A Journey In Song
A blog exploring the vocal arts in concept and application.
Other Writings
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Demythologizing Vocal Technique
Classical Singer Magazine, October 2010
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The Key with No Lock
Classical Singer Magazine, July 2017
Blog Posts
Published on July 3rd, 2013
Inside The Actor's Studio: Dave Chappelle
By Brad Jenks
Inside The Actor's Studio: Dave Chappelle Not specifically to do with singing - This video (link above) is nevertheless interesting for its candid perspective on show business. Many people who have only a passing acquaintance with Dave Chappelle might even be surprised to know that he had ever been a guest on Inside the Actor's […]
Read Post Inside The Actor's Studio: Dave ChappellePublished on June 26th, 2013
Tell Me A Story......
By Brad Jenks
Even though it was over 22 yrs ago, I can remember my very first voice lesson. My teacher asked me to define singing. I shrugged. He looked at me and said, “Singing is sustained talking on a tune.” He asked me to repeat that back to him, and I have never since forgotten those words. […]
Read Post Tell Me A Story......Published on June 19th, 2013
Aaaand breathe......no.... out. Breathe out.
By Brad Jenks
You take a breath, you sing. Concern sets in? Long phrase? Start again, this time with a bigger breath.... Singers spend a fair amount of time considering their breathing, as well they should. Very often, particularly in young or amateur singers, this takes the form of thinking exclusively about their inhale (“Did I take a […]
Read Post Aaaand breathe......no.... out. Breathe out.Published on June 4th, 2013
Success According To You....
By Brad Jenks
My last post took as assumed something that we all tend to do from very early in our lives: The equating of success with fame. I began from the standpoint of taking renown as the marker of success, and correspondingly, my choices of artists for comparison were illustrious performers of former and present eras. My […]
Read Post Success According To You....Published on May 31st, 2013
Aww... But you're just a baby!
By Brad Jenks
Not too long ago I was invited to sit in on the Young Artist Program auditions of a company for whom I used to work. It was an interesting time, and there was plenty of conversation about the people auditioning. Having once upon a time been the audition coordinator for this same company, I was […]
Read Post Aww... But you're just a baby!Published on May 26th, 2013
That is definitely the best approach.....and so is that.
By Brad Jenks
A couple of years ago I was coaching some music with a friend of mine, a wonderful coach. In the course of the hour, I observed, “Y’know, I have recently been thinking a lot about the relationship between a hook-up (another term for “support”) and legato, and how....” “...They are the same thing?” “Well, sorta. Not exactly the […]
Read Post That is definitely the best approach.....and so is that.Published on May 16th, 2013
That's a lovely image.... but how?
By Brad Jenks
“Remember to bring the top down” - “Bring it forward, get a more forward sound” “Try to get it into the pocket” - “Sing in the mix” “Don’t bring the chest too high” - “Turn it over. Flip it” - “Focus the sound” “Try to find that higher placement” - […]
Read Post That's a lovely image.... but how?Published on March 14th, 2013
A Sing-Along Culture
By Brad Jenks
Oh, if only life could truly be like it is in the movies........ Well, maybe not. For one thing, life would be a lot shorter. “Cut to....” takes out quite a chunk. But what is being cut? Answer? Real life. In my time as a teacher, a student of singing, and frankly, as a person […]
Read Post A Sing-Along CulturePublished on February 16th, 2013
Now official: Academic stamp of approval on.... almost anything.
By Brad Jenks
I recently attended an academic seminar where I heard a teacher speak at length about a variety of things to do with voice, technique, pedagogy and style. Needless to say, there were some things with which I agreed, and some things with which I disagreed. But as he addressed questions of technique as it related […]
Read Post Now official: Academic stamp of approval on.... almost anything.Published on January 29th, 2013
Reasonable Expectations, pt.2
By Brad Jenks
In my last post, I spoke about singing in terms of time spent. I want to continue that same line of thinking with the following observation, aimed at those struggling with changes to your singing: Think for a moment about how long you have been singing. How long have you been singing more or less […]
Read Post Reasonable Expectations, pt.2