Feeding my 8-month-0ld is a process that takes time. Not because he is a bad eater (he is not), but because he eats like a grown-up, in a way that he stops, thinks his thoughts, tells you a story, socializes with anybody who happens to be in the kitchen, chews on his bib, pulls his hair, smiles, etc, etc.
So it became an unspoken tradition to do something else with him while he eats. Sometimes I tell him a story or a poem, sometimes I sing. So tonight while Troy was enjoying his oatmeal and prunes dinner, I kept quietly singing whatever popped up in my head. It was not long before I started murmuring Di tanti palpiti from Rossini's Tancredi (which has been one my favorites ever since I heard it on Elina Garanca's CD).
Because I was singing in just a quarter of my voice, I was not "using" my throat at all ( if you know what I mean) and it all came together pretty smoothly. I even flatter myself by thinking that I got to demonstrate some kitchen-level coloratura, which was probably sufficient for my son to be absolutely delighted. He got really excited: he laughed, waved his arms in the air and called out in the happiest of voices and with the happiest of faces: Mom, mom, mom! (like in go, mom, go!)
I read once that kids respond to coloratura very well, because of those special air waves that it creates.
Apparently, my coloratura worked too.
Oh well, before she started singing in an opera theater, Rossini's mom was a laundress!!! and sang while doing laundry!
So you never really know what you are going to end up doing, right?
(Just kidding)
2 comments:
Alex loved coloratura too! He still does. I have a video of him on YouTube identifying coloratura when he was 3. It's different from just about anything else we hear!
And it's true, you never know. Look at what I've done - You can do it too!
ps you should never use your throat at all!! But you probably know that already.
Yeah, I think I remember that video - your son is very gifted in music.
I am not ambitious in pursuing singing career,even though I do have a pretty voice, but I keep it all for my son, family and close friends. I am ambitious about teaching Musicology though, and am seriously thinking about it. Doing that would combine my 2 passions: Music and teaching.
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