Touring: the last leg

On Jersey with Hatstand Opera to give a Well Wicked Opera workshop for 250 children aged around 8-11.

This is the end of the Channel Islands tour - 4 concerts and 2 workshops in 5 days on four different islands.

We've been doing the Love, Lust and a Damn Good Chardonnay show in the evening, and two different workshops during the day.

The Well Wicked Opera workshop goes really well, with everyone absolutely rapt. We have a front row of special needs children who are brilliant, joining in with everything we do and absolutely loving it.

By the time we have finished the workshop the children have explored their voices, used speech and cry qualities, learned about opening the throat using laughter, discovered the size and speed of their vocal folds, and hit some extraordinarily high notes.

We finish with the equivalent of a rap taken from Gilbert and Sullivan, and they are extramely good at picking up the rhythm. highly successful. The County Music Advisor is delighted, and the children go back to school sirening and moaning to their heart's content.

Then just a few hours shopping around St Helier and home on the plane to London. There's only one word to sum up my feelings now.

Exhausted!


Jeremy is the co-author of Successful Singing Auditions

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)

The Vocal Process website has a series of free articles on vocal technique and style, memorising and different musical genres.

Hatstand Opera in Jersey

What a joy. Free WiFi broadband at Guernsey airport.

It's the little things that you appreciate on tour.

Easy flight to Jersey on another little Trislander (there are 10 of us on the flight and the plane seats 16). Taxi to the Arts Centre, put up the set and move the piano (another lovely Steinway grand). The venue is quite tricky to play - very wide and seating raked upwards from stage level. I'm singing a couple of numbers in this programme; now singing and playing at the same time demands a particular type of concentration - working "sideways and uphill" too is quite a challenge.

We are very well looked after by the lovely stage team here, down-to-earth and funny, including Steve who shows dogs. Kirsty has shown a dog at Crufts and has a good old chat with him. Turns out one of his dogs is a Crufts prizewinner.

After the rehearsal we are whisked straight into a BBC Radio interview. Apparently we were so good "down the line" from Guernsey that they want us back for a live chat. We do the usual gentle bickering on air for a whole 15 minutes (that's a lot for a radio show) then back to the venue with an hour to spare. Quick check in at the hotel then a swift bath and back to the Arts Centre for the evening show.

The show goes well with a small, select audience. We get laughs almost immediately (which is what we intend) but there is no "ripple" effect. This is where a laugh starts at one side of the room and spreads across the audience. We like it when that happens because we get an extra few seconds to relax into the show. Very enthusiastic applause all the way through the show, but again because it's a small audience it's very enthusiastic for about 4 seconds. So absolutely no let up from beginning to end in terms of energy. That is the joy of live performing - each show is completely different. And because nothing on this tour is pre-recorded (it really is all live), we can adapt to each situation and each audience easily.

Steve summed up our show with some very apt comments - "highly professional and serious about what you are doing, but having fun while you're doing it."

You can't say fairer than that.


Jeremy is the co-author of Successful Singing Auditions

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)

The Vocal Process website has a series of free articles on vocal technique and style, memorising and different musical genres.
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Hatstand Opera on Sark

Love, Lust and a Damn Good Chardonnay on Wednesday in Sark went well.

Apart from a few strange happenings on stage.

I think I had too much bread that day and it affected my brain. The first thing I do is a real comedy moment. I walk out to the audience's applause, take the bow and then walk off again. I realised I had forgotten the music. Then during the Tom Jones waltz I turn the page a little too enthusiastically and rip the whole thing out. It lands on the floor six feet behind me, but I valiantly carry on, attempting (and failing dismally) to read it at a distance. When Toni stops singing and apologises for getting lost I have to own up and confess that it was my problem.

Even our esteemed leader, Kirsty, made an expansive gesture in the second act and knocked over a full glass of chardonnay, all over the table and the rest of the set.

It's a problem with touring - the tiredness creeps in fast. I've done three different types of tour and they all have their problems. The five month stint in Edinburgh with Les Miserables was fun but you have to find a flat for five months (I found one 3 minutes from the theatre for 6 months and stayed on after the show ended). I've also done weekly and fortnightly touring. I prefer fortnightly because you get a Sunday off. Weekly is really tough because you don't really get any time off. Sunday becomes the travel day to the next venue (or the hurried trip home to see if the cat is still alive).

