About those child opera singers: here's the deal

http://dropera.blogspot.com/ ^ | 2/2/2012 | Glenn Winters

[Sirius Lee]

Incidentally, I never had any talent for writing or even arranging music. . . but I was very good at interpreting music someone else wrote or arranged. I could do Jazz though. . . and transpose on the fly.

I'm just the opposite. I can compose and orchestrate, shape the phrase well enough in someone else's composition, but not necessarily hit the right notes in performance. And jazz? Improvise over a set structure - not so much, but improvise freely, usually. No ability to transpose on the fly, note for note, either. But transform a theme in different keys as I go, yes.

Beethoven could do it all. So could Bach. That's the difference between genius and we mere mortals.

[Swordmaker]

I'm just the opposite. I can compose and orchestrate, shape the phrase well enough in someone else's composition, but not necessarily hit the right notes in performance. And jazz? Improvise over a set structure - not so much, but improvise freely, usually. No ability to transpose on the fly, note for note, either. But transform a theme in different keys as I go, yes.

Beethoven could do it all. So could Bach. That's the difference between genius and we mere mortals.

The conductor of our local symphony has perfect pitch. . . He can write music beautifully. . . and conducts with great emotion and spirit. But DON'T EVER ASK HIM TO SING! He has all the tonal quality of a braying donkey! Actually that's an insult to all donkeys everywhere. . . LOL! It's perfectly pitched, but you really don't want to hear it! It is REALLY bad. . . on key. . . but BAAAADDDD!!!!

[rikkir]

Yngwe? Really?

Bwahahahhah! LOL :)

As in Malmsteen?

I love it!!

Nicely done.

[Lx]

Lx asks (LOL) “Have you actually heard the 24 Caprices?

Yes, I can HEAR them when I look at the notes on the page—as any competent musician can.

Lx’ “Have you actually heard the 24 Caprices?” betrays the basic condition of the non musician and the musical amateur—totally dependent on something/someone outside himself to bring him the music.

You're smarminess is noted; I would be more impressed if you were just acting Charles Emerson Winchester the III.

Yes, I can read music, lots of people read music. My point about the Caprices that went over your highly inflated head was that they are interesting but not something you would listen to for enjoyment. And not to hit the point too hard, if you don't play violin or any stringed instruments, I don't care how well you read music, you're going to miss the technical brilliance they represent.

You remind me of one of the music teachers at college. All of them had PhD's but all but one were brilliant musicians. The one who wasn't was the most pretentious teacher there. His haughtiness was legendary but he never played anything nor did he have any body of music we could evaluate but he taught music history and had lots of B.S. just like you, he just couldn't play.

Is that your problem bunky?

[MarvinStinson]

Lx will remain clueless for a lifetime.

[Lx]

At least I can play...

[Czech_Occidentalist]

What about Clint van der Linde and Jacques Imbrailo? They sang the Queen of the Night Aria and don't seem to have damaged their voice. They have adult singing careers. So is it possible for some children to sing even demanding arias without damaging their voice? I understand Clint and Jacques sang this aria only occasionally besides their usual age-appropriate choir repertoire. And, if we overlook the question of a potential damage to their voice, did they sing the aria at least somewhat competently? Or was it really bad?

[MarvinStinson]

Yes, I’m sure you can stumble through a Clementi Sonatina.

[RedStateRocker]

Sure, plenty of prodigies flame out; that proves exactly nothing.

Someone who can listen to “From The Top” and not be thrilled, delighted and recharged at the talent of kids today has a very different soul from anyone I want to have anything to do with. What a bitter and sad person this author must be, I pity him.

[Lx]

Yes, I’m sure you can stumble through a Clementi Sonatina.

Perhaps but I can rock Smoke On the Water on one string.

You, unlike Skynet are not self aware; look through this thread and see if you sound reasonable. As self delusion appears strong in you, I expect you see nothing wrong with your pontifications. You must be wonderful at parties.

[Borges]

He’s coming from a sense of pity for the kids who are unduly exploited and adulated and what awaits many of them.

[buffaloguy]

There are probably children who can do it but I would be hardpressed to describe how they would be found. For every child that did it there are many whose voices were damaged by a voice teacher or parents who decided to go for the gold.

A good voice teacher will protect the musical athlete they have as a student and bring them along the normal path.

[buffaloguy]

If you want to hear what the effect of an overstressed voice is listen to men Gospel singers. Most of them have badly trashed voices because the music minister and the lead Pastor pushed them way to hard at an inappropriate age.

[RedStateRocker]

"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.” ― Hunter S. Thompson

[RedStateRocker]

Interesting that you sort of describe my wife and myself..

She could play anything written on harp, but completely clueless, frustrated, would freak out at doing anything not written.

I hated to read, hate reading, don’t really care to play anything the same way a second time, mash genres together as I damned well please and play as many gigs (bass) as I really want to at this point, gigged my way through college playing ATP (Anything That Pays), C&W, punk, reggae, rock, standards...

My wife was seldom as happy as when she sold her harp after her parents died, she had hated playing- Me, I play as much as I want to and what I want :-)