Sam Meredith OB Ch. 12 Summary

Sam
Chapter 12 Summary-Good technique is the foundation for good singing. Good technique by itself, however, is not enough. Good musicianship, particularly in singing requires great effort to properly express the emotion that each piece of music contains. When we are interpreting music we should keep tim, tempo, dynamics, pitch, line, diction, tone color, emotion, and meaning in mind. We also need to remember that the same word, tempo, or dynamic marking can mean something different based on musical context. In order to properly interpret music we must have a personal emotional connection with the music. Although we may not be able to directly identify with every piece of music we sing, we must be able to draw from a similar experience. Since we are expected to convey intense emotion when singing we need to be well prepared mentally. Remembering past successes can help us in these situations. Mentally running through the program before going on stage can also be beneficial. When we put together a program we should always keep the composers' intent in mind and try our best to convey a wide range of musical emotions and colors throughout our program. Language is another important component of musical interpretation. We should strive to sing all literature with the emphasis, articulation, and emotion that a native speaker of the language would associate with the text. If we feel we need more help with interpretation outside of what we receive from our voice teacher we may seek the help of a voice coach. In this, however, we must err with caution as many voice coaches don't know much about good vocal technique and may encourage technique that can be harmful to the voice.
Key Concept-Emotional expression of music is the second key component of good singing after good technique.
Key Terms-Interpretation, Emotion, Diction
Making Connections-A lot of what I'm doing in practice right now is an attempt to more properly evoke the emotion of the pieces I'm singing. I think this is an area where I need a lot of improvement.