Hi, my dear fellow musicians. I don't know if music can save the world, but I don't know what else can. Music crosses language barriers and culture differences. The classics span generations. Even contemporary music talks to us all. I remember I was out listening to a jazz group one night, and they played their own arrangement of --- the Sesame Street  theme! It was delightful.

Singing, I truly believe, is like breathing. You inhale, and on the exhale you create sound. Hopefully it's a sound that moves your listeners in some way.

The first time I heard Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, when I was a kid, it blew my mind. The piece was powerful enough to make me believe in God. I don't know what I believe anymore, spiritually, but I'll never forget the thrill of those first Handel moments.

I was trained in classical singing, and sang jazz professionally. I love the combination of classical breathing and jazz singing. Good jazz - really excellent jazz - has to be mastered. And then there has to be a certain spark, just like there has to be a spark in any performing.

I just published a book, Vocal Vibrance, which was the result of writing up instructions and notes for my own voice students over many years. It's published by Lulu Press. I'm so excited. I also have a web site I love working on.

Look forward to meeting the rest of you beautiful people.

Namaste,

Suzann

Dear Suzann,

The voice is indeed the purest of instruments. Not being gifted in any way with an agreeable singing voice I have to limit myself to listening to others who are so fortunate with this talent.

I also really appreciate listening to jazz. Jazz musicians represent to me the ultimate form of playing. They are continuously creating music. I admit being jealous of the talent required to do so.

In spite of my ‘limitations’ as a classical violinist, I have been able to enjoy trying to reproduce what a composer had already conveniently put down on paper for me…    

That you have been blessed with both of the gifts mentioned above is wonderful. I am sure you have brought out the best of both worlds.

I wish you much success with you musical endeavours.

Sincerely,

Ron

Hi Ron,

Oh wow, you played with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. That must have been an incredible experience. And then on to the Netherlands. I'm so glad that you still pick up the violin and work on alternative techniques when you can. That's such an inspiration to me.

Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful reply.

Thinking of you with love and light,

Suzann

Wow,  very powerful!

YES, music can save the world and it is each and eveyone of our jobs as musicians, teachers, etc to promote it.  Record sales are up and down, but that does not replace booking the local and traveling jobs that the bands play.  One has to say just like you did:  I am a musician, let me show you how it done. 

What poeple have to learn at a young age is "ear training."  This is not what they teach in theory in high school.  I mean listening to recordings and analysing from the records.  I started at age four listening to all my mother's LPs.  I am sorry we did not have CDs in the 1950s.   I didn't get this type of ear training until I atteneded Berklee back in ythe 1970's.  Our assigments were to listen to the recording and write all 24 parts of the the big band score on paper.   Now that is ear training!  I can't always remember something from last week,  but I can play something I learned over forty years a go!  I am proud of that.

Promoting live music is my goal.  I had started New Jersey Live Musicians LLC years a go to utililise live entertainers and get the bands back.   Of course there are a lot of good singles out there but what happened to the combos now that electronic music and media has replaced the horn players?

I now come to the web in search of quality musicians that know their music and know their instruments.

Wathching the TV shows that have the competitions I am so glad they have a qualified live orchestra behind them.  Dancing with the Stars,  that band is great.

Good luck on your book,  I will try to get a copy soon.

Musically yours,

Erik-Hans Vagen

New Jersey Live Musicians LLC

On May 26, 2008 Suzann Kale wrote:

Do you need a translater when to go to the Netherlands?

I am half Dutch.

Enjoy!  My daughter was over there on a class trip with UNiv Penn.

VERY EXPENSIVE!

Erik Vagen  (Vandenberg on my Mom's side)

On May 28, 2008 Suzann Kale wrote:

Hi Erik,

I just love what you said, and agree totally. And I love your positive attitude. YES. Music can save the world. I'm so glad you're a promoter, I bet you're really good. That's what musicians need, are people to help them be heard.

Ear training, oh yes, so basic, so important. Yes, listening to a big band and writing out all 24 parts of the score by ear - yep, yep, I'd say you've got good ears!!!

I learned ear training later in life, too. But at least we learned it, that's the important thing. Yes, it's lots of work, but it's not really "work," it's "living."

Thanks so much for your thoughts! I hope your business, New Jersey Live Musicians LLC is going GREAT!

With warmest regards,

Suzann

That's cool about your daughter going to the Netherlands with her class.

save the world?..

from what?   if we could answer this question, we would probably be able to find the right solution. Lets narrow the task. My view is that some people need to be saved from gray everiday routine, anger, jelousy, greed, lie, aggression and the similar. Music can not save them, but certainly can help them a bit. Maybe a lot... not every music though! only a bright, von-violent music that powerfully speaks about love, hope and the beauty of nature. Possibly it could at least distract them for a moment from their gloomy thoughts.

Hi Stefan,

Interesting question. Save the world from what? I like your view.

For me, what music can do is - possibly - transform. Transform what? Perhaps turn a cold heart warm. Perhaps open an inner dialogue for someone who has been resistant to self-exploration.

Maybe I can better answer your question with a (brief) story:

I was driving and listening to our local classical music station. They announced a new, "important" work by a guy (I've long since forgotten the piece, but the soul of the piece has never left me), and they started to play it. Very modern, intricate. My first reaction was: "Why is it always men who get their works taken seriously?" Distress.

But as I listened, the music itself calmed my distress. It was actually a beautiful work, very moving, full of story and emotion. The piece "got" me. And I realized, "Music like that is gender-less. I can let go of my daily drama and just let this piece warm my heart."

And so I was transformed. Because the music was so beautiful, but also because it spoke to me clearly, on a very deep level.

I'm a diehard feminist. So for me to even think something like "I don't care who wrote it, I love it, and I have total respect for this male composer" was a life-changing experience. It softened something in me.

Namaste,

Suzann

Hi Suzann and everyone else,

I just joined this forum. I'm a professional violinist. And I see you are a singer and that you teach. That's great! You pose an excellent question. Wouldn't it be wonderful if music could save the world and solve all problems and cure all illness. Well, I don't know if music can completely solve everything, but it can sure go a long way. I think that music is the very best medicine, and that a love and passion for music can help to keep us very healthy and happy. Music is also very amazing in that it can lift us up to great heights when we are feeling discouraged and very down or when we something happens to upset us. So I think that music can be a great thing for all of us. Music keeps us happy and positive in our mental attitudes, and that also has a bearing on our physical health.

Carolyn