The Psychology of the Artist……

(or how to most efficiently shoot one’s self in the foot)

by Gary Powell

Gary Powell Quote
Culture, politics, belief systems, family and psychology are all having their way with us as artists. Untangling all of it as a young person is nearly impossible. Most of us think we are in control of our self-aggrandized destiny, especially when so many others agree with us. Little do we know the depth of personal deception we live under. No matter one’s age, it’s time to see the glass as both half-empty and half-full! How to Most Efficiently Shoot
It’s time to make a plan! In fact, you are going to need two plans: a business plan and a philosophical plan. If your philosophical plan is EGOCENTRIC, in other words, if the rest of the world revolves around you, it’s time to change THAT before that same world grabs you by the neck, slams you on the deck, then drops a rather large piece of reality on your head!

One's Self in the FootUnfortunately, when one’s philosophical plan is egocentric, by default, so will be the business plan. Nothing will effect your efficacy as an artist or business person more than what is already between your ears right now. Education cannot supercede it. Willpower cannot subdue it. And LUCK, better described as what you unconsciously attract to yourself,


WILL ONLY MAKE IT WORSE! Gary Powell Quote#2
And guess what?
The glass is not even in your hands!

Lecture Level and Requirements

It’s not a mistake until you make it! Who wins and who loses might be determined by fate, birthright or blind luck. We will try to learn who we are and there we will find the edge and just maybe cheat luck over to our side with discipline, courage and self
knowledge. College and graduate level only. Inclusive of non-musicians.

All Content of Gary Powell’s Site is Licensed Under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License

.

by Gary Powell

Gary Powell Quote
Culture, politics, belief systems, family and psychology are all having their way with us as artists. Untangling all of it as a young person is nearly impossible. Most of us think we are in control of our self-aggrandized destiny, especially when so many others agree with us. Little do we know the depth of personal deception we live under. No matter one’s age, it’s time to see the glass as both half-empty and half-full! How to Most Efficiently Shoot
It’s time to make a plan! In fact, you are going to need two plans: a business plan and a philosophical plan. If your philosophical plan is EGOCENTRIC, in other words, if the rest of the world revolves around you, it’s time to change THAT before that same world grabs you by the neck, slams you on the deck, then drops a rather large piece of reality on your head!

One's Self in the FootUnfortunately, when one’s philosophical plan is egocentric, by default, so will be the business plan. Nothing will effect your efficacy as an artist or business person more than what is already between your ears right now. Education cannot supercede it. Willpower cannot subdue it. And LUCK, better described as what you unconsciously attract to yourself,


WILL ONLY MAKE IT WORSE! Gary Powell Quote#2
And guess what?
The glass is not even in your hands!

Lecture Level and Requirements

It’s not a mistake until you make it! Who wins and who loses might be determined by fate, birthright or blind luck. We will try to learn who we are and there we will find the edge and just maybe cheat luck over to our side with discipline, courage and self
knowledge. College and graduate level only. Inclusive of non-musicians.

All Content of Gary Powell’s Site is Licensed Under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License

.

Which Comes First:

the Voice or the Ear?

by Gary Powell

“We were taught to sing before we were taught to listen.” – Gary Powell

“Oh you have such a beautiful voice”, says your Aunt Jessie and Uncle Max Funny Fishing Photo after your first home-produced talent show. Years later, you hear it from an anonymous blue-haired lady at church, then next, from your dentist whose daughter sings in choir with you and even sometimes in the same key.

“What a wonderful voice!” they all say. Even your parents, who have never sung a note in tune in their lives say, “Oh honey, you have such a lovely voice”. You see, Aunt Jessie and Uncle Max were our first press agents. Maybe they were right, but…maybe they only knew how to catch fish! There is a bigger problem however and it is this: We were taught to sing before we were taught to listen.

Enraptured in our own vocal magnificence, it is difficult to go backward towards listening again. It is a step, however, that must not be skipped if a singer wants to progress as …an instrument. It’s an instrument capable of expressing the full experience of life like no other. Here’s where you start to appreciate its full breadth of expression.

Lecture Level and Requirements
Based on years of teaching, coaching and producing recording studio vocals. Vocal exercises for ensembles of all sizes. Asks for individual participation by soloists. Can be adapted for any level of singer secondary and above.



All Content of Gary Powell’s Site is Licensed Under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License

.

by Gary Powell

“We were taught to sing before we were taught to listen.” – Gary Powell

“Oh you have such a beautiful voice”, says your Aunt Jessie and Uncle Max Funny Fishing Photo after your first home-produced talent show. Years later, you hear it from an anonymous blue-haired lady at church, then next, from your dentist whose daughter sings in choir with you and even sometimes in the same key.

