Today's blog - A Singer's Plea, by Ralph Schatzki

I'm giving the keyboard over to Ralph - my dearest baritone. This is something that you may find interesting ..or not :)

A Singer's Plea

It's tough to be a singer. I'm not looking for sympathy, necessarily, but a little understanding- just a little- would be nice.

We have a passion- a compulsion- that cannot be denied. Everyone sings, and in a way that's part of the problem, but we have to sing.

Other musicians are compensated for their time and labor. It is apparent to everyone that a performance entails a lot of work: learning and practicing music means hours and hours in a practice room beforehand. Can you imagine asking a pianist to perform for free? Or a trumpeter?

Now, I have nothing against pianists and trumpeters- they deserve to make a living from their hard work; yet, when singers ask to be compensated they are looked at askance, as if they have incredible temerity. “How dare you want to be compensated to sing?” is the common reaction to a singer's request to be paid.

Why is this?

I think a couple of factors come into play, here: First, as I said, everyone sings. Some only hum in the car on the way to work, others are shower singers, some are amateur performers and (the masochistic) are professionals. Therefore, a lot of people believe that it is not a skill deserving remuneration.

Can you play the oboe? Can you diagnose your strange rash? Can you dunk over Yao Ming? No? Well, that's why those who can get paid to do so.

Never mind that there's a world of difference between Luciano Pavarotti and the tone deaf homeless guy on the subway.

Now, of course it's not that simple. Luciano Pavarotti was paid very well to sing. And, of course, most of us have played basketball, but since we're not great it becomes a purely avocational exercise. The second factor, though, taken in conjunction with the first, I believe, explains the problem:

Singers- unlike other musicians- deal with uniqueness all the time. Each of us has a unique instrument, and is therefore evaluated exclusively via subjective criteria. We can pretty much tell whether a basketball player is good, and we can even tell- to a significant degree, at least- which pianist is good. A basketball player either makes a shot or he doesn't. A pianist hits the right note or he doesn't (I know- there's more to it than just that).

Now, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain were both great. I don't know who was greater, but any such debate has some semblance of objectivity since each put a standard-sized ball through a standard-sized hoop.

Vladimir Horowitz and Arthur Rubinstein were tremendous pianists. I don't know who was better, but they both played the same instrument so such a discussion makes some sense.

This rationale doesn't hold for singers. Some people think Maria Callas was the greatest singer who ever lived, and others can't stand to even listen to her. Can we really compare her, in any objective manner, to Zinka Milanov? They were both singers, yes, but they played different instruments. Maria played Callas, and Zinka played Milanov.

Singers work harder, in fact, than other musicians, since we not only have to deal with the added component of language but are also subject to the vagaries of individuality. We have to build our instruments as well, in addition to performing on them, and they are constantly changing on top of that.

And yes, we are “musicians.” I can't tell you how many times I have heard the phrase “singers and musicians,” as if we are exclusive of them. The worst example of this was at a concert where the organizers, solely as a means to prevent paying the singers, wrote in the program that they were “paying the musicians, but the singers were donating their voices!”

If we hone our craft and instrument for years, and practice for hours to prepare for a performance, are we less-deserving than Michael Jordan, Maria Callas or Vladimir Horowitz? This is the hard work that turns an avocational performance into a professional one.

Of course, I can practice for years and never get paid to play basketball, just as many singers can practice for years and not get paid, but there was never any question that Michael Jordan would get paid for his skills. I just don't want any and all discussions with singers to begin automatically with the assumption that their efforts aren't worthy of compensation.

About Ralph Schatzki: http://www.ralphschatzki.com

CoffeeMelodie Boutique: Video Presentation

I talked about the boutique the other day - and how you can help CoffeeMelodie keep the music alive in your hearts - please see October 29's blog - http://www.coffeemelodie.blogspot.com/2008/10/coffeemelodies-boutique.html

Today I made a video advertisement and put it on

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YlsWM8-i4E
(for my channel, please log on http://www.youtube.com/pradichaya)

Myspace - http://www.vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individualVideoID=45647935

and Google - http://www.video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7369048876058852478

Just in case you'd rather not click on a link and bother with another browser (I don't blame you, I'm the same way!) I also attached the video right here on this blog for convenient viewing. I hope you all will like what you see enough to go do some browsing on my website - http://www.pradichaya.com/coffeemelodiesboutique.aspx These items make such beautiful gifts for someone special and especially, they make wonderful gifts for yourselves.

Also, a reminder, if you like the singing at the end of this video, please follow this link to my MP3 store and purchase the music that I list there! (The blog that talks about it is http://coffeemelodie.blogspot.com/2008/10/coffeemelodie-mp3-music-store.html)

A million thanks to all of you!

CoffeeMelodie's Boutique: http://www.pradichaya.com/coffeemelodiesboutique.aspx

Two days ago I promoted our brand new MP3 Store. Today I'd like to give a reminder about our CoffeeMelodie Boutique - located at http://www.pradichaya.com/coffeemelodiesboutique.aspx

As I said before, I'm all about the singing. waking up in the morning, every breath I take , going about my daily activity - there's not a moment that I'm not all about singing. I sing and I share everything I know about singing to everyone who wants to receive. CoffeeMelodie is my central head quarters - http://www.pradichaya.com/coffeemelodie.aspx In order to keep my teaching through the outreach program going and growing, in order to present artists and bring the music to the community, I started a cute little boutique at CoffeeMelodie's corner to generate the funding.

These are some samples from CoffeeMelodie's Boutique.

Blue-color Enamel and Smoky Ripping Enamel Pattern on Silver, with a pair of Bright Blue Jade - set with Brown Diamonds Bangle Bracelet was purchased in the spring of 2005, as one of a five-bangle bracelet set (of different colors). This piece of jewelry was made by 'Jaa Jewelry' of Thailand (also my Rajini School classmate), whose reputation in jewelry design and making is highly-regarded among the Thai socialites and the members of the royal family. Her clientele also includes high-ranking dignitaries, royalty and world leaders.

The uniqueness of this piece was topped off with its finishing touch - the smoky-color enamel that starts on the outer side on the back of the bangle. the smoky enamel runs right onto the blue enamel and creates an intriguing ripping pattern on it.

Silver Bangle Bracelet - weighs 74 grams

Two oval shape Bright blue Jades - total weight - 16.70 carats

Twenty-two Brown Diamonds - total weight - 0.51 carats

Will fit wrist size up to 7"

Red-color Enamel and Smoky Ripping Enamel Pattern on Silver, with a pair of Velvety Red Jade - set with Brown Diamonds Bangle Bracelet

The uniqueness of this piece was topped off with its finishing touch - the smoky-color enamel that starts on the outer side on the back of the bangle. the smoky enamel runs right onto the velvety red enamel and creates an intriguing ripping pattern on it.

Silver Bangle Bracelet - weighs 74 grams

Two oval shape Velvety Red Jades - total weight - 16.70 carats

Twenty-two Brown Diamonds - total weight - 0.51 carats

Will fit wrist size up to 7"

Orange-color Enamel on White Gold plated on Silver, with a pair of White Jade set with Brown Diamonds Bangle Bracelet

Silver Bangle Bracelet with White Gold plated - weighs 74 grams

Two oval shape White Jades - total weight - 19.01 carats

Thirty-six Brown Diamonds - total weight - 0.52 carats

Will fit wrist size up to 7"

Smoky Quartz with Brown Diamonds set on White Gold plated on the Twisted Style Silver Bangle Bracelet

Gold plated Silver Bangle Bracelet - weighs 78 grams

Two Smoky Brown-color Quartz- total weight - 12.14 carats

Twenty-two Brown Diamonds - total weight - 0.49 carats

Will fit wrist size up to 7"

Smoky Quartz with Brown Diamonds set on Gold plated on the Twisted Style Silver Bangle Bracelet

Gold plated Silver Bangle Bracelet - weighs 72 grams

Two Smoky Brown-color Quartz- total weight - 11.00 carats

Twenty-two Brown Diamonds - total weight - 0.50 carats

Will fit wrist size up to 7"

Please visit CoffeeMelodie's Boutique for pricing and other details.
http://www.pradichaya.com/coffeemelodiesboutique.aspx

ART fills up and completes the HEART.

