Singing and Writing by Warren Bull
Recently got a video of a singing
audition I had done. The rules were to perform excerpts from two songs in two
minutes. On the whole, I was pleased. Not satisfied but I managed to convey most
of what I set out to do.
As I watched and thought about my
performance, It occurred to me that there are some similarities between my
goals as a writer and my goals as a singer.
For example, despite major
differences in presentation, in both art forms, I want to connect with my
audience.
Recently, after hearing my
rendition of a song for an upcoming recital, a professional jazz singer pointed
out that I missed the opportunity early in the first verse to emphasize the
relationship of the singer to his intended audience of one. (The song is a
non-romantic love song.) I see that as similar to not fully developing the hook
in at the beginning of a story. I had intended to increase the intensity in my
voice later on in the song, but that would be like waiting until chapter two to
engage the reader or “burying” the headline of a newspaper article. As a
writer, I know I have got pull the reader in quickly or she will stop reading
before chapter two.
The vocalist also pointed out that,
although I sang a seven-note run of quarter notes accurately as they were
written, that part of the song is not very interesting to listen to. She
encouraged me to alter the progression by making some notes longer and others
shorter. That reminded me of the advice to alter sentence structure. A series
of sentences that all start “He said” is less effective than varying the
beginnings.
The songstress who commented on my
song also commented on another singer’s presentation. That singer used a lovely
slide in her voice with emotional lyrics. Then she slid again and again and
again. Each successive use of the vocal technique had the effect of diminishing
its impact. The analogy in writing is when clever description or action is
repeated the impact becomes less with each repetition.
Practicing singing is like revising
writing. For me, it is a necessary,
but not always delightful, part of the process. There are always nuances that
can be improved. I can try out ideas and purse “what ifs.”
What activity in your life
parallels writing?
What a great metaphor.
ReplyDeleteIn writing as in music there are many different genres. While some may like opera sung in foreign languages about lives in a far-off land or time, others prefer the hip-hop of today's world.
ReplyDeletegreat analogy! Planning and planting a perennial garden: the sun map, a matrix for bloom time, height, and color are the outline. Digging in leaf mold, top soil, and some sand, then planting the first slips of plants. First draft done. Weeding is revisions. The waiting period for a full-blown perennial garden is several years, and then it's time to divide the plant clumps. Re-evaluate and edit, big picture to individual plant.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course, both singing and writing can always get better!!
ReplyDeleteLove your comparisons between signing and writing. Both are creative endeavors that reach their peak when they elicit a response (hopefully positive) from the audience.
ReplyDelete