“What a wonderful voice!” they all say. Even your parents, who have never sung a note in tune in their lives say, “Oh honey, you have such a lovely voice”. You see, Aunt Jessie and Uncle Max were our first press agents. Maybe they were right, but…maybe they only knew how to catch fish! There is a bigger problem however and it is this: We were taught to sing before we were taught to listen.

Enraptured in our own vocal magnificence, it is difficult to go backward towards listening again. It is a step, however, that must not be skipped if a singer wants to progress as …an instrument. It’s an instrument capable of expressing the full experience of life like no other. Here’s where you start to appreciate its full breadth of expression.

Lecture Level and Requirements
Based on years of teaching, coaching and producing recording studio vocals. Vocal exercises for ensembles of all sizes. Asks for individual participation by soloists. Can be adapted for any level of singer secondary and above.



All Content of Gary Powell’s Site is Licensed Under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License

.

Craig Johnson Sings for Walt Disney Records

by Gary Powell

Craig Johnson PhotoOne of the best aspects of working as a producer for Walt Disney Records is the variety of song styles and orchestration they ask for. Sometimes this calls for discovering talent such as a new Pink, or Julie Andrews, or Jiminy Cricket or, in this case, Johnny Mathis. Believe me that it is much easier to identify a current-day pop singer than a fabulous crooner like Andy Williams or Johnny Mathis. In this case, the song was the 1963 Christmas tune, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Eddie Pola and George Wyle. They also wrote “I Said My Pajamas (And Put On My Pray’rs)”. George Wyle also penned the theme song from “Gilligan’s Island”!

I’m very open to discovering talent…..not press release talent……not headshot talent…..but the real thing. Enter Craig Johnson, sometimes known in the professional conducting world as Craig Hella Johnson, who is the artistic director and founder of Conspirare, a nationally prominent and professional choral ensemble based in Austin, Texas. The recording session took place in my Austin recording studio on July 13th, 2005.

I knew Craig had a broad interest in popular and varied vocal styles. We’ve had several conversations on that subject since meeting in 1990. Our paths run in non-conincidental circles, so this was our first time to work in the studio together. Most singers from the classical world don’t fare well when asked to deliver stylistic nuances not usually present in the classical genre. Popular singing is more about what happens at the intersection between notes and classical singing is more about what happens on the note itself. In the studio, all rules are off and every vocal nuance comes under negotiation.

And what a negotiator Craig is! He moves in and out of beautifully round tones with ease and poises a musical phrase for expression like a cat ready to pounce. This is what makes my job exciting. Craig and I had fun sculpting his Johnny Mathisoinan performance and it was a pleasure working in the studio with this consummate musician and singer. I think we’ll be conspiring together more very soon.

by Gary Powell

Craig Johnson PhotoOne of the best aspects of working as a producer for Walt Disney Records is the variety of song styles and orchestration they ask for. Sometimes this calls for discovering talent such as a new Pink, or Julie Andrews, or Jiminy Cricket or, in this case, Johnny Mathis. Believe me that it is much easier to identify a current-day pop singer than a fabulous crooner like Andy Williams or Johnny Mathis. In this case, the song was the 1963 Christmas tune, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Eddie Pola and George Wyle. They also wrote “I Said My Pajamas (And Put On My Pray’rs)”. George Wyle also penned the theme song from “Gilligan’s Island”!

I’m very open to discovering talent…..not press release talent……not headshot talent…..but the real thing. Enter Craig Johnson, sometimes known in the professional conducting world as Craig Hella Johnson, who is the artistic director and founder of Conspirare, a nationally prominent and professional choral ensemble based in Austin, Texas. The recording session took place in my Austin recording studio on July 13th, 2005.

I knew Craig had a broad interest in popular and varied vocal styles. We’ve had several conversations on that subject since meeting in 1990. Our paths run in non-conincidental circles, so this was our first time to work in the studio together. Most singers from the classical world don’t fare well when asked to deliver stylistic nuances not usually present in the classical genre. Popular singing is more about what happens at the intersection between notes and classical singing is more about what happens on the note itself. In the studio, all rules are off and every vocal nuance comes under negotiation.

And what a negotiator Craig is! He moves in and out of beautifully round tones with ease and poises a musical phrase for expression like a cat ready to pounce. This is what makes my job exciting. Craig and I had fun sculpting his Johnny Mathisoinan performance and it was a pleasure working in the studio with this consummate musician and singer. I think we’ll be conspiring together more very soon.

