Trying to Find an Old Singing Teacher
Tue, May 29 2012, 12:44PM
Newbie here.
I am 46 and learned the bel canto technique when I was in my early 20's. My teachers were my father and his teacher, Buddy Fields. Do any of the oldtimers (sorry) remember a bel canto teacher named Buddy Fields? His wife was Nancy and his studio was on the Upper West Side in NYC (West 70's).
I am looking for writings he might have published before his death in the 80's I believe. As well as recordings that might be out there of his vocalese(?).
I recently joined my church choir for the Lenten Season and we are going to perform Faure's Requiem. It has been a long time since I "did" a voice lesson with the bel canto technique. I can already feel my voice straining as I attempt to hit notes above staff (as 1st tenor).
Thanks and God Bless,
Genesius - "I have a passion for helping others to learn."
www.linkedin.com/in/genesiusjaromsky
genesiusj.blogspot.com
"No one heals himself by wounding another." St. Ambrose 340-397 AD
Wed, May 30 2012, 2:35PM
#2
RE: Trying to Find an Old Singing Teacher
I occasionally dip into an opera newsgroup where most contributors are American and a goodly proportion from New York. They have been very helpful in the past with various queries - I'll ask and see if anyone has any information.
Newbie here.
I am 46 and learned the bel canto technique when I was in my early 20's. My teachers were my father and his teacher, Buddy Fields. Do any of the oldtimers (sorry) remember a bel canto teacher named Buddy Fields? His wife was Nancy and his studio was on the Upper West Side in NYC (West 70's).
I am looking for writings he might have published before his death in the 80's I believe. As well as recordings that might be out there of his vocalese(?).
I recently joined my church choir for the Lenten Season and we are going to perform Faure's Requiem. It has been a long time since I "did" a voice lesson with the bel canto technique. I can already feel my voice straining as I attempt to hit notes above staff (as 1st tenor).
Thanks and God Bless,
Genesius - "I have a passion for helping others to learn."
www.linkedin.com/in/genesiusjaromsky
genesiusj.blogspot.com
"No one heals himself by wounding another." St. Ambrose 340-397 AD
Hi Pasban! Are you having any luck? Sorry, I'm afraid that I don't know of him, but I have a couple of suggestions [perhaps others here might have more?]:
1) Contact a reference librarian (in particular someone at the NY Public Library might be a good shot). I'll bet that he or she might have some great ideas where to look. For example, maybe he belonged to some sort of a music society, etc.? Or what publishers would be most likely to have published any such writings? Or any index to recordings too? Or maybe he was also involved in singing with a certain church group and they (the church members--secretary, choir director, etc. might remember him or know how to reach family members?)?
2) Maybe someone from the Met or the Lincoln Center might have some suggestions as to how to proceed?
3) Perhaps you might be able to contact his children or a brother or sister (if he had any of those? I'm gathering that Nancy also passed away?)?
4) Do you know what the "Buddy" was a nickname for (as he might have published under that instead?)
5) Maybe place an ad in a music magazine, newspaper (NYT?), etc. Oh, what about in Opera News (the Met's magazine) or some other opera and/or voice periodical?
Just a few ideas...good luck!
Petra
p.s. Perhaps the kind folks at Gramophone might chime in here with some ideas (or you could email them?)? :-)