Thursday, July 19, 2007

Day Five of the Torquay singing-week

The postie arrived to deliver mail as we were warming up, and said hello.

Mon gave us an exercise to practise singing legato for Elgar's Ave Maria - choose a partner of about the same weight (cause of much hilarity), stand facing, grip the other's left wrist in left hand (right hand holds the dots), lean back as far as you can, and sing. Apparently it's very difficult not to sing legato in this position. About half-way through, Jim the caretaker walked in to pick up some decorating gear, looked at us for a few moments, and disappeared hurriedly without saying anything.

We went to the museum for lunch again, and this time achieved my wish to sing in the hall. Luuuuvly acoustics. We got some prospective ticket sales out of it, and compliments from the staff, so all good. Small world syndrome - also having lunch in the museum cafe was a tourist from Switzerland whose daughter sang in one of Mon's choirs.

All of us (29 including groupies) had dinner in Simius the new Italian restaurant. Excellent food. We sang odd snatches quietly, but nothing loud or complete. As we left the manager said he wished we had sung a few pieces - missed opportunity! He'll come to the concert though.

Mon's Tip #nother: Support repeated notes by thinking of how a speedboat's bow is raised so it hits each wave at a level (visual demonstration of hand stretched horizontally palm-down with fingers curved up). "Tenors - pull your front end up"

Mon's musical direction #thinkofsomething: "completely luxurious, as if you were covered in peacock feathers"

And finally, though the Sandstrom is sounding pretty good now...
Mon's Tip #urr: If you go wrong, just make sure you don't appear worried - turn the look of anxiety into one of emoting.

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