Austin Singers Record for Walt Disney Records

Meredith McCall, Alicia Jones and Laura Benedict
“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”

by Gary Powell
Session Photo

Last night was just plain fun recording Meredith McCall, Alicia Jones and Laura Benedict. All three singers have been working here at Powell Studio Productions for decades and will have their rich histories documented here soon. Together we arranged the parts for two songs on the spot with the girls in front of the mics. With no notes written, we call this a “head-chart”. I had worked out some ideas before beginning the session, but nothing was written down. It’s an exciting way to create group vocals. I have a midi keyboard at the mixing console and together we create the voicings (how the notes of each chord are stacked and who sings which one) and then the singers deliver the performance on the spot. It’s dazzling how quickly this process goes forward with experienced and talented singers with studio experience.

The first song was a remake of “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree”. Laura Benedict reminiscently sang the lead of Brenda Lee’s signature performance. Laura then stayed to sing the background vocals with Meredith and Alicia. We decided not to reproduce the “choir-like” squaresville vocals of the original. We went with a three-part texture that was sung with a more typically modern pop vocal sound.

The second song was one of my new Christmas songs for children. The arranging technique became more interesting as we progressed through this theatrical piece. In the song’s prologue the BG vocals were used to accentuate the interesting harmonic changes (IE, the single line melody was sure to include the augmented 5th of the augmented five chord.)

It made for a nice etherial element emphasizing the harmonization choices. Next the girls picked up on the fun bass guitar part of the choruses by doubling the bass two octaves up with their best upright bass thumping vocal sound. Next, we found a few lines of the lead vocal that we harmonized in a single part a third above. At the end of the song we sang in three parts for the first time to support the big ending. None of the three parts doubled the lead vocal as we decided to keep the voicing tight and underneath the lead melody line.

We cut all three girls using a mid-side micing technique with two AKG-414’s running through Mark McQuilken’s RNP (Really Nice Preamp). I have found this mic configuration only works when using very experienced singers who can manage to learn their part on the spot, deliver a perfectly in-tune performance and “mix” themselves as it all goes down. These skills can never be taken for granted just because someone is an awesome singer. It’s something entirely different from being a solo performer.

Thanks you guys for a really fun night.

Craig Toungate, Vocalist Extraordinaire

by Gary Powell

Click Here to Visit Craig Toungate’s Site
Click Here for Craig Toungate and Susan Lincoln’s Workshops and Performances

Craig Toungate Photo1Craig Toungate Photo2Craig Toungate Photo3Craig Toungate Photo4

Everybody in the Austin music scene has nice things to say about Craig Toungate. When I was searching for the right singer to capture the essence of Chubby Checker, all resources pointed to Craig Toungate. Craig and I had served on the board for the Austin Music Umbrella in the early 1980’s, but had never worked together. (Craig has more than a thirty year career as a professonal singer, entertainer and teacher.)

Well, Craig delivered up “The Twist” as if Chubby was in the studio. It didn’t end there. Soon after, Craig had remade many of the great soul tunes of the sixties in my productions for Walt Disney Records. It didn’t end there either. Quickly we all discovered Craig’s ability to reproduce many of Disney’s most beloved characters.Toungate CD Cover Art

So, for the past decade or so, Craig has been performing in my studio as many different characters, occasionally even appearing as himself. Executive Producer, Ted Kryczko, suggested that Craig could be an “X-Files” episode all to himself for his ability to channel these great performers. But it doesn’t end there. Craig has also created new characters for the songs I’ve written for Disney. Check out the evil performance of “The Collector” from Toy Story 2 Sing Along or the disgruntled, yet delightful reindeer in “Pulling Santa’s Sleigh”. In two other Gary Powell-composed songs, “And I Eat Pigs for Breakfast” and “Pirates of the Black Tide”, Craig becomes a rappin’ Big Bad Wolf and one nasty Singing Pirate who must be reckoned with respectively.

So, whether it’s Craig Tougate as Bert singing “Spoonful of Sugar” or as Jiminy Cricket singing “When You Wish Upon a Star”, you are hearing the singer Walt Disney Records trusts with their most precious catalog performances.

These Craig Toungate solo performances can be found on various Disney Karaoke and other recordings listed below. Please note that I do not sell these recordings. For more information please go directly to Walt Disney Records or follow the links below for specific titles.

