„Sing Fresh and Focused“

Many of you have asked me what my daily routine looks like that has kept voice so fresh and young even after my long stage career in the heavy dramatic Fach. So I write some aspects down for you:

1) Every morning instead of connecting with the world outside I first connect with myself within. My routine is a 15 min meditation, which I’ve been doing for years and years. It is my routine to connect with my inner self. I find peace and concentration doing so. (It is so important for a singer that you are able to concentrate.)

2) For 25 years I have been vocalising my voice in a very healthy and smooth way. I do this in the morning for 25 min and then I work on repertoire. Again it is also a wonderful tool to stay in good vocal shape by having a routine in warming up the voice.

3) I have a very healthy food plan, which is also vital!

In the afternoon I teach vocal technique as well as coaching singers in my mentorship program at my Institut Stimmkunst. I have choosen a joyful and nurturing life, where I am able to nurture with wisdom and passion not only in my life, but lives of so many professional singers and voice students.

Sometimes professional singers are entering my studio when they have free time between engagements to study a part or to take care of their voices after singing a heavy part. This is sometimes a difficult time for you singers. I want to encourage you to focus on what you have already achieved in your singing career.
In times which were demanding in my singing career on stage, for example singing Elisabeth and Venus in the same Tannhäuser production, I was so grateful that I have had the honor and the opportunity to fulfill my life dream day by day: TO BE ON STAGE AND SINGING.

My advice is to train your voice, your body, your mind and soul. You are the leader of your Kingdom or Queendom.

Wishing you all the best
Vera
Dramatic soprano and Voice Teacher
Institut Stimmkunst/Zürich
www.stimmkunst.ch

Der richtige Gesangslehrer für dich

Oft kommen nach jahrelangem Studium junge Sänger in mein Institut. Diese Erfahrungen und mein Wissen über den Beruf (ich habe über 30 dramatische Rollen in verschiedenen Opernhäusern, Festivals und Konzertsälen gesungen) inspirieren mich, heute meine Tipps zu schreiben:

Junge Sänger oder Gesangsstudenten müssen „ihren“ Gesangslehrer finden! Was bedeutet das in Wirklichkeit: Dieser Lehrer muss die Fähigkeit haben, dir eine gesunde Gesangstechnik so zu vermitteln, dass du sie verstehst und dass du fühlst, dass du stimmliche Fortschritte machst, was auch bedeutet, dass du dich nach dem Unterricht nicht heiser fühlen solltest…. Dein Gesangslehrer sollte echtes Interesse an deiner Entwicklung haben und vor allem sollte er oder sie genügend Zeit haben, dich zu unterrichten. Meiner Meinung nach macht es keinen Sinn, bei einem berühmten Sänger zu studieren, der noch in einer Karriere ist, weil er oder sie nicht genügend Zeit für das Unterrichten und Pflegen deiner Erstsemesterkarriere haben wird. Ich glaube fest daran, dass man am Tag x – JA – mit der Stimme singen können und wissen muss, wie man Musik macht und auf eigenen Füssen steht.

Mein Rat Nummer eins ist es, einen Lehrer zu finden, mit dem du zumindest regelmässigen Gesangsunterricht bekommst und der die Zeit und den Geist hat, dich individuell zu bilden und der eine gesunde Gesangstechnik anbietet. Es gibt einen grossen Ratschlag, den ich dir mitteilen möchte, bevor du dieses wertvolle wöchentliche Nugget schliesst:

Übernimm deine Verantwortung für dich, junger Sänger. Das fängt damit an, den richtigen Gesangslehrer für dich zu finden. Ihr alle habt eine einzigartige Stimme und einen einzigartigen Weg in Leben und Beruf und das bedeutet, dass nur du fühlen und entscheiden kannst, wer ein guter Gesangslehrer für dich ist und wo du in den besten Händen bist.

Herzlich, Vera Wenkert

Auftrittsmöglichkeiten

In diesem wöchentlichen Nugget möchte ich junge Sänger und Künstler ermutigen, Aufführungsmöglichkeiten zu finden, wo sie sehen und beweisen können, was sie bereits erreicht haben, und auch aus Freude am Singen….

Nutze deine Phantasie, um eine Aufführungsmöglichkeit zu finden oder zu schaffen. Jeder junge Künstler braucht diese Art von Erfahrung, bevor er oder sie auf einer Opernbühne selbstbewusst glänzen kann. Als ich als sehr junge Sängerin bei Gloria Davy studierte, sagte sie immer, dass keine Sängerin über Nacht auf einer Bühne steht. Sie hatte Recht, ich schlage deshalb ernsthaft vor, zuerst dein Selbstvertrauen als junge Sängerin, als junger Sänger zu aufzubauen und Massnahmen für deine Karriereträume zu ergreifen.

