After I finished lowering my arms, I asked, "Why are you having me do this?"
"To increase your breath control," Erik replied, and then added in a more business-like tone of voice, "I'm going to start giving you assignments at every lesson. The first assignment is to do this exercise at least ten times a day. This will help build up your rib muscles as well as increase your breath control. You need to have strong muscles in order to keep your ribcage up if you want to hold out those long notes. Have you ever heard a singer run out of air? The voice ends up sounding edgy and harsh, doesn't it? Now, the next exercise I want you to do is this-I want you to buzz your lips together and hum this five not scale I'll play for you. This is another exercise to increase your breath control."
After several false starts, I started to giggle. Erik merely smiled
as I finally got control of myself.
"This has got to be the silliest thing I've ever done! It sounds
like a kazoo!" I finally exclaimed.
Erik nodded, and said, "Yes, I know it sounds like a little boy playing with his cars but this exercise really does have a purpose! Now. Wet your lips and try again." After several more false starts, I finally was able to follow Erik's playing by humming and buzzing my lips. Finally, after going all the way up to the "G" above "C5", Erik stopped playing and said, "Good! Now, let's do those scales again, and this time, instead of singing "ah", sing "ce" going up the scale and "oh" going down the scale." He started playing again and I tried to follow but after just a few scales, he stopped playing and said, "You're breathing from your chest again instead of your abdomen."
"But, it's hard to remember to breathe the way I should!" I protested.
Erik rose from the piano, walked over to me and said, "I want you to put your hands on my sides and feel my ribcage as I let my breath out." He then took my hands and placed them, one on each side as he took a deep breath. As he let his breath out slowly, his ribcage remained expanded, as if he was still holding his breath. He must have cast iron lungs! I thought to myself as he finished letting his breath out. "Now! Do you see how that feels? Even though I haven't sung in many years, I haven't forgotten how to control my breathing. Now, I want you to put your hands on your ribs and take a deep breath from your abdomen!" I did as he said, and he continued, "See how your rib cage expands when you breathe low? Now, let's get back to those exercises and keep your ribcage expanded while you're singing!" We picked up where we had left off and continued up the scale a little longer when he stopped playing again. "You're letting your ribcage collapse! Let's try something different. Try holding your arms out in front of you as if you were holding a large beach ball." As I did so, he said, "That's it! Now, let's start again." We continued up to the same "G" we had hit before and then went back down the scale again to "A" below middle "C". "That's very good! That was nearly two octaves. You can put your arms down now and , let's try another exercise. Sing mah, meh, mee, moh, mu on the same note as we go down the scale from "C5", and take a breath after every other note, please." I did as he asked and sang that particular exercise. Altogether that Monday morning, I must have spent forty-0five minutes just doing vocal exercises. After I finished vocalizing, Erik handed me another one of his arrangements, saying as he did so, "I think it's time we worked on another song. This one is a little longer than La Marseillaise, but I think you'll like it!"
"Gounod's Ave Maria?" I asked, as I took the music he handed to me and looked at it.
"Do you like it? I hope you know Latin," Erik replied.
I shook my head and said, "No, I don't."
Erik then shook his head as well and said, "My dear, you must keep in mind that Gounod intended this as a prayer. Surely you've heard "Ave Maria" sung in Latin at some point, haven't you?"
I shook my head again and said, :I grew up in the Church after Vatican II, so I don't know Latin from a hole in the ground. As for "Ave Maria", the only version I've heard is Schubert's, and that was sung in English at my sister's wedding, at my ex-brother-in-law's insistence. He wasn't a Catholic, and he didn't like foreign languages at all, especially Latin!"
Erik shook his head again and exclaimed softly, "What a shame!" Then with a resigned tone of voice, he added, "Well, I'll just have to walk you through the pronunciation of the words. Now, let's start on this, shall we?" He then played the opening arpeggios to the piece and just as I started to sing, he stopped playing and said, "Remember to drop your jaw a little for the first word. It's "ah-ve". The first "a" isn't a nasal "a", but "ah", and the "e" is pronounced as a long "a". Now, let's try it again." He started playing again and when I got to the ninth measure, he stopped playing and said, "The word is pronounced 'grah-te-ah'. All the 'a's' are pronounced 'ah', all the 'e's' are pronounced like long 'a's', and all the 'I's' are pronounced as long 'e's'. I know that this is different from English, but keep that in mind. Now, let's try it again, and remember to breathe from your abdomen!" He started playing again from where I was to come in and then he stopped when we got to the tenth measure and said, "That's much better! Now, how did that feel?"
