Singing in the Key of Me
Over the years I have written for many other people and organizations. This is a space for my own voice, ideas, and words.
The title was inspired years ago by the controversial actor/comedienne Rosie O’Donnell whose sheer exuberance in her own singing was undeterred by wrong notes or not quite reachable high notes. As she launched into a spontaneous song on a late night TV show, the band leader, trying to be helpful, asked, “What key do you sing in?” Rosie shrugged and replied, “I dunno. I just sing in the key of me.“
Too old not to do this
The siren of the stage called me back again. “This. Now you are ready. You are old. You can play the character roles that delight, inspire, and season the story. You are not the center. You are a supporting character to enliven or ground the story. You are Mother Abbess, you are Aunt Eller, you are Martha, you are Mrs. Potts, you are Jack’s mother, you are the Bird Woman. You are this.” Perhaps another definition of character role is that you have to have lived long enough to have built some character and made mistakes and lived through them.
Choir People
I never looked at choir as secondary to my solo career. I enjoyed performing as a soprano soloist in operas and with orchestras and choruses and I loved singing in choirs, sometimes more. My favorite experiences were singing with pro choirs where soloists were in-house — singing with the ensemble, then at the appropriate time stepping forward and singing the solo lines. It was a wonderful way to fully integrate the group and solo portions of the work and it kept me out of my head as a soloist.
A New York Story: The Emperor’s new Mariachi
The Manhattan bound 7 train pulled into Queensboro Plaza, and the passengers filed routinely into a comfortably full, but not crowded, car. Just as the doors were closing, I heard the guitar player shout, “¡Ándale!” to the accordian player as they jumped onto the train from opposite doors. The passengers stared straight head, or at their smart phone screens, or turned their earbuds up as the musicians met at the front of the car. One woman never missed a word in her cell phone conversation as she moved to the opposite end of the car. ‘Just another day on the train, getting from point A to point B. No one spoke (except the guitar player in rapid fire Spanish), but the collective consciousness of the passengers was palpable: “Don’t look at them. Don’t acknowledge them. And for God’s sake, don’t give them any money! They will go away.”
American Singer Musical Theatre Intensive 2013: “Ask”
A faculty panel on “Singing and….” brainstormed ways of balancing performing with the other important parts of your life (family, travel, teaching, job etc). This discussion led to a broader discussion on ways that we self-sabotage our auditions, performances, life and career choices.
1). ASK. If you need help, try asking someone specific or everyone on your friends list. Be prepared for the “no” but don’t be shocked at the “yes."
“The gift of working with Cynthia is something every artist should get to have at least once in their lifetime. She has an incredible ability to see the person and well as their talent and help for both simultaneously. She will push you to grow as a person and a singer, in a way that makes you feel supported so that you can be successful. She is capable of helping those just beginning in the same way as she is with those who are years down the road. She makes every student feel as if their lesson is the most important thing she could be doing at that moment. She will listen to your concerns and desires and map out a plan to help you achieve the things you want out of your time with her.”
—Sarah Moody, adult student