One-night touring is often easier in a peculiar way, because the accommodation and travel are usually organised for you. I've done both the "get there yourself" and the "tourbus provided" versions. The only real problem is the food and accommodation. It's quite tricky to find good food at 5.30pm in a strange city every day. And you don't tend to empty your suitcase at all. In my younger days I all but lived out of a suitcase for three years. I'm not sure I'd do it now!

The rest of the concert on Sark was fine, and the audience really enjoyed themselves. The following day we have the luxury of a late boat (10.45am) so we can have a leisurely breakfast and pack. Odd weather - we arrived at Sark harbour in rain and hail, and 45 minutes later were in Guernsey in brilliant sunshine. Then taxi to the airport for the flight to Jersey (bright and windy).

There really is no let-up on this tour.


Jeremy is the co-author of Successful Singing Auditions

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)

The Vocal Process website has a series of free articles on vocal technique and style, memorising and different musical genres.

Hatstand Opera by tractor on Sark

Hatstand Opera are on tour in the Channel Islands. Today is Wednesday so it must be Sark.

We have a number of items that we travel with to make up the set. On a tour like this we can't pack the furniture, so we have curtains, various bits of set dressing and of course the pink fluffy fairy lights (see the first blog Village Halls and Fairy Lights).

Once the space is set up, we start with the children's workshop. We have the little ones today - from age 4 upwards, with a few 7-14 year olds thrown in. We did a recap of last year's workshop to begin with, and its amazing how much they remembered. Where their vocal folds were, how they vibrated, and what sort of noises you could make.

Then we moved on to some theatre games: following rhythms, clapping, and finding a single pitch together. We finished by creating a special Sark anthem - words by one of the pupils, and melody created by 12 people.

Then the joys of an afternoon off - walking in the sunshine and the silence (no cars, and at night no streetlamps!) and sitting on a bench overlooking the sea for an hour. The primroses are all out and I spotted four different colours in one verge. When I'm on tour I really value these snatched moments of sanity. I call in on Margaret (my host for the previous few years) and check in with Molly, my host this time around and a gold-medal winner in the Jersey arts competition.

Half an hour of television to unwind then back to the Island hall for the evening concert. Chairs set out cabaret style around tables, which makes for a friendly atmosphere even before we start. And there are bottles of wine available during the performance.

We usually find that works well too...


Jeremy is the co-author of Successful Singing Auditions

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)

The Vocal Process website has a series of free articles on vocal technique and style, memorising and different musical genres.

Channel Islands audiences and acoustics

Concert with Hatstand Opera in Guernsey went well last night.

It's fascinating doing the same show for different audiences. The audience last night was quite quiet. They were definitely laughing in the comedy bits, but they were quite "well-behaved" and we didn't get the ripple effect. That's where a small section of the audience starts laughing and the laugh spreads slowly across the whole hall. It's great when that happens for two reasons - the audience starts to work together, and we get a few seconds respite on stage.

Early start this morning - 6.30am. And for those of you who sniff at being up before dawn, I usually surface around 9. Breakfast and down to the harbour for the 8am ferry to Sark. Sea like a millpond and a beautiful sunny day. There's a great system for luggage in Sark - you put your suitcase on the tractor trailer, and it arrives at your lodgings while you get the tractor-tram up to the high street and walk the rest of the way.

The Island Hall was new last year, and we spent a long time then baffling the piano to tone down the cathedral-like acoustics. The hall itself is superb - with a three-storey ceiling like the inside of an upturned boat - but the acoustics were a bit of a battle, particularly for a wordy show. This year they've had acoustic panels installed, and the difference is incredible. There's enough ring to give a warmth and slight blurring to the sound, but it's dry enough to be able to hear what is being said or sung.

We normally spend half our rehearsal time listening out for the acoustic and adjusting accordingly. I think it comes as a surprise to some of our dep singers that the girls can tune their voices to the acoustic. More twang, less twang, more depth, a slimmer sound, and then whether the words are clipped, smoother, more or less consonants.

