Who teaches Broadway stars to sing songs?

[binau]

Posted: 9/9/12 at 5:55pm

I imagine nobodies like MORGAN JAMES would teach themselves, and there is no harm in that. But do competent stars like Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters etc.. teach themselves how to sing particular songs, or do they pay someone to teach them? I suppose it would depend on the song. For example, I imagine Bernadette had someone beside her helping her sing "Too Many Mornings" because it is quite difficult for her. But still, I've always wondered who (if anyone) teaches the songs, and how the 'interpretations' are formed etc....

Updated On: 9/9/12 at 05:55 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/9/12 at 6:03pm

I know Dick Gallagher usually works with Patti LuPone, or at least he used to.

She mentions him on the Sweeney Todd concert DVD when she talks about the months of preparation she did beforehand to learn the score. Updated On: 9/9/12 at 06:03 PM

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/9/12 at 6:05pm

Patti hired a college student in South Carolina to work with her on the Company score when she was at her beach house. But normally I have no idea. I would assume many work with their voice teachers.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 9/9/12 at 6:05pm

Are you talking about for a show they are doing, or songs they use in a cabaret/concert setting?

For a show there will be a whole team dedicated to music; a musical supervisor, musical director, conductor (may be the same as the musical director in some cases, especially early in the run), and an accompanist in the rehearsal room.

Most professionals will continue to take vocal lessons throughout their career for everything from technique to acting and interpretation.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 9/9/12 at 6:05pm

Bernadette's voice teacher is Adrienne Angel, or at least it was. She mentioned her when she was a guest host on Regis awhile ago.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/9/12 at 6:42pm

Almost everybody ... and I mean everybody who takes their craft seriously, has a vocal coach. It doesn't matter how big of a celebrity they are or how many Tonys they have on their shelf.

It's part of keeping up the stamina and making sure they aren't developing bad, irrevocable habits. It's no different than having a physical trainer. They need to stay in shape, and they need a second set of eyes (and ears) who can keep them on top of their game.

I'm sure Audra, Marin, Patti, Bernadette, Betty, Idina, Kristin, Kelli, etc. all have a vocal coach. No question.

They have acting teachers and coaches, too. And dancers take classes as well ... no matter how "big" their names are on a marquee.

[binau]

Posted: 9/9/12 at 6:43pm

Does this also hold true for male singers?

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/9/12 at 6:45pm

Of course!

Sorry for the "sexist" response.



Although ... and I'm being honest about this ... I know more males who don't study than females.

So maybe my "oops" has some truth to it.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/9/12 at 6:46pm

Patti's vocal coach is the renowned Joan Ladar. She credits Joan for teaching her how to sing properly.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/9/12 at 6:52pm

Ann and Liz Callaway's mother Shirley was a highly reputable vocal coach back when I was "pounding the pavements."

And an old friend of mine from Los Angeles, Eric Vetro, was "thanked" at the Tonys by Marissa Jaret Winokur when she won her award for Best Actress. Eric taught many celebrities in Hollywood, and I did a few piano/vocal arrangements for him and his pupils, back in the day.

[Jon]

Posted: 9/9/12 at 9:32pm

To be technical, a "voice teacher" teaches vocal technique - breathing, intonationm etc.

A "vocal coach" helps singers learn their songs. Vocal coaches just need to know music - not neccesarily the science of singing.

Many performers have both a voice teacher and a vocal coach.

[someone.else's.story2]

Posted: 9/10/12 at 11:05am

I studied with Shirley Callaway awhile back! She is phenomenal and so nice. :)

[Brick]

Posted: 9/10/12 at 11:13am

Jon is closest in the answer to this. While yes, every major star usually has a vocal teacher to help keep their technique in order and prepare them for the demands of a particular part, they also have a music director or accompanist who works through the score with them, helps them learn it.

A vocal teacher like Joan Lader is far too in demand to be teaching people scores. Often, the person is someone a star employs for years, but as evidenced by the story of Patti hiring a music student because she needed someone near her home in the Carolinas, they'll hire someone just for the project.

[MusicalBoy]

Posted: 9/10/12 at 1:25pm

Carolee Carmello famously doesn't use a vocal coach, and to me has never sounded like she needs one!

Updated On: 9/10/12 at 01:25 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/10/12 at 1:36pm

Vocal coaches and voice teachers can do both (teach you the score and train you and coach you on how to sing it as well as general technique). They don't always break into neat organized categories like you describe.

Updated On: 9/10/12 at 01:36 PM

[dreaming]

Posted: 9/10/12 at 2:20pm

Also, voice teachers (and more recently, vocal therapists) can assist performers in maintaining their voices so they don't injure themselves performing a taxing role eight times a week. Vocal maintenance is crucial and it is in this capacity that vocal coaches and teachers (usually teachers) assist.

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 9/10/12 at 2:39pm

Bernadette has Marvin Laird as her personal music director/pianist

[runaways]

Posted: 9/10/12 at 8:17pm

This is a ridiculous question. Period.

A good vocal technique teacher (don't get this confused with coach) will teach a singer technique, such as bel canto, SLS, etc. A good teacher will teach placement, vowel manipulation, breath support, etc.

A vocal coach will help with how a song is sung, not necessarily general technique. Technique teachers usually double as a vocal coach.

However, the interpretation of how to ACT a song boils down to an actor, their acting choices, and a director.

For the quintessential book on acting, please go out and buy Michael Shurtleff's "Audition...." As for vocal technique, please familiarize yourself with Seth Riggs and his wonderful technique, Speech Level Singing (basically, it's bel canto).

qolbinau, as for your harsh criticism of Morgan James, she's a classically trained singer with a killer voice. I'm not clear on how much training she's had as an actress but she seems to be doing well. She was also a student at Julliard, like your beloved LuPone, who wishes she had James' technique.

While on the subject of Ms. LuPone, she claims healthy vocal technique basically boils down to breath support. Sure, that is part of it, but definitely not all of it. Most vocalists will tell you placement is the most important part of a healthy technique. (Placement is what Seth Rudetsky refers to as "the mask.")

[binau]

Posted: 9/10/12 at 8:34pm

Yep, it's a ridiculous question. I'm so ashamed that, despite not working or studying in an area relevant to the creative arts, or knowing anyone that does. Or not having a personal interest or hobby in singing, or knowing anyone that does. That somehow I don't have knowledge of this. I forgot that people are born with knowledge of how professional actresses/actors learn their craft. We should go back to discussion about how Lin-Manuel Miranda is accused of whatever it was accused he was, yesterday.

And the criticism of Morgan James wasn't a genuine criticism, of course. I'm just trolling. What 'musicianship' that girl has. I really think some Broadway stars like Donna Murphy could learn a thing or two from her understudying of Wednesday Addams in THE ADDAMS FAMILY. Impeccable talent, she is.

#horrified

Updated On: 9/10/12 at 08:34 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/10/12 at 8:44pm

like your beloved LuPone, who wishes she had James' technique.

OH, PLEASE.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 9/11/12 at 1:57pm

CATS.... Dick Gallagher is deceased.