Aus diesem Grund biete ich den jungen Sängern zweimal im Jahr die Möglichkeit, nach einer 5-tägigen Meisterklasse, in der wir an der Inszenierung von Szenen arbeiten, in einem öffentlichen Konzert zu singen und aufzutreten, wobei es wunderbar ist, ihr Wachstum in der Aufführungssituation zu sehen. Um Künstler zu werden, braucht Talent, Engagement und Disziplin und vor allem Liebe zur Kunst. Nimm die Tatsache an, dass du auf einem aufregenden Weg bist und ehre deinen Lernweg.

Herzlich

Vera Wenkert

Mindset Discipline Goal Setting

These are topics we singers have to work on constantly . Autumn is an awesome time to do it because auditions coming up, the Theaterseason has just started etc..
Today I want to lead you to ask yourself a couple of questions that will empower you to find your individual way towards reaching your singing goals:
1st: Is your audition repertoire vocally and musically ready to present with shine?
2nd: What do you really want to achieve with your singing?
3rd: Are you doing the things you can do to achieve the most out of the opportunity you have?

MINDSET
Your mindset is really important when it comes to your singing success. Believing that you can be a good singer and performer, that there are opportunities, where you can sing either for money or just for the fun of making music is very important. You have to believe it first before it can happen that you are shining as a singer otherwise you can find yourself talking yourself down and distracted by doubts and negativity.
First you have to decide that you are going to work with determination towards your goals that goes hand in hand with being grateful for the people and things you already have in your life and the things you already have achieved.
Ask yourself the question: Why do you want to have this singing career?

DISCIPLINE
Very important in a singers life is discipline. Yeah! You calmly have to work towards your goals every single day with dedication, which means to work on your vocal technique and on your music. Keep going and that is how you make progress. I promise you will love it, when you be in the music every day and find the phrasing, solve vocal challenges of the aria or part etc.
Grab your pen and notebook and write down what is in your individual power to get your mindset and discipline in place to work towards your singing goals. Every career path starts with a clear mindset and discipline!
Wishing you a wonderful journey into your special Musicland today
Vera

Take responsibility

A teacher in a singers life is a guide to learn the craft of singing, of making music, of stage craft etc., but the singer has to do the work. To be an artist means also to take responsibility for your development. This means study, study, just simply do the work and stop finding excuses. If you want to have a career in music, you have to become like a searcher for the phrasing in the music, the building of the character and the owner of a healthy vocal technique. Good and responsible teachers can help you with knowledge and empathie, but in the end, you’re either the kind of person who can take the responsibility and work ambitious towards your dream or you’re not.
Until today after having sung 30 dramatic roles on operastages I am thankful and respectful towards all my teachers on my career path. I mention only a few here: a heartful ThankYou to David Jones and to my Music Mentor since beginning of my studies Friedrich.
So embrace your individual power.
So dive into the music studies and be active
Have a wonderful sunday
Vera

Shine up and Sing

Today is the public concert of my Dublin Masterclass.
I‘ m so excited to help the young artists to start their career during the next months.
The results of the Masterclass inspired me to remind you beautiful singers despite all work you have to do and all the intense studies and devotion it takes to be an artist, allow yourself to glow in the brightest light from your heart.If you like you are invited to join my weekly nugget to guide you with uplifting and substancial messages on your way. Vera

Good Morning Singers

Today part 3 about auditioning
In the former weekly nuggets I concentrated on how to prepare for an audition and what you need in your presentation folder. Yeah, you’ve got an invitation for an audition or a request to send an audio or video beforehand! Most important is: Send an audio or video only, if it is without any musical faults (what means no rhythm mistakes, all dynamics the composer wanted, no question in vocal technique, etc.). Choose only an aria or artsong that you can manage to sing with ease and effortless. A theatre or an agent is interested to listen to a recording which shows what you can do now. Pieces you are working at and „Fach Changes“ you are working at do not belong in the audible equipment of an application. On top of all this you have to take into consideration that people who get your audio or video recording can listen to it often and it will never give the same impression as you would give in a live audition. I remember when I sang for an adviser for singing career years ago in New York, how penetrating he insisted that one should only send super polished audible materials. So, it is worthwhile to work on your presentation until every puzzle is so convincing that all your competitors are left behind and the theatre has no other choice than to take you!
With my appreciation
Vera

Great Auditions

This time of the year is audition time. Yeah, superb! You made it until here. So let’s see, if everything you need is on the peak:

Number one: Your beautiful voice is a free voice with the help of a good vocal technique. The effortless flow of sound, vocal freedom is a satisfying experience for any audition panel.

Number two: Perform with unfettered musicality.

Number three: Is your confidence and self esteem so solid, that you feel secure in yourself in any aspect and that you communicate the joy of being a singer and performer to the panel?

Number four: Your Italian diction sounds Italian and your German diction sounds German… You have translated the text by yourself and not only with a given translater….
Feel inspired by this 1st part of the checking list of “ Sing and Shine“.
You are in a working progress and go for it. Next week here on my Stimmkunst page you will find part two on GREAT AUDITIONS. For masterclasses, voice lessons, career coaching and auditions workshops have a glimpse on my website stimmkunst.ch.

With appreciation
Warmest
Vera