The Radio 3 Boards Forum from myforum365.com
08:41:28, 02-12-2008 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
News: Whilst we happily welcome all genuine applications to our forum, there may be times when we need to suspend registration temporarily, for example when suffering attacks of spam.
 If you want to join us but find that the temporary suspension has been activated, please try again later.
 
   Home   Help Search Login Register  

The Radio 3 Boards > The Music Boards > Making Music > You don't learn to sing at the conservatory
Pages: [1]
« previous next »
  Print  
Author Topic: You don't learn to sing at the conservatory  (Read 440 times)
MrYorick
Guest
« on: 15:14:35, 12-07-2007 »
I found this quote on the 'classical music babes' site that popped up in the 'all the best girls play the violin' thread:

"The conservatory of music is not where I learned to sing. You don't learn to sing at the conservatory, as we all know."
- Natalie Dessay

I've heard people say this before - and I'm always puzzled by it.  What do the members think?

Why do you not learn how to sing at the conservatory?  What's wrong with them?
And where do you learn how to sing then?
Logged
harmonyharmony
*****
Posts: 4080



WWW
« Reply #1 on: 22:57:57, 12-07-2007 »
I've heard it said that voices don't mature enough at that age in order to teach someone really how to sing.
At this university, students used to be actively discouraged from the final year recital if they were singers (it's a lot better now, but perhaps some of the old stigma remains) and I think that this is one of the reasons.

But it occurs to me that your quote might be slightly sarcastic, as if to say that what they are taught at the conservatory is to make noises with their voice but they learn to sing elsewhere.
Logged
'is this all we can do?'
anonymous student of the University of Berkeley, California quoted in H. Draper, 'The new student revolt' (New York: Grove Press, 1965)
http://www.myspace.com/itensemble
roslynmuse
*****
Gender: Male
Posts: 1615
« Reply #2 on: 23:09:28, 12-07-2007 »
My guess is that it was meant along the same lines as that oft-repeated line about only learning to drive once one has passed one's test.
Logged
harmonyharmony
*****
Posts: 4080



WWW
« Reply #3 on: 23:15:27, 12-07-2007 »
'My music master taught me to play the piano but Beethoven taught me to play music'....

 Undecided
Logged
'is this all we can do?'
anonymous student of the University of Berkeley, California quoted in H. Draper, 'The new student revolt' (New York: Grove Press, 1965)
http://www.myspace.com/itensemble
burning dog
***
Gender: Male
Posts: 192
« Reply #4 on: 23:32:15, 12-07-2007 »
It's best not to learn to sing IN a conservatory. It'll annoy the neighbours.



It's one of those "divided by a common language" things, isn't it?
« Last Edit: 23:35:49, 12-07-2007 by burning dog » Logged
tonybob
*****
Gender: Male
Posts: 1091


vrooooooooooooooom
« Reply #5 on: 23:37:14, 12-07-2007 »
ah.
a grass tribute to breasts!
soon, there will be no thread without them!
Logged
sososo s & i.
Tony Watson
Guest
« Reply #6 on: 00:08:03, 13-07-2007 »
Quote from: harmonyharmony on 23:15:27, 12-07-2007
'My music master taught me to play the piano but Beethoven taught me to play music'....

 Undecided

As I have already said elsewhere, I am determined to use the summer to practise the piano and, as my technique is very rusty, I have been looking at Beethoven's opus 49 number 2, after someone's recommendation.

And I am starting to loathe the piece. Too much tinkling around. Too many scales and arpeggios (perhaps good for practice but boring to play). Too much padding. The second movement was used to far better effect in the Septet. It's almost an example of how a great composer can transform the material of a minor one (Beethoven in each case!).
Logged
roslynmuse
*****
Gender: Male
Posts: 1615
« Reply #7 on: 00:11:33, 13-07-2007 »
Have a look at Op 14 No 2 (G major) - not much more difficult but infinitely more rewarding.

And almost ANY Haydn Sonata - Hob XVI/37 in D is a good starting point.
Logged
Tony Watson
Guest
« Reply #8 on: 00:15:02, 13-07-2007 »
Interesting - I've got the complete set, so thanks, will do!
Logged
Chafing Dish
Guest
« Reply #9 on: 04:34:16, 13-07-2007 »
Also late CPE Bach is good, the Kenner und Liebhaber sonatas.
Logged
MrYorick
Guest
« Reply #10 on: 15:02:13, 15-07-2007 »
Quote from: harmonyharmony on 22:57:57, 12-07-2007
But it occurs to me that your quote might be slightly sarcastic, as if to say that what they are taught at the conservatory is to make noises with their voice but they learn to sing elsewhere.

Quote from: roslynmuse on 23:09:28, 12-07-2007
My guess is that it was meant along the same lines as that oft-repeated line about only learning to drive once one has passed one's test.

I read it as a much more negative comment towards conservatory training.  Given that La Dessay never went to a conservatory herself and still made a huge international career, maybe she's trying to say that her musical education is exemplary for a good singer?  That she's lucky not to have been to a conservatory, because then she would never have been the great singer she is now?  That singing teaching in conservatories nowadays is somehow completely off, and there's no way you'll learn to be a decent singer there? 

So my problem remains: what's so terribly wrong with them?

I have heard these sort of comments before - "no good singers are coming out of conservatories anymore", "they make your voice thick and heavy",...  The latter especially I cannot understand: how do you get a voice to be 'heavy'- doesn't everyone just sing with his of her own voice?  How can voice training change the colour of your voice?  Huh

Is there anyone who has these negative views on singing training in conservatories too?  Or who has heard about them? 
What assets does private teaching have then?  Isn't that just the same: a singer, a singing teacher, together in a room, singing?  What difference does it make?  Does it have something to do with the institution? Time-pressure maybe?

Quote from: burning dog on 23:32:15, 12-07-2007
It's best not to learn to sing IN a conservatory. It'll annoy the neighbours.

Haha!  I'm annoying my neighbours with my singing anyway, even though we don't have a conservatory  Grin
Logged
MabelJane
*****
Gender: Female
Posts: 2147


When in doubt, wash.
« Reply #11 on: 20:59:48, 15-07-2007 »
Quote from: harmonyharmony on 22:57:57, 12-07-2007
I've heard it said that voices don't mature enough at that age in order to teach someone really how to sing.
At this university, students used to be actively discouraged from the final year recital if they were singers (it's a lot better now, but perhaps some of the old stigma remains) and I think that this is one of the reasons
Perhaps this is because some young singers have been ill-advised on the choice of repertoire. I suspect that some are pushed into singing hefty operatic arias which are far too demanding for their immature voices. For my final year recital at university, I sang light pieces ideally suited to my voice.

Of course, this doesn't answer the questions posed by Mr Yorick but "You don't learn to sing at the conservatory" is a rather sweeping statement which can't apply to everyone!
Logged
Merely corroborative detail, intended to give artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative.
Pages: [1]
  Print  
« previous next »
 
Jump to: