Phrasing

Music Lesson

Introduction to Listening: First thing I will say when Ross is playing the intro, really listen to that intro. That's just as important as the words that we're speaking, you know?

Prepare Yourself:

• Prepare yourself physically,
• Mentally,
• But again, emotionally.

Listen to the notation. Listen to the phrases, and then launch your voice. This sounds strange, but launch your voice out of that musical phrase into the lyrics.

It's a continuous thread, and you are connected then with instrumentation. You're connected with your musicians, and it makes the song complete for me.

Singing Techniques: So just try and sing almost like singing the intro in your head and then let the words and the lyrics come out of that intro.

Lyrics Example:

"When you're weary, feeling small,
When tears are in your eyes,
I will try them all,
I'm on your side.
Oh, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found,
Like a bridge over troubled water,
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water,
I will lay me down."

That's beautiful. Absolutely wonderful. Thanks, Ross. Amazing. Really, really lovely. You've really connected that emotion in there.

Suggestions for Improvement: There were a couple of little things that I would like you to try, if possible:

• Rhythm of Notes: The rhythm of the notes that you're holding is very static.

  • For example, when you're singing:

    "When you're weary, you're on the beat all the time, feeling small..."

  • Try to make it a bit more real and dynamic.

• Phrasing: Use the phrases as your own.

  • At home, you can try this. You can play around with the rhythms. You don't have to hold the note on every phrase at the end of each line.

Practice Together: Just play it for me, Ross, in a little bit and I'll sing along to it.

• "When you're weary, feeling small..."

Now move this phrase on.

• "When tears are in your eyes, I'll try them all."

You can do whatever you want. It's your song!

Freedom in Interpretation:

• Make it okay; don't feel you have to stick to a metronome.
• These guys will follow you. Ross is right with me.

In Conclusion: Let's try that one more time. Just straighten on the top, and I'll show you how I play around with the speeds, slow it down, pick it up, move it around.

• "When you're weary, feeling small..."
  • Now move the phrase.
• "When tears are in your eyes, I'll try them all."

You can play around with the rhythms; make it fun!

Try it at home. Just don't stick to the metronomic beat. Like I say, Simon and Garfunkel wrote this beautiful song, but they didn't want everyone to sing it the same. They wanted their own interpretation on it.