When I was 6 years old, I began taking piano lessons with the acclaimed composer and pianist, Arthur Cunningham. He had a pet rooster, named Kenneth. Kenneth would sit beside me on the piano bench, while I struggled to plunk our Fur Elise, bobbing his head, and would then reward me, good performance or bad, by allowing me to allow him to eat corn out of my little hand.
More importantly, what Arthur taught me about music went so much beyond playing notes on a page. He instilled in me the importance of connecting with the material - to feel the music in my whole body, not just hear it in my head. Those early lessons would deeply inform my over 40 years of experience in music, stage work, television, film, voiceover, and audiobook narration.
I began acting on stage when I was 9, had an 80s band in the ... well ... the 80s, continued more traditional acting throughout the 90s and 2000s, but, ultimately, found my real passion in the amazing world of audiobooks. It's such a powerful medium - so potent in its intimacy.
And, it's still true today - what I learned all those years ago. Connecting with the material is so very important. My focus and intention is always to bring as much vocal authenticity to the writing as I can. It doesn't matter what is the genre. My job is to tell that story to the listener - to put myself in the shoes of the characters and their situations. To remember that, for the most part, I am performing right into the ears of another person, and how that informs my approach to the work.
When I'm sunk into a story, into portraying those characters and their conflicts, triumphs, misgivings, and wonder, it's an amazing feeling.
More importantly, what Arthur taught me about music went so much beyond playing notes on a page. He instilled in me the importance of connecting with the material - to feel the music in my whole body, not just hear it in my head. Those early lessons would deeply inform my over 40 years of experience in music, stage work, television, film, voiceover, and audiobook narration.
I began acting on stage when I was 9, had an 80s band in the ... well ... the 80s, continued more traditional acting throughout the 90s and 2000s, but, ultimately, found my real passion in the amazing world of audiobooks. It's such a powerful medium - so potent in its intimacy.
And, it's still true today - what I learned all those years ago. Connecting with the material is so very important. My focus and intention is always to bring as much vocal authenticity to the writing as I can. It doesn't matter what is the genre. My job is to tell that story to the listener - to put myself in the shoes of the characters and their situations. To remember that, for the most part, I am performing right into the ears of another person, and how that informs my approach to the work.
When I'm sunk into a story, into portraying those characters and their conflicts, triumphs, misgivings, and wonder, it's an amazing feeling.
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