CoffeeMelodie MP3 Music Store

So far, everything that Ralph and I do under CoffeeMelodie always goes back to the purpose of making the music become alive (or more alive) here in the Lehigh Valley, PA. I do a lot of crazy things such as selling items from my personal collection, selling smaller items hand-crafted from Thailand, offering sassy, classy performances right at the clients' homes (a program called Melodie-on-the-Go), all the way to downright asking for monetary support. I was born with the music in my heart and music is what I do best. Here I am in this nice town (great for bringing up my foursome) I might as well do what I can in the area that I know best. I would like to be able to pass the musical knowledge to the younger generation. I would like to create and generate the love and the passion in music and plant it into people's hearts. I hear people often say "We're trying to make a living here, we don't have time for this (music, classical, opera - to be exact)" It's up to me to help reminding the people that Music is the cure to all troubles, and singing is the best medicine to the soul. Why, don't we all sing in the shower everyday? Operatic, classical, musical broadway, spiritual and other kinds of music all the way to ((gasp)) pop music - these are music. Think of classical music as green eggs (and ham, Sam I am). Try it and it's your choice, but please don't deny anything you haven't tried. I was raised in a culture far away from classical music. My great uncle was a musician and with the passion in jazz, big band and Thai classical pop (yes, there is such thing) My late uncle was a famous singer and composer who never learned how to read music, yet, he captured everyone's heart by bringing out his passion through his arts of singing. I grew up singing pop music and was not introduced to the 'other' kinds of music until I came to the US many, many years ago. CoffeeMelodie's main purpose is to reach into people's hearts and bring out the gentleness, the kindness, the love, etc. though music.

Today, I proudly would like to present another mean to bring CoffeeMelodie towards its goal. An online MP3 music store is opened for direct purchase of our music both as singles and albums for as little as $0.99.

Please visit our store by clicking on the player, or please copy and paste http://www.soundclick.com/Store/byArtist.cfm?bandID=886780 to go directly to the store,

or http://www.soundclick.com/PradichayaGafaaePoonyaritandRalphSchatzki to go to the main page. Please click on a song title displayed on the player below to hear song sample.

Please help Ralph and me keep the music alive by helping us spread the word.
Thank you very much.

So long, farewell--(NOT)The Von Trapp Family

This is too good not to share!!!!!

Happy Birthday, my sweet Justin

It's Justin's birthday today, he's eleven. Justin is number 3 out of 4 in our family - he's our youngest son. When he was born, he weighed nearly 10 pounds, if my doctor didn't induce me (two weeks before full term) he would have been bigger than everyone in our family. Justin had a full head of black hair just like his brothers, the eyes were big and more almond. - shaped. Of the three boys, he got the best looking chin , my 'Thai' nose, and fair skin. His first cry was so quiet, almost like a cat's purr and I didn't believe that it was actually a cry, since both Brendan's and Nicholas' baby cries were very loud. and could wake up the whole neighborhood. As a baby, Justin was calm and quiet and he started to talk much later than Brendan and Nicholas. We were living in Thailand at the time and all our kids were brought up in bi-lingual environment. Justin would have the hardest time expressing himself and I could tell that he tried to make the best of his limited vocabulary. He's also known as strong-willed determined kid who always fights for what he believes is right (still does) If rules are set, and they make sense to him, he'd strictly go by them. But, if he feels that they are not reasonable, you would never get him to follow them! I have to laugh every time when Justin stands up to his belief - he's not any different than me! I had such a hard time growing up because I was brought up in a strict household, that, plus having gone to a Thai school for all 'refined' young ladies, which put even more restrictions to my need to be independent. I was always the one who stubbornly broke the rules, if I believed that the rules were 'wrong' and 'unreasonable' I got myself in troubles many times. Now, seeing how Justin and I are so much alike, I have to use what I know to make it pain-free for him, to function well within a society. He's also fiercely loyal to his brother Nicholas, who believes in a non-confrontational peaceful way of life. There were many incidents of an almost 2-year-old Justin going out of his way to 'protect' his 4-year-old brother in pre - kindergarten. His limit in vocabularies didn't stop him. In his attempt to scare away the big bullies (K-1) he would string together all the words he knew and screamed them out repeatedly."PeSin drives the van, PeSin drives the van, PeSin drives the van" as he put his tiny little body between Nicholas and the bullies. The so-called K-1 bullies covered their ears and quickly ran away. Justin was also notorious in his pre-k, k, and grade schools of putting in requests to be seated with different groups of students in his classes because other children - ".......don't pay attention to the teacher, that was very wrong, and it bothers me" Last year in fourth grade, it took a homeroom teacher, a counselor and his school principal some 2 plus hours of sitting and talking, even begging him to please finish the PSSA test. They got him to finish it and the result turns out that he was above average. He explained to everyone that he didn't want to do it because he didn't feel that it was necessary since he just did the school foresight test and that should have been enough. We did not talk or discuss about the PSSA therefore we did not influence him in this matter. I believe that he finally agreed to finish the test only because he didn't want to get his teachers and his school in trouble. I still have fears that Justin could seriously get himself in troubles because of his fairness and his righteousness. But then again, he's very smart. Hopefully he will have easier time blending his own rules from black and white to something more compromising. He's also very sweet, very kind, and, as I said before, is fiercely loyal to the ones he loves. When our little Kaitlyn came along, Justin would stay up with me to help me with his little sister. He's very proud to finally become a bigger brother and this never changes. His sweetness and earnestness touch people around him. Last school year, the school counselor and his 4th grade teacher were involved with helping him see the world from other people's perspectives - or, plainly, to help him understand that things will not always be the way Justin sees and wants them to be. Justin understands, but probably still doesn't agree. At the end of the school year, they were sad to see him leave, and they had tears in their eyes when they said goodbyes.