The Lion King Performances

“Warthog Rhapsody”, “Be Prepared”, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?”, “Hakuna Matata”

Toy Story 2 Sing Along

“The Collector”

Mary Poppins Karaoke

“Jolly Holiday”, “I Love to Laugh”, “Let’s Go Fly a Kite”, “Spoonful of Sugar”,
Chim-Chim-Cher-ee”, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”

Dance Along

“The Twist”, “Shout”, “Born to Hand Jive”

The Little Mermaid Performances

“Les Poissons”

Aladdin Performances

“Prince Ali”, “Friend Like Me”, “Arabian Nights”, “One Jump Ahead”

Jungle Book Performances

“The Bare Necessities”, “I Want to Be Like You”, “Baloo”

Party Beats

“And I Eat Pigs for Breakfast”

Various Other Toungate Performances

“The Elephant’s Face”, “When You Wish Upon a Star”, “From All of Us to All of You”, “The Ugly Bug Ball”, “Tigger Just Can’t Sleep”, “Easter Parade”, “The Purple People Eater”, “Twist and Shout”, “The Laughing Song”, “Pirates of the Black Tide”, “Yo Ho, Ho! (And a Bottle of Rum)

Chorus Performances

“Zipadeedoodah”, “When You Wish Upon a Star”, “YMCA”, “God Help the Outcasts”, “Bibidibobbididoo”, “California Sun”, “Surfin’ USA”, “Twistin’ the Night Away”, “Little April Shower”, “Mickey Mouse Club March”, “I’ll Make a Man Out of You”, “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King”, “Shiver My Timbers”, “Sailing for Adventure”, “Blow the Man Down”, “Pirates of the Black Tide”

by Gary Powell

Click Here to Visit Craig Toungate’s Site
Click Here for Craig Toungate and Susan Lincoln’s Workshops and Performances

Craig Toungate Photo1Craig Toungate Photo2Craig Toungate Photo3Craig Toungate Photo4

Everybody in the Austin music scene has nice things to say about Craig Toungate. When I was searching for the right singer to capture the essence of Chubby Checker, all resources pointed to Craig Toungate. Craig and I had served on the board for the Austin Music Umbrella in the early 1980’s, but had never worked together. (Craig has more than a thirty year career as a professonal singer, entertainer and teacher.)

Well, Craig delivered up “The Twist” as if Chubby was in the studio. It didn’t end there. Soon after, Craig had remade many of the great soul tunes of the sixties in my productions for Walt Disney Records. It didn’t end there either. Quickly we all discovered Craig’s ability to reproduce many of Disney’s most beloved characters.Toungate CD Cover Art

So, for the past decade or so, Craig has been performing in my studio as many different characters, occasionally even appearing as himself. Executive Producer, Ted Kryczko, suggested that Craig could be an “X-Files” episode all to himself for his ability to channel these great performers. But it doesn’t end there. Craig has also created new characters for the songs I’ve written for Disney. Check out the evil performance of “The Collector” from Toy Story 2 Sing Along or the disgruntled, yet delightful reindeer in “Pulling Santa’s Sleigh”. In two other Gary Powell-composed songs, “And I Eat Pigs for Breakfast” and “Pirates of the Black Tide”, Craig becomes a rappin’ Big Bad Wolf and one nasty Singing Pirate who must be reckoned with respectively.

So, whether it’s Craig Tougate as Bert singing “Spoonful of Sugar” or as Jiminy Cricket singing “When You Wish Upon a Star”, you are hearing the singer Walt Disney Records trusts with their most precious catalog performances.

These Craig Toungate solo performances can be found on various Disney Karaoke and other recordings listed below. Please note that I do not sell these recordings. For more information please go directly to Walt Disney Records or follow the links below for specific titles.

The Lion King Performances

“Warthog Rhapsody”, “Be Prepared”, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?”, “Hakuna Matata”

Toy Story 2 Sing Along

“The Collector”

Mary Poppins Karaoke

“Jolly Holiday”, “I Love to Laugh”, “Let’s Go Fly a Kite”, “Spoonful of Sugar”,
Chim-Chim-Cher-ee”, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”

Dance Along

“The Twist”, “Shout”, “Born to Hand Jive”

The Little Mermaid Performances

“Les Poissons”

Aladdin Performances

“Prince Ali”, “Friend Like Me”, “Arabian Nights”, “One Jump Ahead”

Jungle Book Performances

“The Bare Necessities”, “I Want to Be Like You”, “Baloo”

Party Beats

“And I Eat Pigs for Breakfast”

Various Other Toungate Performances

“The Elephant’s Face”, “When You Wish Upon a Star”, “From All of Us to All of You”, “The Ugly Bug Ball”, “Tigger Just Can’t Sleep”, “Easter Parade”, “The Purple People Eater”, “Twist and Shout”, “The Laughing Song”, “Pirates of the Black Tide”, “Yo Ho, Ho! (And a Bottle of Rum)

