You don't know what you got til it's gone

Isn't it amazing how much technology has entered our lives?

I really didn't realise quite how much the computer is part of my daily life until this week. It had been stuttering when playing audio files, and was a bit slow to start, so I invited a computer expert in to give it the once-over. He recommended a reformatting of the hard drive and took it away to his office for a couple of days.

The first thing that struck me (and it was both funny and painful) was how much loss I felt without my computer. Even though I am a musician working with either a mechanical instrument (piano) or a muscular one (voice), I was amazed how many types of digital files I use. I work on it every day, and it acts as a holding bank for pretty much all of my creative output. I write articles on it, write-up coaching sessions and masterclasses, edit my sound files, put together ebooks and videos, and even save midi files of performances on it. It's got pretty much everything I do except the actual coaching sessions with clients.

I was so like the cartoons you see, the guy with his hands in his pockets kicking stones around and moping about the place. So Gillyanne sent me into the garden to put together two garden chairs (anybody know why those peculiar IKEA-type nuts and bolts are so difficult to fit together?) and two blinds in the house. So that kept me busy for a few cross hours.

Isn't it true that you don't realise the value of something until it's gone?

That got me thinking about performing in general, and how people cope with suddenly losing confidence in their performing ability during a run. It's one of the reasons Gillyanne and I have set up the new Singing and the Actor Training course. It's the first time we have run a course linked directly to the content of Gillyanne's groundbreaking book. The book sets out a number of problems and solutions so clearly, it's been a joy to construct a weekend course that will really support and expand the information. We're really excited about it.

The solutions we provide are clean, quick and very effective. They have to be... we both work with performers at the top of their professions, and believe me, they take no prisoners! When you're dealing with a West End lead who has just one hour to find a solution to a major problem, there is no place for waffling. The weekend course is crammed with the same useful techniques, advice and tips we use in our studios. We call it a weekend intensive, so if you are a slow learner, book a private session instead.

And in case you're wondering, there WILL be technology on the course. Apart from the usual Powerpoint, audio, video, and mindmaps, we'll have a couple of computers with voice analysis programmes loaded up, just in case people want to try out their skills.

We're trusting them to behave (the computers, not the people)...

Visit http://www.vocalprocess.co.uk/ for the latest news:
Singing and the Actor Training - the first course based on Gillyanne's book
The Vocal Process eZINE (free electronic magazine)
86 things you never hear a singer say (free ebook)
Looking at a Voice (endoscopy video download)
Constriction and Release (opening the throat on video - the latest endoscopy video download)