZICATO
An indication to string instruments to produce a bright
and bubbly sound
TEMPO TANTRUM
What an elementary school orchestra is having when it's not following the conductor
TROUBLE CLEF
Any clef one can't read: e.g., alto clef for pianists
VESUVIOSO
An indication to build up to a fiery conclusion
VIBRATTO
Child prodigy son of the concertmaster

Friday, April 1, 2011

My next Audition Piece? Cheap Flights For 50p ! :-)

If I didn't know I would fail fer sure, I'd try this piece fo rmy next audition....enjoy this performance!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

SF State Chamber Singers off to New Orleans

After an admirable grassroots fundraising effort, David Xiques and the San Francisco State Chamber Singers are on tour in New Orleans. What a wonderful opportunity, through ACFEA tour consultants! The Creative Arts Department may not have a surplus in their budget but, they make us all proud for pulling this off. Jerry Brown, you should hear and  see what these students can do!  They are great ambassadors for the City by the Bay. Check them out on you tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AFEegAfm88
Laissez les bons temps roulez Allo!
Bon Voyage.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Can't stand to sing?

Singing while seated? ...hm.. not advised, certainly not in performance! But what if you are just taking a wee "rest" when the soloists are in the spotlight?  So long as you don't squeak on the risers, and can lean against the back wall, not a problem with most choral directors, correct? Well, not exactly kosher either. Someone gets up too soon, the distraction quotient is high. It just feels wrong. For those of us lucky enough to be able to stand, we may just have to tough it out until the 3rd movement of the B-9! But what about singers who have mobility issues due to diabetes or a  recent hip surgery or simply cannot make it through the entire work without a break on the feet.

The only solution I have found so far is to bring your own collapsible seat --okay if you are discreet but really, only for rehearsal and then, none too workable. This new product may be just the ticket! "The Full Measure Rest"
Full Measure Rest with seat back 
The only device enabling a singer to continue with a chorus when disability or infirmity prevents standing for a full concert

Monday, February 28, 2011

The Dreaded Axe Man


You know the problem. You can't quite place it but, in the middle of rehearsal, your throat starts to tickle, then, seize up. Your section leader is giving you "the look"! You have hydrated before the warm-up, you don't have a cold and of course you are not wearing any cologne or smelly hair products. BUT your throat is affected. It can only be...

ADM (Axe Deodorant Moment!). One of your lovely tenors has been thoughtful enough to wear deodorant but it stinks! he meant well, but didn't think the 'Desert Cactus' scent of his new shower gel/deodorant/hairgel would be anything but enticing! He needs help.

We need to remind all choristers not to wear scented products. For some people who are especially chemically sensitive, they simply cannot produce a sound and may become very ill. Take heart though! It is possible to have good hygiene, be fresh for concerts and rehearsals and not choke everyone around us. Look for "fragrance-free" or "unscented" products rather than relying on the words "natural" or even "organic" on product labels. Watch out for "aromatherapeutic" products: they can irritate the vocal cords despite their claims to only using "natural" scents- to your throat, scent is scent.

To make it even more of a challenge, not all unscented products are truly "scent-free"- they use irritating chemicals to mask the sometimes unpleasant odour of the truly fragrance -free ingredients. So, what to do? I have a line of products, mostly from Europe but also locally made in Santa Rosa, California that are unscented and pure with no added fragrance. The SVR deodorant is extremely effective, even under the lights of a 3-hour perfomance. The Logona "FREE" body and hair wash from Germany is gentle enough for people with MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivities). For touring choirs, or, just to have a kit ready for production week at the local concert hall, I am developing a line of ChoirGear Kits from Gaia Earthworks with travel size unscented, gentle personal care products for men and women.

In Health and Harmony,

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Friday, February 18, 2011

Silks, Scents and Songbirds

In the world of choral singing, the emphasis is on the notes, the Latin, the Italian, (oh, the "dental T"!) or German, and don't forget the French, mon dieu!  You are preoccupied with the leaps, the time signature, phrasing, breathing in just the right spot! So why would I write about Silk scarves, songbirds, and shampoos? Because it all helps us perform better if we feel better. 

Natural products that will not irritate fellow singer's throats do exist (lads, we all know you can be the culprit!), you can find comfortable, natural fiber, black concert clothing and, elegant jewellery, free of distracting bling!

My mission is to help you perform in comfort and ease, knowing you look and feel as good as you sound. Here's a preview of products I have personally tested to help you do just that. 

Colorful accents for Concert Apparel-Pure Silk Scarves- from The Silk Bedroom-


The Songbird Suite (necklace shown) by Birdland Creations

Custom made Cufflinks by Glen Ellen Artisan jeweler, Birdland Creations
I hope to develop the Choir Wire with your comments as an online resource to help you  SING, PERFORM and CONNECT with other lovers of vocal music!

 In Health and Harmony,




Jo