My Way

OK so if I'm a pioneer of a “new” approach to singing, (it can't be new, what are it's roots? Anywhere in space and time?) it's about:


honesty


playfulness


The pleasure of the people present in that moment


It's not about recording. Is it about performance? Hummm, performance is a sticky one I have yet to untangle, and I've got a love-hate relationship with it. What is the cross-cultural history of performance? In campfire jams, prima donnas and domineers are not tolerated.


The course director is on stage right now singing his interpretation of a Maya Angelou poem. “Nobody can make it on their own,” he sings. 


Yes! Who are my playmates?


More... On singing courses, we'll learn 'theory' with our ears and bodies and tummies. We'll do yoga and dance and drum. We'll sleep well and eat well, sing for the trees and slugs, amplify the soul with clowning and quieten the ego. We'll sing with our bodies in dance, sing with our hands on the drums, dance our voices, dance our hands, drum our voices, drum our bodies.

Anth is sitting next to me in the theatre while I'm scribbling away. “I've always found jazz like this kind of self important noodling,” she says in a low voice. “Is that OK?”

“Yes!” We cackle. “Sorry, I just have to quote you.” I pick up my notebook. 

She leans over again. “Is it a coincidence they're all men?”

Head. Science. Rationality. Control. Individualism. Showing off. No! :)

notes get wilder

• start a choir. Audition.
• Try things at the Fun Fed.
• Create a performance troupe: a) musical – vocal performance: b) variety
• JAM SESSIONS RULE. What can I offer?
• Structures for improvised pieces. Segments. Rules, eg, note boundaries, tempo, rhythm, accompaniment
• Not a pro! Just a student. And a player :)
• NO ONE TEACHER. MANY INFLUENCES.
• :)
• What are the limits to whale song? In terms of group size?
• Audience – set them up as a backing track, and impro over them: a) write it, b) impro it
• Invite audience members who want a bigger role to come forwards; if you want an easier life, go to the back. Concentric circles: inner circles, harder, middle circle, easier, outer circle, listeners (really? Is that allowed on participatory things? They could click, clap... ). Free: can everyone get here?
• Sing for artists and dancers at play. Sing with friends – singers, musicians, neither, but still somehow participants. Sing alone
• Weekly jam sessions – a different key signature each week, instrumentalists get to know them. Post them before so people could familiarise themselves in practice if they want.