Audio Post of Buttercup Hill

Click to hear the audio file of the first draft of Buttercup Hill

 La donna è mobile
Qual piuma al vento,
Muta d'accento — e di pensiero.
Sempre un amabile,
Leggiadro viso,
In pianto o in riso, — è menzognero.
È sempre misero
Chi a lei s'affida,
Chi le confida — mal cauto il cuore!
Pur mai non sentesi
Felice appieno
Chi su quel seno — non liba amore!

English Translation of "La donna e mobile"
Woman is flighty
Like a feather in the wind,
She changes her voice — and her mind.
Always sweet,
Pretty face,
In tears or in laughter, — she is always lying.
Always miserable
Is he who trusts her,
He who confides in her — his unwary heart!
Yet one never feels
Fully happy
Who on that bosom — does not drink love!

monkey see, monkey do

In singing, it is important to note one fundamental truth.  We learn through mimcry.  This paired with repetition of correct form and technique, supports flawless.. consistant sound production. 

However, this does not mean I want any of my students to sound like me.  It does not mean that they must all be classical singers like their teacher.  Instead,  I want quite the opposite.  I want them to find their own natural voice.. to be able to come to singing unencumbered.. free from outside influence, bad technique, and bad habits.  No matter what style they choose to sing.. no matter what size room.. no matter the acoustics.

Have you ever heard someone on stage singing a high note.. and actually caught yourself opening your mouth or lifting your head or upper body in response to the high note?  Have you ever sat across from someone at a restaurant who picked up their drink.. only to find yourself also taking a drink from your cup?  We have a response mechanism which is quite amazing.  And our potential to learn through this medium.. endless (and thrilling!).

Visualize, for a moment, that you are looking down a set of railroad tracks..  and off in the distance, it looks like they come to a point.

1. Now, sing a 5 tone scale (do re mi fa sol) on the vowel ee..  and imagine every note travelling a little further down the tracks, out into that point.  Not up.. only out.

There is a change in perception of the scale.

2. Now, sing a 5 tone scale (do re mi fa sol fa me re do) up to sol and back down to do.. on the vowel ee.. and still imagine every note travelling a little further down the tracks, out to the point.  Even the notes moving down the scale are imagined out.. forward motion.. not down and back.

Yet another change in perception.

3. Now, repeat the first exercise.. but this time, point out as you sing.

Try this with the second exercise.. pointing out the entire time..

moving your finger out toward that point.

Note the difference.. 

This is the first step to becoming free from the need to physically lift or drop the head or upper body to sing high and low notes..

The interesting thing to note.. coming back to the concept of monkey see,  monkey do.. is that if someone were to point while you just stood still and sang the above exercises, you would experience the same sensation (only slightly less intensely) than when you actually do the pointing yourself.  Our muscles react!  Add to that, a teacher who can actually sing with you, in correct form and technique.. and we add yet another layer to the process.  We are able to mimic the production of sound.  We are able to even listen to the teacher sing, and physically experience the muscles in action.. and not have to phonate a single note!! 

The voice cannot be manipulated.  Therefore, we must use every sense available to us, to gain mastery of this subtle, sublime instrument.  See, Hear, and Touch!

 

Buttercups

Before heading back to the group, Jake wanted to show Sara something.  He wanted to make her forget the whole embarrassing bear incident.  The sun was high in the afternoon sky, but they had to make quick time or the moment would be lost once the sun went down.

He had scouted the forest this side of the lake the day before..  always needing to know his surroundings.. just in case some emergency might pop up.  Along the way, he had found something quite delightful.  He had wanted to share it with Sara the moment he saw it.

Jake silently took Sara's hand and carefully led her along a deer path, taking them deeper into the forest.  She was surprisingly sure-footed, considering the path was rough at best.  She sensed that he was slightly disappointed she didn't need more help, and secretly wanting to feel his lean muscular arms around her, she feigned slipping a few times.

They hiked about 30 minutes northwest, until the trees became thinner and the afternoon sunlight began to peek more intensely through the canopy.  Suddenly, Jake stopped and turned to Sara, blocking her view, and looked down at her with a mischievous glint in his eye. 

Close your eyes.  He winked.

For a brief moment, their eyes locked.  Hers questioning, his smiling.  And then, with complete trust, she closed her eyes, held out her hand and said.. 'ok, let's go.'

He leaned down close to her, one arm firm about her waist, one hand holding hers.. and gently led her about 40 paces into the clearing.  The intense summer sun now fully beating down upon them, eased only slightly by a light breeze.

Sara, darlin', you can look now.

Biting her lip, she peeked with one eye.. and quickly opened the other once she saw.
'You remembered..' she gasped.


There, before them, was a wide open meadow covered in a blanket of buttercups.  So many buttercups, all she could see was yellow.  Everywhere.  In the middle of the meadow, was an old gnarled oak tree.  She stood transfixed, as Jake released her and began to casually walk toward the tree.  Turning to walk backwards, he beckoned to her.  She followed slowly.. breathing it all in. 


When they reached the tree, he lifted her up into the low lying branches and easily swung himself up behind her.  She leaned her head back against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, as he sighed contentedly.  Arms wrapped round her, with fingers laced, they sat quietly together, gazing out at the view.. until it was time to head back to the lodge and meet up with their friends.