I shrugged my shoulders and said, "All right, I guess, but It's hard to remember the pronunciations as well as breathing properly. I don't know if I'll ever get to point where I will be able to sing in the regular chorus!"
"Of course you will! Keep up the exercises I gave you and practice the vocal exercises as well, and by August, you'll be ready to audition for the regular chorus. I was right when I said that your voice seemed harsh when I first heard you singing in the costume room but that's because you weren't breathing right or standing up straight. With only the little training I have given you, though, it has improved immensely! Well, my dear, our time is up for today. Do those breathing exercises I gave you as well as the vocal exercises and I'll see you tomorrow," Erik said as ;he rose from the piano bench.
I nodded and, as I got my jacket, I said, "I hope you're right about those exercises. I can't see that my voice is getting much better!"
"If you keep on practicing, it will soon be on par with the rest of the voices in the chorus, but, for now, it's off to the costume room for you, my dear!" Erik replied as he dismissed me.
Work went well that entire week as did rehearsals. The music director spent most of his time with the soloists that were to sing their solos, making sure that they would be making their entrances on stage on sue as well as sing their arias just as if they were singing them in operatic performances. As for the chorus, I learned at the first rehearsal that we would be singing two numbers instead of just one. We would be singing the "Soldier's Chorus" from Gounod's "Faust" as well as La Marseillaise. Even so, the director found that getting everyone to learn his or her part to be a challenge, for, as it turned out, several members of the chorus did not read music. Upon learning that, the director decided to add extra rehearsals. In addition, he made us stay later at all the evening rehearsals so we could all learn our parts. How can anyone get this far singing in famous choruses without learning to read music? I may not know much about music, but even I know how to read it! I thought to myself as the director dismissed us for the evening. As we all left the stage in small groups or, as in my case, alone, Carlos walked up to me and asked, "Do you need a ride home tonight? I'd hate to see someone like you go home alone!"
I looked up at him, smiled and said, "No thanks. André will call a taxi for me."
"Really? You must be getting paid pretty well in the costume department to afford taxis!" Carlos replied sarcastically.
"Well, it's worth it to me!" I replied curtly as I hurriedly got my things and quickly walked out of the amphitheater, leaving a stunned Carlos behind.
When I got to the ground floor, I quickly checked Michel's office door to make sure it was locked, and then went to André's desk by the door. When I got there, André was sitting back in his chair with his feet propped up on his desk. He immediately lowered his feet when he saw me and then asked, "Leaving late again, tonight?" I nodded, and then asked him to call a taxi for me. He agreed and then added, "This is unusual for you. Usually I never see you leave the building at night. What's up?"
I looked over my shoulder and saw Carlos walking down the hall towards us so I merely said, "I have my reasons." André then shrugged his shoulders before picking up the phone receiver to make the call. Seeing that Carlos was coming closer and feeling uncomfortable about it, I went outside to wait for the taxi. It pulled up into the covered driveway a few minutes later and I quickly got in. Unfortunately, I was not quick enough because Carlos, who had been quietly standing behind me, got in as well.
"Well, it looks like we'll be sharing a taxi!" he exclaimed as he closed ;his door behind him. I inwardly groaned as I gave the taxi driver my address, and as I sat back into my seat, Carlos added, "Are all American women as cold as you are, madame?"
I shook my head ad, trying to keep my temper, I replied, "I'm not cold, monsieur, just tired, that's all. I've have a very long day. In fact, now that I've joined the chorus, my days are very long indeed! For you see, I have to get up by five so I can get to work on time. As you can see, it's nearly ten and I'm simply too tired to be friendly!"
Even though it was dark in the back seat of the taxi, I could
tell that Carlos was surprised. After a few moments, he responded
by asking, "Why do you have to come in so early?"
Just then, the taxi pulled up in front of
the Fontaine's apartment building, and as I opened the door to the taxi
and got out, I said, "I have my reasons. Good night, monsieur."
