Tanks for the memory

Just looking back on this year, I remembered that I wrote my first blog many months ago on a trip to Dorset.

I was working with Hatstand Opera, and that particular trip included two workshops for schools groups, and a concert for the general public. Hatstand Opera is well known for its innovative and fun approach to opera performances, and that day was no exception. I was heading for the UK's largest Tank Museum (that's Chieftain Tanks, not water tanks). Yes, we were about to sing surrounded by large chunks of caterpillar-tracked metal, and it's actually a return visit!

We were there last year as audience builders (it's one of our briefs). Well it seems to have worked, as the audience figures a week before the concert were already much bigger than last year.

The two schools workshops were also in the Museum. The first was for 8-10 year olds. They were receiving our "Well Wicked OperaTM". I'm the voice wizard in these concerts, and I usually do safe singing techniques, sirening, onsets, and my favourite, Mr and Mrs Boring (for speech quality).

The teenagers usually get something a bit more taxing - Hatstand's "Graffiti OperaTM". This year we based it on the World War One Experience, and the Tank Museum provided us with a number of handling items. So the pupils get to wear a tank helmet or carry a real shell (not live, I hasten to add), and then they get to sing about it. For more info on Graffiti Opera, go to the Hatstand Website at http://www.hatstandopera.co.uk.

And if you are into podcasting, did you know that Hatstand Opera are the only professional opera company podcasting on a regular basis? You can hear it at the Podopera site. Yours truly has provided some of the podcast jingles, and yes, it is me descending to the low C at the end of O Isis und Osiris - in dubious taste, but extremely effective!

Go to http://www.podopera.co.uk for more information and to hear my low C! Visit http://www.vocalprocess.co.uk for the latest downloads:
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)

Vocal Process is running a day course on Practical Phonetics in November. Click on the link to find out more.