Chorus Performances

“Zipadeedoodah”, “When You Wish Upon a Star”, “YMCA”, “God Help the Outcasts”, “Bibidibobbididoo”, “California Sun”, “Surfin’ USA”, “Twistin’ the Night Away”, “Little April Shower”, “Mickey Mouse Club March”, “I’ll Make a Man Out of You”, “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King”, “Shiver My Timbers”, “Sailing for Adventure”, “Blow the Man Down”, “Pirates of the Black Tide”

Lesley French (The Singing Doctor)

by Gary Powell

Lesley French Photo1Lesley French Photo1Lesley French Photo1Lesley French Photo1

As a senior at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, Lesley came to me as a referral from Jamison Stewart, also a singer who was my intern at the time and now owner of Coach Connect and Road Connect. Lesley came from a very strong choral program there directed by Cindy Couch. Fast forward just a few years and I now have to call her Dr. French! She is currently in her residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in E.N.T. (Otolaryngology / General Surgery Internship). She has the goal of working medically with singers since she both knows the musical and medical sides of vocal issues.

On June 16, 2005, I recorded Lesley in my Austin, Texas studio singing “I Wonder” from Sleeping Beauty. Lesley’s excellent intonation and her natural and unweighted high-end make her the perfect choice for remaking these all-time great American hit songs. I recorded Lesley with a Rode NTV through Mark McQuilken’s RNP (Really Nice Preamp).

Walt Disney Records VP, Ted Kryczko, and I keep needing Lesley’s wonderful soprano voice, so we fly her down occasionally from Nashville. We have also recorded her in New York City at Avatar Studios while she was on break between undergraduate school and medical school.

Congratulations to Lesley French and David Childs on their recent marriage. David is the Assistant Professor of Choral Studies at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music. David composed two lovely choral pieces for the wedding ceremony which was held in Austin, Texas on June 8, 2008.

Share Lesley’s Story on Facebook

These Lesley French solo performances can be found on various Disney Karaoke and other recordings listed below. Please note that I do not sell these recordings. For more information please go directly to Walt Disney Records.

Aladdin

“Reflection”, “A Whole New World”

Cinderella

“Once Upon a Dream”

Sleeping Beauty

“I Wonder”

Mary Poppins

“Chim-Chim-Cher-ee”, “I Love to Laugh”, “Feed the Birds”, “Jolly Holiday”, “Spoonful of Sugar”, “Stay Awake”
and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”

Chorus Performances

“Zipadeedoodah”, “When You Wish Upon a Star”, “Prince Ali”

by Gary Powell

Lesley French Photo1Lesley French Photo1Lesley French Photo1Lesley French Photo1

As a senior at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, Lesley came to me as a referral from Jamison Stewart, also a singer who was my intern at the time and now owner of Coach Connect and Road Connect. Lesley came from a very strong choral program there directed by Cindy Couch. Fast forward just a few years and I now have to call her Dr. French! She is currently in her residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in E.N.T. (Otolaryngology / General Surgery Internship). She has the goal of working medically with singers since she both knows the musical and medical sides of vocal issues.

On June 16, 2005, I recorded Lesley in my Austin, Texas studio singing “I Wonder” from Sleeping Beauty. Lesley’s excellent intonation and her natural and unweighted high-end make her the perfect choice for remaking these all-time great American hit songs. I recorded Lesley with a Rode NTV through Mark McQuilken’s RNP (Really Nice Preamp).

Walt Disney Records VP, Ted Kryczko, and I keep needing Lesley’s wonderful soprano voice, so we fly her down occasionally from Nashville. We have also recorded her in New York City at Avatar Studios while she was on break between undergraduate school and medical school.

Congratulations to Lesley French and David Childs on their recent marriage. David is the Assistant Professor of Choral Studies at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music. David composed two lovely choral pieces for the wedding ceremony which was held in Austin, Texas on June 8, 2008.

Share Lesley’s Story on Facebook

These Lesley French solo performances can be found on various Disney Karaoke and other recordings listed below. Please note that I do not sell these recordings. For more information please go directly to Walt Disney Records.

Aladdin

“Reflection”, “A Whole New World”

Cinderella

“Once Upon a Dream”

Sleeping Beauty

“I Wonder”

Mary Poppins

“Chim-Chim-Cher-ee”, “I Love to Laugh”, “Feed the Birds”, “Jolly Holiday”, “Spoonful of Sugar”, “Stay Awake”
and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”

Chorus Performances

“Zipadeedoodah”, “When You Wish Upon a Star”, “Prince Ali”