When I entered the practice room the next morning, Erik was seated at the piano as usual. "Good morning," I said as I hung my jacket on the coat rack. Usually, he would respond, but not this morning. Instead, he sat at the piano playing some chords very quietly. I walked over to him and asked, "Erik?"
After a moment, he stopped playing and looked up at me. While his eyes were still blue, I could tell they were on the verge of turning black. Finally, he asked, "You couldn't wait for me to walk you home last night?"
I shook my head and said, "No, I couldn't. I had to leave more quickly than I had planned. I didn't even have enough time to come back to the costume room last night!"
"Why?" he asked sharply, perhaps a little more sharply than he intended.
Seeing that he was getting angry, I quickly replied, "I was trying to get away from someone who fancies himself to be an admirer."
His eyes now started to turn black, and I could see that he was struggling to keep his temper. After a brief moment of silence, he managed to ask, "Who...is...he?"
"One of the new tenors-Carlos Montoya," I replied.
"What...do you think of him?" Erik managed to ask.
I looked down for a moment, wondering how I would manage to calm Erik down and still keep my temper as well. Finally, I raised my head and replied, "As a singer, I think he's pretty good, but as a person, I don't think much of him at all! He reminds me too much of my ex-husband, coming on strong like that and trying to sweep me off my feet! It worked the first time for my ex but I learned my lesson the hard way! I can assure you that it won't happen again!"
His eyes started to return to their sapphire-blue color, and after a moment, Erik said in a calmer tone of voice, "See if you can't sneak downstairs unnoticed after rehearsal and I'll walk you home. If you can't seem to shake him, see if you can't leave with some of the other women in the chorus. My dear, please forgive this old boor for getting angry for I was quite worried about you last night! I know that you probably feel we're even after all the scares I've given you, but you must admit, you gave me no warning that you would be leaving so quickly last night. By the way, how did you get home?"
"I took a taxi home. I was hoping the driver would get away before Carlos could get in the taxi as well but it didn't work out that way. Carlos managed to get in the taxi before the driver could pull away and I was stuck with him. Then he accused me of being a cold fish, but I just told him that it had been along day and I wasn't up to visiting," I replied.
Erik nodded, and then said calmly, "Well, it sounds like you did your best. Now, let's get started on our lesson for today, shall we?" Then, for the next hour, I sang first the vocal exercises, and the "Ave Maria". At the end of the hour, he stopped playing, and said, "You're getting better, slowly but surely. You did better with 'Ave Maria' today. It's a long song to sing and in the original key, it's beyond your range, but I think you'll be able to sing my arrangement quite well by the gala if you keep practicing, especially the breathing exercises I gave you. Well, it's time for you to go to the costume room. Keep up the exercises!"
Work went the same as always, although I could tell that we were getting ready for another production, for Michel and Jacqueline were bickering more than usual, and as usual, it was over a rather trivial matter-whether or not to replace some of the more worn and beat-up costumes with new ones or to repair the ones that the department had on hand. I was able to help in the situation somewhat by making a few suggestions concerning the costumes the father-daughter team argued about the most, but I found myself wishing that Jean-Baptiste had not retired. By the time the evening's rehearsal started, I was all too happy to leave the two to settle the issue among themselves.
That evening's rehearsal was almost as bad as work had been. The music director was finally forced to act as a music instructor that evening, for he gave the entire gala ensemble a crash course in basic music theory, mostly on how to read music. All I could do was shake my head in utter disbelief and try not to act bored. When the director gave everyone a short break, I got the nerve to go up to him and say, :I thought everyone here knew how to read music!"
He smiled wryly, and replied, "So did I! Please bear with me and understand that the company managers wish to have quantity, especially when it comes to the Summer Gala. I would also add that you are not alone in voicing your frustrations-most of the soloists agree with you and, if some of the chorus members don't learn the music soon, there'll be a mutiny!"
"Are all of us chorus members that bad?" I asked.
The music director shook his head and said, "Not all of you! In fact, madame, you are a real find! I had not expected to find a good contralto right under my nose! Who is your teacher?"
Forgetting that he had mentioned this before, I looked at him in surprise and tried to evade his question by asking one myself, "How can you tell?"
"A music teacher can always tell who has had lessons and who has not! Besides, there is a rumor that you found a teacher to give you lessons," he replied, and then added, "By the look on your face, I see that the rumor is true."
