Guitar Lessons in Moreno Valley, CA

Bertram G

Instruments: Voice Music

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
I knew for as long as I can remember.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
Singing was a big part of my childhood and I always wanted to play an instrument in a band so I ended up choosing the clarinet because it seemed like the right thing to do at the time. It was a great choice.

What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
My nonprofit for adult singers and actors, Seattle Glee Clubs, where I started the Offbeats Vocal Jazz Ensemble which is still going strong even though I retired in 2011. During that time I taught a vocal jazz workshop and other voice workshops, and developed a women's choir and a mixed choir. The women's choir is still going. I've sung many recitals, and conducted several church choirs sing leaving Seattle Glee Clubs that were excellent. At a couple of the churches, I worked with a professional rhythm section and had fantastic creative experiences there, gospel, jazz, choral, folk, and pop music.

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
The free and relaxed muscular balance that brings it all together.

Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
I use the McClosky Technique developed through the McClosky Institute of Voice

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
I have an exercise routine I am fully engaged with that allows me to sing through my whole range with relaxation and ease. Then I sing songs can carry my technique along with, so I understand what my body needs to do to sing expressively.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
Performance because I love to perform. I'm completely at home on stage

What is your dream piece to perform and why?
Too many to count. They're beautiful and expressive is so many different ways.

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
Forrest Ranger.

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
I love to work with all styles of music but when I sing, I sing Art Song...a bit esoteric but I love it.

If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
I started out with piano lessons but the piano was not my first love. When I started playing clarinet, I excelled at it and had a strong drive to learn other instruments, so my high school band director let me take home any instrument I wanted to learn. He also had me play bari-sax with the high school jazz band when I was still in middle school. I also learned oboe, flute, bassoon, French horn, and bass and alto clarinets.

When will I start to see results?
It takes a minimum of 3 months to really notice improvement, then it's gradual growth from there. You can't be in a hurry or you'll develop bad habits that will be hard to correct later. Make hast slowly.

Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
I knew I was a musician for as long as I can remember. I started out as a clarinetist but sang my whole life so eventually pursued singing and teaching. I didn't have good voice teachers and had one who caused damage to my voice but I learned from that and am a better teacher and singer because of it.

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
Young children don't need lessons unless they're already on a career path. The cartilages of children's voices are very soft and pliable so it's important to not push them to sound like adults and is the most damaging thing you can do. The best time to start lessons is high school age but even then, the cartilages are still somewhat soft so they can sing more challenging songs but should not be encouraged to sing like adults. Young adults can handle more.

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
15 minutes a day is better than 2 hours once a week because consistency matters. Always be fully conscious of your body when singing whether you are doing exercises or songs because body-awareness is one of the main keys to success. Your body wants to sing and speak so pay attention to it and if you do, you'll learn to sing and speak with complete relaxation, freedom, and confidence. That includes exercising your whole body because singing and speaking are whole-body experiences. I'll guide you through the process.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
Yes. We all learned piano and another instrument. One other brother went into music and did very well in New York City.

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