Help, I really need some good suggestions...

I am singing a duet in a big recital with my singing teacher and I feel SO selfconscious when I'm standing there (with him right behind me), and then singing directly at him and him at me, holding hands. I've never done anything like that before, or straight acting and I need to deal with it fast, the performance is on the 24th.

I burst into giggles on Wed (as I have posted on the forum) but now I'm in a bit of a panic. How on earth am I going to get over it and get serious/into character on the night? It doesn't help that he is very gorgeous and I'm still amazed I'm singing with him! I want to do a good job so he asks me again.

He's also away this week, so I have one more rehearsal before the real thing. Aaarrrgghh!

Any tips/tricks? Please??

I'm sure you can do this Dawn - you aren't a lovestruck teenager any longer! You need to imagine yourself into the duet. You have to do this to some extent to put over any song. You don't say what you are singing, but it sounds like a love song from a musical, or possibly an opera. Forget who you are and become the lady in the song; make your teacher become in your eyes the man in the song.

Also, I think you'll find that it's harder to get the giggles with a live audience. You'll be more nervous on the night and it may not seem remotely funny!

Very best of luck on the night.

Thanks! It's Kosende Wellen from Lehar's Der Zarewitsch. I hope you're right about the night. I'm just always uptight about anything like this - and I need to deal with it like I am my stage fright, which is much much better. It's about time!

He's going to waltz with me in the piano break too - and I've never done that before!

I've been reading "A soprano on her head" today and I'm hoping I can rid myself of some of my "judges" between then and now....

I think I understand your problem now! It's one thing to be absorbed in a part when you're actually singing, but for much of that duet the tenor sings alone. (How does your teacher cope with the long, high notes?) Well, you'll just have to do your best to stay in the part. I hope it all goes really well.

You've got it! I stand there not really knowing what to do until I sing and feeling like a spare part which lets my mind race....
Teacher copes very well with all of it, he had a 12 year career singing all over the world bfore taking a break so this is quite easy for him, he likes high C's!!

Singing duets is brilliant! All the fun of a solo and half the stress as there is somebody else up there to share it.

But those "what to do" moments can be hard...here are a few tips I have picked up over the years...

First, make sure you know what to do during the song - choreograph it. If you don't do this there is a risk that one person will make a lunge for the other's hand just as they decide to wave their arms about. Then practice those moves so that they look natural (nothing worse than the "here comes verse 2 - now we switch to position #3" syndrome).

The ideal is to practice with your duet partner in front of somebody who can advise on what it looks like from the front. Failing that you can use a mirror and/or a willing substitute (family member??)

Don't look directly at your partner while you are actually singing - not only because it can be distracting but because - unless you are amplified - the sound will go to him and not to the audience. Generally if you are three-quarters on it will look from the audience's point of view like you are in contact with each other but they will get the sound.

(This explains the popularity of the "man stands behind woman with his arms around her" position in Am-Dram. Both parties can face front while at the same time looking romantically involved with each other. And less chance of the giggles).

You can, however, look at your partner while he is singing and you are not. This helps to focus the attention on him.

The key when you are not singing (and indeed when you are) is body language. You don't need to do much if what you do is right. And you don't want to do much, because the focus should be on your partner at that point.

Depending on where you are, you can just look at him with a happy expression (if that is appropriate to the words of the song), which will help focus the audience on him too. Note that "happy expression" does not mean a big grin ! Think about what your eyes do when you are happy - they light up and that lifts the face. Try it in the mirror - see the difference between the "fixed grin" effect when your mouth leads the expression and what it looks like when it comes from the eyes.

If he has his arms about you at that point you can lean into him - even close your eyes. In general less is more. You hardly need move at all, and it won't look like you are frozen - as long your body language is appropriate.

Remember also that your personal perception of time will be totally different from that of the audience. Your reactions are speeded up so it feels as if you are stuck for about 3 months while he sings his 16 bars. The audience, however, will be listening to the song and (apart from your Mum ) they will all be watching the person who is actually making the noise.

It may help you to look at other performances of duets (not only of this particular one) - see how the parties fill up the time and how they create an impression. You may also find it useful to read something about body language. Even (or especially) the "pop psychology" ones because in your case it is useful to pick up on the cliched stereotypical things that are a shorthand for "this person is happy/sad/angry/in love" and which an audience will interpret as such.

All the best - it's a gorgeous duet so just enjoy it!

Oops sorry - long post!

Thank you, there are some great tips there. I have been practicing with DD who has been trying to put me off too (standing behind me, breathing on my neck whilst I'm singing etc) so feeling a bit better. It's about unrequited love - they have to part - so it's really quite sad and desperate! And yes, that first bit does feel like 3 months

We do end up singing at one another, but in this instance sound wise it will be fine, as the audience is in a restaurant which is very wide, and very close to us too!

I have given myself a stiff talking to this morning about not getting put off and letting it all get to me.

I find body language very difficult, and I'm going to have enough problem to look "ladylike" even though I'm in a very posh dress and heels, because I tend to hold myself quite stiff when dressed up....DH always laughs at me. Far more comfy in jeans!

I am going haunting youtube between now and then!!
Thanks again

Do practice as much a possible in the clothes and especially the shoes in which you'll be performing! Unfamiliar heels have a nasty way of rooting you to the spot or turning your light easy steps into those of a robot (speaking from experience here )

My husband quite got used to the sight of me prancing about the kitchen getting tea in 3 inch stilettoes in the lead up to glam roles/cancan dancing etc!

Good plan! I might just do that all week....