MUSIC WORKSHOPS COURTESY OF THE SOLIDARITY OF ARTS FESTIVAL STARS
Ucho club, August 19th, masterclass for vocalists; photographs: Roman Jocher
Mirabai Daniels does not speak any Polish, she had never been to Gdynia (nor to any place in Poland) prior to Solidarity of Arts 2010, and - as if the occasion wasn't challenging enough - people who came to participate in her workshop represented quite different levels of singing ability. Yet few minutes into the warm-up vamp one had the impression that she was in full control of the proceedings in Ucho.
From the outset Mirabai had words of encouragement for the shy ("Stage fright? We're afraid to admit it, that's how afraid we are…"). She also had a way of finding a positive in every workshop performance. Her tips for participants included the following:
1. "Less is more" when it comes to showing emotional content on stage.
2. Since 9 out of 10 professional bands - even when they improvise - know exactly the ending of their songs, it is a good idea to have the endings of your songs planned and rehearsed.
3. Don't sacrifice the high range if you have one. The "if you don't use it, you will lose it" rule applies to voice, too.
4. As a singer develops professional presence, she or he needs to know how to introduce a song without scratching their face.
It's important to note that Mirabai's remarks carried more humor and warmth than anything else, which is why almost everyone ended up performing on stage. Some presented their own material, most sang Summertime. Professor Leszek Kułakowski's piano trio looked after the music side of the workshop and their cigarette breaks often had to be interrupted as subsequent singers plucked up courage to go on stage.
At some point the only man among participants took care of the entertainment side of the event when, just ahead of performing Frank Sinatra's Strangers in the Night, he warned everyone that he was going to read the lyrics off the Internet via his mobile (see photograph below). It was certainly a moment enjoyed by both participants and spectators (there were a few).
Mirabai mostly shared her knowledge on singing in Ucho, but on one occasion she learnt something new herself. One of the exercises she came up with involved everyone singing the word "nie". She used the exercise many times in the past with her students in the States, but what she didn't know was that "nie" was Polish for "no". How she managed to live her life without knowing this in the past - we don't know.
The real value of the workshop became apparent especially towards the end, when Mirabai sat at the piano herself. Everyone listened carefully - even when she spoke of things seemingly obvious. Like for example: "What you eat and what you drink - and when you do it - is important for someone who wants to sing." Usually (if not always) such remarks have a better chance of truly reaching a young audience if the person making them inspires confidence and professional respect. That day at Ucho Mirabai Daniels - previously virtually unknown in Poland - managed to get both from the workshop participants in less than 2.5 hours.
One other thing worth mentioning here happened at the very beginning of the workshop when the American, referring to Saturday's concert, said that to her "Leszek has both technique and heart, he is an extremely humble and real person with music pouring out of him."
This was only the second day of the Solidarity of Arts 2010 festival, yet one already had the impression that something good and unique is taking place in Gdańsk and its vicinities.
Mirabai Daniels does not speak any Polish, she had never been to Gdynia (nor to any place in Poland) prior to Solidarity of Arts 2010, and - as if the occasion wasn't challenging enough - people who came to participate in her workshop represented quite different levels of singing ability. Yet few minutes into the warm-up vamp one had the impression that she was in full control of the proceedings in Ucho.
From the outset Mirabai had words of encouragement for the shy ("Stage fright? We're afraid to admit it, that's how afraid we are…"). She also had a way of finding a positive in every workshop performance. Her tips for participants included the following:
1. "Less is more" when it comes to showing emotional content on stage.
2. Since 9 out of 10 professional bands - even when they improvise - know exactly the ending of their songs, it is a good idea to have the endings of your songs planned and rehearsed.
3. Don't sacrifice the high range if you have one. The "if you don't use it, you will lose it" rule applies to voice, too.
4. As a singer develops professional presence, she or he needs to know how to introduce a song without scratching their face.
It's important to note that Mirabai's remarks carried more humor and warmth than anything else, which is why almost everyone ended up performing on stage. Some presented their own material, most sang Summertime. Professor Leszek Kułakowski's piano trio looked after the music side of the workshop and their cigarette breaks often had to be interrupted as subsequent singers plucked up courage to go on stage.
At some point the only man among participants took care of the entertainment side of the event when, just ahead of performing Frank Sinatra's Strangers in the Night, he warned everyone that he was going to read the lyrics off the Internet via his mobile (see photograph below). It was certainly a moment enjoyed by both participants and spectators (there were a few).
Mirabai mostly shared her knowledge on singing in Ucho, but on one occasion she learnt something new herself. One of the exercises she came up with involved everyone singing the word "nie". She used the exercise many times in the past with her students in the States, but what she didn't know was that "nie" was Polish for "no". How she managed to live her life without knowing this in the past - we don't know.
The real value of the workshop became apparent especially towards the end, when Mirabai sat at the piano herself. Everyone listened carefully - even when she spoke of things seemingly obvious. Like for example: "What you eat and what you drink - and when you do it - is important for someone who wants to sing." Usually (if not always) such remarks have a better chance of truly reaching a young audience if the person making them inspires confidence and professional respect. That day at Ucho Mirabai Daniels - previously virtually unknown in Poland - managed to get both from the workshop participants in less than 2.5 hours.
One other thing worth mentioning here happened at the very beginning of the workshop when the American, referring to Saturday's concert, said that to her "Leszek has both technique and heart, he is an extremely humble and real person with music pouring out of him."
This was only the second day of the Solidarity of Arts 2010 festival, yet one already had the impression that something good and unique is taking place in Gdańsk and its vicinities.