I asked Justin what his wish was for his birthday. Instead of running down a gift list, he simply told me that he wanted ice cream cake with 'kao niew' - a delicious sweet sticky rice cooked in coconut milk and coconut sugar. He'll get this wish today, plus a few other things.

And I ramble on and on...and on

I dropped off from blogging a whole month - many things to do, a lot to think about, that, plus the day-to-day things makes it hard to write without the thought that I could have been doing something else! Okay, so I admit, I'm not so good at keeping journals. If I would just put my thoughts into words, we'd get a lot of ramblings of broken sentences. The way the mind works is very fascinating. Well, I think mine is anyway - since I underestimate the ability of my own mind most of the time! I can start on one subject and things will get rolling and the ending will be quite different. I do a lot of teaching even when I called myself a 'sales person' when I worked at Chuayjuljit. I had to give the sales people reasons to get motivated, and my talk had to convince them. Well, sometimes it worked with certain people, and sometimes it worked with other people. Sometimes it took kind and encouraging words with a lot of praises, and sometimes I had to be pushy and nudging them a little or a lot, that also depends on who and when and where I worked with at the time. I just kept plugging away - my objective was to sell my products to the sales people, and to sell the idea of 'how-to-sell' along with the tools (yet, another how-to) so my people can sell my products for me. Everyone who's doing anything (or not) has to have some sales personality within her/him in order to survive. Now that I'm no longer in the sales business - I still see myself as a sales person, selling my product in which I truly believe. The product is my voice, my art, the love and the knowledge of the music - all the learning that accumulated over the years, and still going. I'm out here selling my product as a performer, and the tools in refining and putting the product together and make it your very own package - as a teacher. Singing is much more than talent. Yes, talent plays a big part, but one has to put other elements into the singing to make oneself a singer. Ever since I was young, I loved to sing, and it made me so happy just to sing. In fact, when I was a young adult and started to sing the 'proper' way, the joy of singing gradually decreased. The more we learn, the more important we need to keep everything balanced, or we can end up being miserable. Knowledge is only good when one knows all the how/where/when to apply it, otherwise, it's like digging a hole while letting yourself sink in it. Knowledge backfires if you serve it, instead of letting it serve you. Well, same with just about everything else, isn't it! I have to keep reminding myself that I can't let what I know become my own handicap - a baggage that I carry with me everywhere. And, at this point in life, having been there and done that, I can't help but knowing a lot, which makes it very easy to slip into the dark side, which draws out the cynical part of me. Cynicism = negativity = holding place = regression = oh boy, I've fallen and I can't pull myself up. The more I learn, the more I see, the more I say 'balance' Again, that goes into everything you do. You know how everyday when you get into the shower you just open your mouth, sing your heart out, when you finish with the shower you feel refreshing and have a sudden splurt of energy? Notice how 'happy' and 'relieved' you feel? That's the feeling I believe we all have to achieve and maintain.


Ha! I just gave a sample of how my mind travels from one subject to another! I've been rambling!!! I don't know what good this does to anyone but it's effective on me! Now I'm going back to my regular work with that refreshing thought as if I had just sung in the shower. May be I'll even sing - putting in all the know-how elements and the talent and the joy, 'as-if-I-had-just-sung-in-the-shower' Woohoo!!!!