Alice Ballinari

Which musician has influenced you the most?
Lianne La Havas, Sammy Rae, Amy Winehouse, Jorja Smith, Radiohead and Birdy for their compositions and original ways of using their voices, which is what really makes them unique as singers.

What can you teach me on your instrument better than any other teacher?
Technique and how to experiment sound through singing: I found it fascinating to use our voice in a new, original, unheard and even experimental way.

How did you learn to sing?
I have had this passion since I was a very young child. I remember that I would see my aunt, a professional singer who teaches in public schools and in a conservatory, as she performed, and I’ve always wanted to be like her.  

How do you go about writing a song or composing a piece yourself?
There isn’t a single way of composing and it always depends on the context and the source of inspiration. Usually, I start building a song from a melody that gets stuck in my head, or from a lyric I come up with that I really enjoy. In any case, my main focus remains the lyrics: as a singer, my goal is to transmit the meaning of what I sing, and having a powerful text is something that I find crucial.

What equipment do you play on today?
Today, I am really into loops, vocal effects and harmonizing through a vocoder. I think it is fascinating to learn to make music only with my voice (and the help of some tools).

What personal trait has helped you most in your practice?
What has helped me the most, is the study I make at home, by myself, before bringing it to a rehearsal. I find it very advantadging if every member of a band or orchestra knows their parts and duties: that allows the rehearsal to proceed faster, more efficiently, and in a smoother way.  

What does your instrument have that others don't?
I possess a variety of technical knowledge concerning the vocal system, going from more modern genres (pop, jazz, even contemporary and experimental jazz) to lyrical singing. According to the student’s interests and wishes, I can also provide some knowledge on electronics, loops and vocal effects.

What do you pay particular attention to when teaching?
When teaching, I like to focus and prioritize the unicity of the student’s voice. As singers, we all have our own and unique sound (mostly determined by our vocal anatomy), and it is crucial for me to deepen into these peculiarities, in order to allow the student to develop, through the discovery of their voice, their own artistic identity.

How do you structure your music lessons?
I like to begin my lessons with a warm-up that includes stretching and body relaxation exercises, breathing exercises and vocalizations adapted to the student's voice and needs, that they will execute accompanied by me on the piano.
After that, I move on to the repertoire. The second part of the lesson is dedicated to singing one or more pieces (on an mp3 playing, or accompanied by me on the piano), chosen either by the student or by me (it can also be an original composition!), which we will analyze and work on together in terms of interpretation, expressiveness, technique, style, etc.
If needed, I can also cover vocal anatomy, improvisation, sight-reading, music theory, and ear training, no matter the level of the student.

How do you approach teaching with children?
The structure of the lesson remains the same for adults as for children: 1. warm up, 2. repertoire, and 3. cure of the details. While adults will have more liberty in terms of expression and interpretation, when it comes to children I like to focus on the basics of technique, qualities of the voice and interpretation of a piece. Basic knowledge of music theory can of course be taught, if needed.

What has been your greatest experience as a musician so far?
I think I’m about to experience one of the most significant moments in a musician’s life. I’m starting to release and perform my own music, and it’s really giving me a sense of what it’s like to be an independent artist, how to navigate the market and how to get booked by different festivals. It’s a life experience I’m not sure I’ll enjoy, but one that will certainly teach me a lot about how this world works.

What was the biggest stage you've played on?
Cully Jazz Festival and Montreux Jazz Festival.

Which musician would you like to play with one day?
Piers Faccini: I had the chance to follow some of his Songwriting seminars of Songwriting at HEMU and he’s really amazed me.

Which record would you take with you to a desert island?
«Maple To Paper», Becca Stevens: great compositions (the secret lies in the simplicity), deep lyrics, great technique.

Which stage would you most like to play on, or do you most like to play on?
Montreux Festival Jazz.

What else is important in your life besides music?
Reading, travelling, spending time with other people, spending time alone.