Whatever works best for the space.


Jeremy is the co-author of Successful Singing Auditions

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)

The Vocal Process website has a series of free articles on vocal technique and style, memorising and different musical genres.

Hatstand Opera hits Guernsey

On tour with Hatstand Opera in my role as collaborative pianist (the more accurate new title for an accompanist).

Lovely flight today (15 minutes) from Alderney to Guernsey in the little Trislander plane. Just two seats across and about 8 rows back, so 16 passengers in all. A glorious day, clear and bright, with fantastic views of Guernsey as we approached.

Kirsten the organiser took us to the stunning St James Arts Centre venue, a converted church with excellent acoustics and the most wonderful Steinway concert grand piano for me to enjoy. Then on to the Radio Guernsey building for a live interview followed by a down-the-wire interview for Radio Jersey.

Fun presenter on the Guernsey interview who was holding a phone poll for 100 things to do with a shoelace. My favourites, use it to tie your shoes, and fashion a garotte for your Action Man doll. Not quite sure what that says about the Guernsey people...

Our hosts here, Jill and Martin fed us well with chicken and a delicious apple crumble (told you food was my main memory trigger). Am sitting in the garden typing this now in post-prandial bliss. We've just been finalising the Sark school workshop. this tour we're only doing two schools workshops (it's normally four). Jersey has the largest schools audience at about 250 children, and we'll be doing some of our Well Wicked Opera workshop highlights for them.

Sark is rather special. It's a small island only accessible by boat, and there are no cars allowed. Transport is by tractor, horse or on foot. There is only one school on the island,and as I understand it they all learn in the same class. So the age range runs from about 4 to about 15. Now I'm the voice wizard on the tour with all the vocal technical information, and presenting to an age range that wide is quite a challenge. We've got some new exercises and games for the Sark children to play, so I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Jeremy is the co-author of Successful Singing Auditions

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)

The Vocal Process website has a series of free articles on vocal technique and style, memorising and different musical genres.

Love, Lust and Chardonnay on Alderney

Well, that's the first one done. The Alderney Love, Lust and a Damn Good Chardonnay went really well, with a packed house.

In fact our performing space was tiny because we had to fit the audience in, and they were being turned away at the door. We were trying out a new opening to the show, the first girls' duet from Cosi fan Tutte, but with a new translation by Kirstie and Toni. Went well and lifted the opening of the show, although it's a much more high-energy duet (compared with the second duet from the opening of Act 1 finale) which alters the energy levels of the programme for us too.

The performing space was also a bit of a challenge because we were working in a space 3 metres by 1.5 metres (and that includes the piano, a table and two chairs), and the front row of the audience was less than a metre away. That's one thing that Hatstand actually put in their auditioning blurb - you have to be comfortable performing when you can see the whites of the audience's eyes. We're so used to it now that it becomes odd if we CAN'T see the audience - we like the feedback.

Nothing untoward happened, apart from the pink fluffy fairylights coming down half-way through one of the numbers (see the very first blog for more details on pink fairylights). It's interesting to note what throws us - apart from the tiny performing space, which took a bit of getting used to, we realised that half the audience couldn't see us if we sat down. Now this show is much more relaxed, as the girls discuss various love affairs sitting at the table. So they had to do the entire show standing up - not the blocking we had planned. But then we do specialise in changing the show at the last minute, and in response to whatever we are faced with.

When we did this tour last year our costumes, props and all our day clothing got left in the airport in Guernsey, then the fog descended for four days and all flights off Alderney were cancelled. The three boys ended up being taken off the island on a fishing boat (in a force 5 gale, I might add). We managed to work a reference into last year in this year's encore. Hopefully nothing untoward will happen tomorrow.

Jeremy is the co-author of Successful Singing Auditions

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)

The Vocal Process website has a series of free articles on vocal technique and style, memorising and different musical genres.

Starting on Alderney

Well, Kate and John have done us proud. Excellent coffee as soon as we arrived on Alderney, and not one but two home-made cakes.

