FAQ: About Me edition
Thursday, May 26, 2022 by Nathaniel Thompson | Personal
As a private teacher, one of the most important things to me is having a strong relationship with my students and colleagues. When I visit schools or meet new musicians, I tend to have a couple of questions and topics that come up frequently. I thought to myself, why not get them out of the way for anyone looking to get to know me better?
Thus, I present to you:
FAQ: About Me edition!
Q: How tall are you?
A: I am six feet and five inches tall. Yes it's very tall. No I don't play basketball (though I did play little league baseball as a kid).
Q: What's your favorite kind of music?
A: The truth is I am terrible at favorites. Doubly so for things I like, so my standard reply for this question is "Anything good". I like rock, jazz, folk, rap, pop, EDM, celtic, classical, contemporary, broadway, polka, mariachi, ambient, lo-fi, funk, disco... I could go on.
I also understand this answer is not helpful, so here are some (not all) of the artists I enjoy currently:
Alt-J, Avi Kaplan, Billie Eilish, Bobby McFerrin, Ella Fitzgerald, Splatoon soundtrack, The Fearless Flyers, Glass Animals, I'm With Her, Ingrid Michaelson, Jacob Collier, Kero Kero Bonito, Moonchild, Susan Graham, The Noisy Freaks, Savant, Hamilton Soundtrack, Owl City, Panic! At the Disco, Paramore, Renee Fleming, Pentatonix, Perfume, Peter Paul & Mary, Cowboy Bebop soundtrack, Sligo Rags, System of a Down, twenty one pilots, Tyler The Creator, Born Without Bones, Caravan Palance, Haywire, Raffi, Runescape classic soundtrack, Kendrick Lamar, Portugal The Man, LiSA, Hollow Knight Soundtrack, Neon Trees, Sean Angus Watson, Dietrich Fisher Dieskau.
Hopefully that gives you a decent understanding of my music taste.
Q: What's your favorite song to sing?
A: Again, a question I answer horribly. I'll say that I like to sing music with an intent and a feeling. I'd say that usually comes out for me the most with Broadway, Classical Art Song, Punk/Alt rock, Folk music, or pop, so here's some current favs from those categories:
Broadway: You'll Be Back (Hamilton)
Classical Art Song: The Michelangelo Lieder (Hugo Wolf)
Rock: Aerials (SOAD), Tell Me How (Paramore)
Folk: Quarter Past Four (Avi Kaplan), If I Had My Way (Peter, Paul & Mary)
Pop: Animal (Neon Trees), Death of a Bachelor (Panic! At the Disco)
Q: What's your favorite show you've performed in?
A: Ragtime. I played Father. It's a very dark role, but the show's message is so important. It was a great experience to be part of.
Q: What's your favorite food?
A: Biscuits and Gravy. I love to make my own at home. Cooking is fun, and very rewarding, though I'll never measure up to my Mom's.
Q: Why do you teach classical singing? Can I learn different singing styles?
A: The classical style of singing is all about unlocking the full potential of one's voice. Singing classically fosters healthy, sustainable singing, and uses the full extent of a voice's range, timbre, and volume. Opera is called "the olympics of singing" for a reason. So, for singers interested in other styles, start with classical technique, and you can apply what you learn to any kind of singing you want! (Beyoncé took classical singing lessons).
Did I miss anything? Let me know if you have any other questions about me, and I'll make a part 2 sometime!