“Music is the invisible art, the only art that you can’t actually see. It’s all vibration. You have to remember that you’re putting a vibration into the world.”
When Steven Blier, the Classical Singer 2006 Coach of the Year, said those words during an interview for the article in this issue, it was one of those “a-ha” moments for me. I had never thought of music’s place in the artistic world quite in those terms.
I have always been awed by the remarkable power of music and its ability to communicate, heal, and invoke emotion. Music seems to have the ability to resonate in some way with almost everyone. I have rarely met anyone who doesn’t like some style of music.
Music invokes emotion. Restaurant owners know this. During the lunch-hour rush, when they want to serve as many customers as possible, they play music that is more upbeat. The music energizes the customers (unbeknownst to them) and they talk faster, eat faster—and leave faster. During dinnertime, when restaurant owners want patrons to take their time—and order more drinks, appetizers, and dessert—they play music that is more relaxing. All of this happens without the customer even realizing that they are resonating to the vibrations in the air.
I will never forget watching video footage of music therapists working with stroke patients. Each of us has an internal metronome, if you will, that causes us to walk in a rhythmic, even gait without even thinking about it. A stroke can damage that internal metronome—in many stroke patients the gait becomes uneven. Walking becomes difficult, requiring physical therapy. Music therapists combine music and physical therapy with amazing results. By having the stroke patient walk to music, the music therapist temporarily replaces the damaged metronome with an external rhythm. I watched in awe as a patient would struggle to walk, the movements difficult and irregular. Then the music would begin, and immediately the patient’s gait evened out and walking seemed easier. Those patients were resonating to the vibrations of the music.
Music also has the ability to cross cultural and language barriers. Years ago I attended a dinner party with two Italian families, each of a different religious faith. During the dinner, the two fathers carried on a rather heated discussion about their differing religious views. The discussion soon escalated into a full-blown argument, and the tension in the room was thick enough to cut. Then I asked if I could sing a favorite song to thank our hosts for a lovely dinner (the food was good, even if the conversation wasn’t). I sang a simple English folk song—and within a matter of moments, the atmosphere of the evening completely changed. No one else spoke English. They weren’t resonating to the words, but the vibrations of the music.
Steven Blier’s profound statement to me earlier this month has made me think about all of these experiences in a new light. As musicians, we possess a powerful gift. We resonate, or as the dictionary puts it, “produce … a deep, full reverberating sound.” In turn the music resonates, or (again to quote the dictionary), “evokes or suggests images, emotions or memories,” within those who hear it. The listeners then resonate, or “meet in agreement,” with the music and performers. Resonance, in all its definitions, results from vibration. It’s the vibrations that we send out into the world that makes music so unique, important, and meaningful.
I am grateful for our 2006 Coach of the Year and his inspirational words. Certainly, every singer has been inspired by a coach who has helped him or her resonate and vibrate in the best possible way. Take a moment to thank him or her this month as we honor coaches and all they do to further this nonvisual art form called music.
In This Issue
Once a year we print our online coach’s directory (pp. 22-25). We’ve worked especially hard to make sure that the information printed is as up-to-date as possible. Additional information about each coach is available on the Classical Singer website, at www.classicalsinger.com/
directories/coach/search.php. We hope this is a valuable resource, and welcome your feedback.