Looking forward to an evening off. Setup in the hall at lunchtime tomorrow before the piano tuner arrives, then rehearsal in the afternoon and concert in the evening. Apparently we're sold out again.

Hatstand Opera has been doing this particular show (Love, Lust and a Damn Good Chardonnay) for a year now, so we'll really only need to do a reminder rehearsal. Mind you, having said that we have done several different shows since the last performance of this one. The Wales concert was 'Opera Can Be Murder' preceded by a 'Well Wicked Opera' workshop for the under 10s. And the one before that was one of the ubiquitous Golden Moments programmes.

This particular programme is a real mix of stuff, from Cosi fan Tutte through Bizet, Orff and Britten to Lehmann, Sondheim and Fascinating Aida. I really enjoy doing different music, and changing style half-way through a concert doesn't faze me. I'm glad to see that the music colleges are now expanding their repertoire to include training in musical theatre and jazz for their singers. We now live in a commercially-savvy world, and there is so much more to being a professional musician than just good playing. Even in the early 80s it was always my intention to be as flexible and employable as possible, and that meant hard work and a very wide repertoire.

I remember eavesdropping on Trevor Wye (flute teacher at the Royal Northern College of Music). Trevor was talking about what it took to be a good musician, particularly an orchestral player. "Everybody expects you to be able to play. Turn up on time, buy your section principal a drink, and be pleasant and smart. That's it."

Excellent advice, I think.

Jeremy is the co-author of Successful Singing Auditions

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)

The Vocal Process website has a series of free articles on vocal technique and style, memorising and different musical genres.

Life at the airport

So, here I am sitting in Guernsey airport at the beginning of our favourite tour. This is now the fourth time Hatstand have been to the Channel Islands, and it's my sixth time. On paper it's an horrendous schedule - 8 concerts in four days on four different islands. fly to three but the fourth is only accessible by boat. But in reality, it's incredibly well organised, and we get to stay with some lovely people. We are driven everywhere, and fed extremely well. Hurrah.

In fact this time we have only 4 concerts plus 2 workshops, and we have 5 days to do them in. What a luxury. We're staying with the same people on Alderney - Kate and John - who have put up with us each time. They are excellent hosts so we're all looking forward to seeing them this evening. Unfortunately Margaret on Sark has a house full, so I'll be staying next door. We'll be playing in the new island hall again on Sark.

Just about to get on the plane, (it's a 12-seater where the pilot hands out the earplugs). Cosy.

Jeremy is the co-author of Successful Singing Auditions

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)

The Vocal Process website has a series of free articles on vocal technique and style, memorising and different musical genres.

Why do the wrong people travel?

Here's something else they don't tell you at music college.

6 hours travelling to get to do a concert. In fact, this was a workshop AND a concert, so it was a pretty long day. I'm with Hatstand Opera today for a concert in Wales. Up at 6.30 to get the train/tube/train through London to Shrewsbury, changing at Crewe, then picked up in the car and driven 1.5 hours across the Welsh countryside to Dolgellau.Arriving just in time to do a schools workshop at 2, then a rehearsal and concert at 7.30. 6 hours travelling back the following day, then another early rise to get to Gatwick Airport for the tour.

(And we thought that travelling on a Sunday morning through Gatwick would be a good idea. Luggage conveyors broken, a powercut since 8 that morning, and about 50,000 people wanting to get to the other side of the concourse at the same time. And then there was Security... )

Anyway, one of the joys of performing is the chance to get to meet new people. Lovely B&B, chatty people, and 14 different types of cereal to choose from. And the sight of a hawfinch feeding outside the window.

Ah yes, anyone who doesn't know Hatstand Opera (and me in particular), after more than 11 years touring as a group, we usually remember where we have performed by the food we were given.. it's "Yes, we've played here before,it was beef bourgignon". Or "oh yes, this was the homemade chocolate cake". Or occasionally "oh no, it was the chutney quiche".

So the message to potential bookers is Remember to feed us well, we'll remember you for years.

Jeremy is the co-author of Successful Singing Auditions

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)

The Vocal Process website has a series of free articles on vocal technique and style, memorising and different musical genres.