Dear classically-trained singers, how you ever felt so difficult to find an inspiration?
Perhaps, inspiration for classical singers means a different 'interpretation' that you want to bring in a song you sing to your audience. Sometimes, we cannot cope with this issue easily since most of classical songs are bound by many rules - musically, dramatically, interpretatively.
So, last night I read this article from UK's Guardian website, about tips on finding inspiration suggested by top British artists. Names from many art fields - music, poetry, dance - are giving their best self-experienced advice. Among the top names include the promising young opera singer, Kate Royal. These what Kate suggested for you, singers:
• Don't expect inspiration to happen when anyone else is watching. It usually happens when you are on your own, and it's gone in a second.
• Inspiration on stage is a controlled version of what you might experience in the practice room. As opera singers, we are bound by many rules – musically, dramatically, interpretatively. When inspiration strikes, you have to hope that the other 10 people on stage will give you space to wallow in your "moment".
• Try not to analyse other voices and interpretations too much. Of course we gain inspiration from the greats, but it is best found in the the opera's score or in the poetry. If this doesn't inspire you, then you are in the wrong job.
• Mistakes can be inspiring – allow yourself to take risks, and do what scares you. People might remember the colour of your dress and what encore you sang, but no one will remember if you forgot a word or if your phrasing didn't go to plan.
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| Kate Royal - Photo by EMI Music |
• Remember that art is everywhere. It's amazing what you can find inspiring on the No 464 bus from Peckham.
• Alcohol and singing are not a good combination – not in opera, anyway. The more you drink, the uglier you sound.
• Be kind to your voice. If you want it to inspire you, you have to inspire it, with lots of rest, steam, sweets and a good talking to every now and again.
• Don't Google yourself or your reviews. It can only end in misery – you either believe the crap or the good, or none of it at all.
• Let the audience into your world and you are bound to receive inspiration from them. Sometimes even the man asleep at the back has inspired me to sing with a little more "edge".
• Get some perspective. I always thought I had to have music every second of every day, or I wouldn't survive. The truth is that when I step back from it and learn to enjoy the more mundane aspects of life, I appreciate my music so much more.
