Comments on: Can We Hear Ourselves When We Sing? http://www.nancyoutloud.com/2008/06/can-we-hear-ourselves-when-we-sing/ Music, Singing and the Creative Life of a Middle-Aged Diva Sat, 07 Aug 2010 16:01:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kenny http://www.nancyoutloud.com/2008/06/can-we-hear-ourselves-when-we-sing/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Kenny Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:23:21 +0000 http://www.nancyoutloud.com/?p=8#comment-4 <p>Many arrows point to Nancy. Tonight I got an email from a friend of mine, jazzist Gerry Grosz, former winner of Best Song of the Year at West Coast Songwriters. In his current newsletter he mentioned that he plays vibes on a new album by Elaine Lucia. Now, I'd heard bood things about her before, so I thought I should check out her sounds. Sure enough, great vocalist. On the sidebar, under the heading "blogroll" I see a link to -- that's right -- Nancy Tierney. Following it to this site, I see your list of musical preferences, including Dusty Springfield. Of course, Kate and I were just talking this morning about the incredible recording "The Look Of Love", one of my all time favorites, by the incomparable DS. We have never spoken of our mutual admiration for her before!<br /> Kenny</p> Many arrows point to Nancy. Tonight I got an email from a friend of mine, jazzist Gerry Grosz, former winner of Best Song of the Year at West Coast Songwriters. In his current newsletter he mentioned that he plays vibes on a new album by Elaine Lucia. Now, I’d heard bood things about her before, so I thought I should check out her sounds. Sure enough, great vocalist. On the sidebar, under the heading “blogroll” I see a link to — that’s right — Nancy Tierney. Following it to this site, I see your list of musical preferences, including Dusty Springfield. Of course, Kate and I were just talking this morning about the incredible recording “The Look Of Love”, one of my all time favorites, by the incomparable DS. We have never spoken of our mutual admiration for her before!
Kenny

]]> By: Ruth http://www.nancyoutloud.com/2008/06/can-we-hear-ourselves-when-we-sing/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Ruth Sun, 06 Jul 2008 04:16:29 +0000 http://www.nancyoutloud.com/?p=8#comment-5 <p>As someone called upon to give (and get) song critiques...I find that what works is to be very specific, have a solution and have a positive comment about some aspect.</p> <p>People do want to be told "You're wonderful" rather than "You suck," that is, most would love the "critique" to be an all-out rave. We need strokes. However, they will listen to, "It's great but you're dropping the consonants at the end of words" or some other very specific criticism. I liken it to telling a beautiful woman that she has a stray feather on her lovely evening gown. Or telling a good friend they've got spinach in their teeth. They appreciate knowing. If your commentary is solicited, specific and warm is the way to go. In my opinion.</p> <p>To me it's the asker's responsibility to let you know if what they really need is adulation. And sometimes, that's all we want and need.</p> <p>It's also an asker's responsibility NOT to argue with someone giving a requested critique.</p> <p>You've got to take the negative critique like a man, even if you're a woman ;)</p> As someone called upon to give (and get) song critiques…I find that what works is to be very specific, have a solution and have a positive comment about some aspect.

People do want to be told “You’re wonderful” rather than “You suck,” that is, most would love the “critique” to be an all-out rave. We need strokes. However, they will listen to, “It’s great but you’re dropping the consonants at the end of words” or some other very specific criticism. I liken it to telling a beautiful woman that she has a stray feather on her lovely evening gown. Or telling a good friend they’ve got spinach in their teeth. They appreciate knowing. If your commentary is solicited, specific and warm is the way to go. In my opinion.

To me it’s the asker’s responsibility to let you know if what they really need is adulation. And sometimes, that’s all we want and need.

It’s also an asker’s responsibility NOT to argue with someone giving a requested critique.

You’ve got to take the negative critique like a man, even if you’re a woman ;)

]]> By: Chris Alexander http://www.nancyoutloud.com/2008/06/can-we-hear-ourselves-when-we-sing/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Chris Alexander Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:27:07 +0000 http://www.nancyoutloud.com/?p=8#comment-6 <p>Hi Nancy, </p> <p>Your first FaceBook fan here!</p> <p>Hmmm... 'psychotic voice teachers'... now that's a bit of a generalization. How many voice teachers have you had, and (out of the universe of voice teaching) what percentage of all voice teachers have you studied with? So, I think, maybe it's not totally fair to put the rap on voice teachers. </p> <p>And it is true, in my experience, that you can *never* hear your own voice 'objectively'. You are too close to the source of sound to judge, and even listening to yourself on recording is probably not 'objective'. I think singers *require* the reactions and comments of others to improve their voice. N'est-ce pas?</p> Hi Nancy,

Your first FaceBook fan here!

Hmmm… ‘psychotic voice teachers’… now that’s a bit of a generalization. How many voice teachers have you had, and (out of the universe of voice teaching) what percentage of all voice teachers have you studied with? So, I think, maybe it’s not totally fair to put the rap on voice teachers.

And it is true, in my experience, that you can *never* hear your own voice ‘objectively’. You are too close to the source of sound to judge, and even listening to yourself on recording is probably not ‘objective’. I think singers *require* the reactions and comments of others to improve their voice. N’est-ce pas?

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