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 DARRYL
EDWARDS, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN VOICE studies in U of T’s Faculty
of Music, is working on new ways to help singers practise better and more
efficiently. With the help of a grant from SSHRC, he is studying how computerized
pianos – which have become a popular practice tool for pianists –
can also have benefits for singers. Acting as both instrument and recording device, the computerized piano – in this case, the Yamaha "disklavier" – records the performance of a pianist on a computer disk, which can then be played back with total accuracy either on the disklavier itself or on a computer. This gives the student the advantage of experiencing the resonance of the actual instrument while practising, rather than listening to a tape recording. The tempo, volume and key of the performance can also be altered, and if desired, full orchestration can be added. To date, most research concerning the disklavier and performance training has focused on pianists and instrumentalists. But Edwards’ work examines the effects on |
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an accompanist and
received a tape recording of the session. Five of the students also received
a disklavier disk of the piano performance. Each student also had the
option of meeting again with the accompanist after one week. As in other fields of endeavour, the use of technology in music assists individuals with repetitive tasks, so they can concentrate on the creative aspects of their work. "When they meet with their accompanist/coach, the students tend to have the notes and rhythms of their music much better prepared," he says, "and their sessions together can focus on creative and interpretive refinements." Using the disklavier as part of the performance preparation process helps to "synthesize the singer’s technical skill with their instinctive talent, so the whole performance is much more inspired and of the highest artistic level," Edwards explains. U of T trains singers of international calibre, with graduates regularly performing on the world’s most celebrated concert and opera stages. More and more, professionals are using computerized pianos to learn their music. "We want to be sure our singers are prepared in the very best way to meet the competitive demands of world-class performance," says Edwards, "and familiarity with the latest technology in the field can give them an edge." – Kelly Mills |
vocal
performance when singing students use the disklavier to practise. His
first such study indicates that voice students who include the disklavier
as part of their regular practice (between their voice lessons and rehearsals
with their accompanists) perform better than those who use traditional
approaches to practice. In his recent study, 10 second-year voice students
were given the same song to practise over a two-week period. Each student
rehearsed the piece with NEXT
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