The Power of Words 3

Pieces in general

I feel that I must continue to focus on the need for you to place yourself in the circumstances of a song, or in the skin of a character at a particular moment in that character's life, to practise saying your words as the circumstances of that moment dictate. As most of the pieces you sing will be in a language that is not your own, you might first have to experiment by saying those words in your own mother tongue. There must be an emotion conveyed upon your words. Your voice is one of the finest musical instruments that could possibly exist. Test yourselves constantly to see if you are conveying the meaning intended by the words. Let your imagination turn your voice into a magnificent instrument. Once you are satisfied that you can convey the real meaning of the words when expressed in your native language, start saying the words in the language of the piece and keep saying them until you have mastered the emotion of the utterance. I can only keep repeating that singing is not so much an exercise of technique but an exercise of the imagination. I personally categorize singing as 10 percent automatic technique (the normal result of constant vocal practice) and 90% imagination. You can place a violin in the hands of a competent but soul-less violinist, place him in an orchestra and he will add body to the string section. You can place that same violin and same bow into the hands of a musician possessed of imagination and you suddenly get a Paganini who singlehandedly can paint all the colors of the string section and more. It is exactly the same with your voice. Your imagination is the master that plays your voice. Give it full reign.