By Marco Roncaglia
There isn’t only one answer to this question, since
everyone is driven by different reasons, but in my thirty years’ experience I
found a couple of them that seem to be common, at least at the beginning. Most
people wish to share an enjoyable repertoire (popular, classical, gospel or
anything else) and explore their vocal potential.
What happens next depends strictly on the relationship
each member establishes both with their fellow choristers and with the
director. As time goes by, these interactions form the group’s character, influencing
performing choices as well. That’s why it’s immensely important to choose a
course of action capable of balancing musical and human aspects.
In decades of choir activity I have become acquainted
with countless voice techniques, I have joined different school of thought
about directors’ role, I have tried out different approaches to music making.
As a result, I can vouch for the success of the Modai method over the others in
developing a voice free of any constraint or effort, and in favouring the
blossoming of a great harmony between members, director included. The resulting
situation has highly beneficial consequences. As a member of the choir I’m
directing said: “this approach to singing wipes away any rivalry between us, we
all feel we are doing well, even if we are just doing what we can”.
Competition is not bad itself: it often becomes a strong drive to improve, both
for the single member and the whole group, but it can be dangerous and
downright destructive if it arouses envy and resentment among them.
In my opinion, harmony among the members, director
included, is the most important premise to make high quality music, capable of
involving the audience regardless of the chosen repertoire. The fascinating
exploration of senses and emotions, and of biology and physiology which are
related as well, benefits the choir both from a musical and a human point of
view, creating the best conditions for it to work.
In this way, singing will mean bringing the musical
sheet to life every single time. It will make it vibrant and human and
therefore captivating both for the singers and for the audience.
