Masterclasses, Puebla, Toluca…

Hi there! This week was as intense for me. I travelled to Puebla and Toluca, in both cities I was able to give some Masteclasses. I spent 3 days at the Conservatoire in Puebla and two days in Toluca, one teaching privately and one at the Escuela de Musica Sacra. I had around 21 students. I knew it was going to take a lot of energy and I was prepared for that. After each day of teaching I was done, and I had no brain power left. Because I get so involved into understanding the student and specially how they think, how can we speak the same language so we can communicate well. Each singer needs its own way of understanding their voices, that takes from the teacher side a great deal of energy. Through the years that I have been teaching, I am better at using the energy but this time with 5 days without pause with 4 singers each day, that was hard. At the same time it was amazing to hear so many voices and to get into their heads and make them listen to themselves, to be aware of the sound they produce, when they sing it right, and wrong, to hear and feel right is of the most importance.

I also learn a lot from them and I see myself on them as well, I see the struggles I also went through and still managing. I am also amazed how some have such a talent that even they do not know how they produce the sound, some of them sound so free and beautiful. From the students I saw raw potential in around 5 and perhaps only 2 at least now, have the right brain set, really smart and really quick to correct, and above all with musicality. Because some of them are struggling so much to produce sounds they do not make any music, and of course the ones with a freer instrument can do some nice phrasing and music. This time I specially focused on the technical side of their singing then we tried to make some nice phrases because it is also important they think right about the way of phrasing and direction of the music. I am enjoying this process of teaching so much and I feel a very high sense of responsibility on everything I say, because I know how impactful in both ways positive and negative whatever a teacher says can be. I always use also humour on my lessons and make them feel at ease so I can bring down some walls and also for them to feel comfortable and able to receive new information.

Being in Puebla was great as always and thanks to my dear friend Omar I could do the Masterclasses at the Conservatoire for 2nd year and also to Jessica for organizing the classes in Toluca. Both of them friends and colleagues that I know since over 20 years and we never lost contact. During the Masterclasses in Puebla my father was able to attend and we spent time together and in Toluca my mother came to see the classes as well. For them is really nice to see me not as singer but as a musician sharing the little I have learnt through the years with younger singers and who are full of dreams and I can share with them that all is possible if they really fight for it, not only with wishing but actually willing to put the hard work.

After teaching these days, I am really tired and Today I am kind of chilling out a bit and doing stuff that I put on hold this week. Next week I will teach twice here in Mexico city, and I am looking forward. I will also travel around 2600 Kilometers to the city of Mexicali by the boarder, in order to visit some family I have there. I use to live in Mexicali from the ages 3 to around 9. I was back a couple of times but the last one was around 23 years ago, so I am looking forward to visit the city that was once my home.  I feel so surreal to fly there after such a long time, it will for sure be a big surprise and a nice adventure. The plan there is not well decided but will do sightseeing and travelling around Baja California, next week I will let you know where I will be.

I continue reading daily and writing my morning pages, plus keeping up with my exercise routines. Take care and see you next week.