Re: Buenos Dias
Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 1:10 pmThomas Altmann wrote:Hi Michael,
if you are a singer in the first place, and you don't have to learn and memorize new songs and lyrics, try to reverse the order: Do more instinctively what you do the most, although it is more complex, and focus your conscious attention on the recently learned skill. I don't know whether this works for a singer, too, but I would like to hear from you what the results are.
Thomas
I see what you are saying Thomas and intially take that approach as I am incorporating the bongó. But as I get the song closer to performance ready, I have to focus more on the vocal, even though that is the more developed and intuitive skill.
When delivering a nuanced jazz ballad or bolero vocal, there is a lot if working around the rhythm, phrasing, tonal quality and dynamics. Sometimes being a little late, sometimes a little early. Sometimes softer sometimes louder and fuller. Delivering a moving vocal is similar to being an actor, taking on the voice and emotions of the person who is the character of the song. I found through experimentation, that being able to play a pattern and some fills that fits without having to think about it too much give me the freedom and concentration to be able to deliver a better vocal.
Playing percussion while singing reminds me very much of what it is like to play bass while singing. It is somewhat counter intuitive and requires lot´s of practice. Not so much when playing guitar or piano (I play lot´s of guitar very little piano). Of course some of my former bandmates in a project where I played bass used to joke that McCartney and Sting sing and play bass just fine when I would complain how challenging it was.
Yes, and Geddy Lee and Philip Bailey... and more. It can be done, just like singing while playing bongó can be done. It just takes practice. It´s like trying to pat your head and rub your belly at the same time, except more complicated...