SAVING FOR A RAINY DAY
https://kintsucrooner.wordpress.com/
(From 2015)
If I am being completely candid, I can be pretty blunt, intense, touchy, and demanding when I am teaching. Well, maybe in general too. The last 25 years have mellowed me somewhat with difficult life lessons but I am still a choir and voice sergeant occasionally. It all started at the upright piano in Riverside, Illinois.
My Dad didn’t have the word “quit” in his vocabulary. This was powerful to witness as a shy but deeply feeling child. As a 5 year old, I could barely sing 2 pitches without breathing but I had a good ear and a musical soul. “My County Tis Of Me” is one of earliest solo moments. My Grandpa said to my Dad, probably without realizing the future impact, she sounds so breathy. This is probably one of my earliest memories; lol. An insecure diva already in training…. My dad paid no mind and kept at it with me. He transposed songs to cater to my very strong extreme high and low; bypassing my weaker middle. We would sing marathon lessons on weekends. In the early years, my dad had me sing everything from “cherry ripe,” “my mother bid me bind my hair” to “all things bright and beautiful” and “one tin soldier.” As I got older and my dramatic voice was less than compliant, I sang pieces from each end of the spectrum; the contralto key of Vilia, Mein Herr Marquis, Let The Bright Seraphim, pieces from my Mom’s Lily Pons book (my Dad loved coloraturas,) to Porgy and Bess and Voi Che Sapete. It was so much fun to sing with my Dad. When I got into college, I “wisely” sang for a shorter period of time so I didn’t get vocally fatigued. No more 2 hour lessons. What I would give for a two hour lesson with my Dad now.
When I was preparing for college, he would thoroughly and demandingly (but always with care) work with me as I prepared for college auditions. In these days my voice was usually not ready to before noon and it was very inconsistent. I also was not always the most happy or pleasing voice student. It wasn’t always easy. He insisted that I choose a college that “wanted me.” Never go to a college who doesn’t give you a scholarship he would bellow. He was right about that one. He was relentless about making sure I had all the music ready to go and I was as organized as possible. Some of this ocd that I inherited can be pretty daunting today.
Nevertheless, he prepared me to sing in French, German and Italian and chose time period appropriate repertoire which gave me a very well prepared freshman audition. Even though it would be quite awhile before my voice would settle, the high level of preparation and potential that the colleges heard in my voice got me into solid music schools. I still use many of the skills today that I acquired during these years.
My voice student received this very encouraging email below from one of the 2 auditions he has done so far. I am so proud of him for his tireless dedication. I can only think how fortunate I have been to have been the apple (or pear in his case) from the Bruce Perryman tree. Lucky am I for my Dad’s loving and tireless example he set even when I didn’t deserve it; that which I have had the privilege to learn and apply. I am saving this email for a rainy day and a reminder of my father’s legacy. #kintsucrooner
Email to my voice student:
I’m writing to thank you for the care you took to prepare your repertoire and performance for your recent New York City audition for the School of Music at Ithaca College. Your singing was elegant and refined and your musical choices tasteful.
I was quite moved by your artistry. You demonstrated high passion and potential – My compliments to you and your teacher for a well prepared audition.
akintsucrooner 