I lowered my head for a moment, for I did not want him to see the look of shame creeping across my face. After a moment, I raised my head and replied, "My teacher wishes to be anonymous."
"And so it shall be! By the way, I think that she-or is it he?--is doing a fine job of teaching you. You are becoming a fine asset to the chorus! Keep up the good work! And don't worry! I won't tell anyone your little secret," he said softly, and then calling out to the ensemble, "All right, everybody! Break time is over! Back to work!"
Even though the director had given the crash course on reading music, the rest of the evening's rehearsal was non-productive, with many of the chorus members coming in too early or too late, or even missing their notes entirely. Good thing we're not doing Handel's "Messiah". We'd never make it!" I thought to myself as rehearsal finally wrapped up. "Need a ride?" a familiar voice asked.
Oh, no! Not again! I thought and then, trying to be firm, but kind, I replied, "It's been a long day, Carlos and I still have work to do in the costume room. Some other time, maybe."
He remained silent for a moment as chorus members passed by us on their way out of the amphitheater and I noticed that a few stopped to look at us as they went on their way. Oh, great! More grist for the rumor mill! I thought as Carlos finally shrugged his shoulders and said, As you wish! But you can't put me off forever, you know! Until tomorrow, then!" As he turned to leave, I noticed a couple from the chorus give each other one of those knowing looks that only an object of gossip can appreciate. I just can't win in this place! I thought as I gathered my things and went downstairs to wait for Erik to walk me home.
When I got downstairs, Erik was waiting for me in the costume room. "Did you manage to shake off your suitor?" he asked in a teasing tone of voice.
I shook my head and exclaimed, "I wouldn't exactly call him a suitor! My God, what a pest! And to think that he thinks he's Mexico's gift to the women of Paris!"
Seeing that I was upset, Erik's tone of voice changed from one of merriment to one of contrition.
"My dear, I was only joking! You are really upset! Does he bother you that much?"
I sighed and said quietly as we left the room, "It's not him so much as his actions. He reminds me of my ex-husband in so many ways. He thinks he's dashing and debonair, which he is to some extent, and he does have a certain charm, but, then again, so did my ex-, and that's what worries me! Any woman who falls for Carlos is bound to get her heart broken, and I pity her, whoever she may be. At any rate, it's late and I'd like to go home now."
Erik nodded and said, "I think that is an excellent idea! You look and sound like you could use some rest! I'm sure you'll feel more like your old self after a good night's sleep. This schedule you're on may be more taxing on you than I thought. Perhaps it would be wise for the time being to cut back on our lessons for now, say only three lessons a week?" Seeing the expression on my face, he quickly added, "Does that not please you, my dear?"
"I thought you wanted to get my voice up to the point where I could audition for the chorus this August?" I asked, surprised that he would even consider cutting back on lessons.
He smiled and replied, "I do, but you won't be able to sing very well if you don't get the proper rest you need. No, my dear, I think it would be wise to cut back a bit and have our lessons on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of this next week and see how that works. If it looks like you'll need more lessons, we can always resume our old schedule. But for right now, you need your rest."
"You think I'm imagining Carlos' intentions, don't you, Erik?" I asked bitterly as we reached the lake.
Seeing that I was still upset, he remained silent for a moment and then replied softly, "I didn't say that you were imagining anything! I only agreed with you that you should go home and get some rest. As for monsieur Montoya, you may be misinterpreting him entirely." When we reached the edge of the lake, he asked, "How well have you been sleeping lately?"
I sighed and then admitted, "Not very well at all! My ex- is threatening to garnish my salary, claiming I'm not living up to the agreement I made to pay for my daughter's college tuition. I've written to both him and his lawyer explaining my situation and to no avail! And please don't tell me I need a lawyer-I can't afford one!"
Erik remained silent as he helped me onto the gondola. After he untied the rope and got the pole to push the boat away from the edge, he said softly, "I know a lawyer that can take your case. She specializes in cases such as yours, and she doesn't charge very much. In fact, I know of one case she took that she didn't charge at all! Let me tell her about your case. I'll get her number for you to call. Anything else that's keeping you awake at night?"
"Are you kidding? Between Carlos and Brad, I don't know
if I'm coming or going!" I exclaimed.
Erik only smiled as he propelled the boat to the opposite side of the
lake.