Comments on: YBC Live: Succos 09

By: unknown

unknown — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:05:42 +0000

i think that the martin boys are so cutest boys on stage. Tani martin has an incredible voice despite the fact that his voice is obviously changing when the solos were in his range it sounded beautiful. Avi martin is an incredible dancer along with shaya martin who has recently joined. Tani, Avi< and shaya started off hillel by flipping on stage, and a while ago avi martin was also the chosson in booraich and did acrobatics.

By: Nachi

Nachi — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:12:22 +0000

I thought the concert was great, Tani Martin’s voice appears to be changing (after all he is 13), but when his solos were in his range (as most were) he was clear, on key and wonderful to listen too. Eli and Yossi should keep his solos coming, just keep them in his range. IMHO, he is the strongest soloist they have got. Can’t wait for channukah.

By: bekka

bekka — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:05:42 +0000

Yes, that AMAZING dancer is Avi Martin (soloist Tani’s younger brother). Their youngest brother joined the choir this year. If you were at the concert, Tani tossed each of his brothers into a small backwards flips, very cool to watch and even more entertaining when you know the three are brothers. I enjoyed the concert tons!!

By: Full Succos ‘09 Review Wrapup | Jewish Music Report

Full Succos ‘09 Review Wrapup | Jewish Music Report — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:05:32 +0000

[...] YBC LIVE SUCCOS with Yeshiva Boys Choir, Dovid Gabay, Yaakov Mordechai Gerstner, Yosef Chaim, & … [...]

By: Kol Isha

Kol Isha — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:12:28 +0000

Something else to consider: Unless an adult is going for vocal training and is working on improving their range, it is reasonable to assume that an adult knows what his/her range is. With a kid, especially as they get older, their range keeps on changing. So a note that a kid was able to hit a month ago, he may not be able to hit now. I’m guessing that was more of a factor for Tani Martin than with YMG.

Either way, they are both talented kids. I don’t think anyone here is contesting that.

By: ybcfan2

ybcfan2 — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:28:56 +0000

I was at the concert sitting close up and saw every vain popping out of Tani’s head as he tried to reach those hight notes. Listen, he did the best he could under the circumstances. He’s still awesome and pleasant to listen to. YMG seemed to be putting on faces at some parts where he wanted to show emotion…thought that he was told to because the Kogan twins also did some of that too. It didn’t appear to me that he was straining himself that bad…it looked like Tani had to do more.

It was mentioned on JM in the AM a few times and in some of the other video advertismenets before Sukkos that YMG would be flying in right after Yom Tov so it was no surprise to me that he couldn’t reach certain notes. In hindsight, they probably should have made the concert on Tuesday night instead of Monday night and they wouldn’t have had as big of an issue. By the time I saw the ads it was too late to suggest that to Eli and Yossi.

In any case, it was still a great concert and i can tell you that you probably won’t be seeing much of Tani Martin anymore as far as YBC is concerned. His voice has been changing since the recording of the latest CD several months ago and my guess is that this is probably his last concert. I don’t think he’ll last until Chanukah – unless Eli tailors a ‘greatest hits’ medly for him where he can sing well without trying to kill himself.

Whoever said it above, yes you are right. They definitely need to star cultivating the younger boys to move up and they need to do it quickly. Some of the veterans have left just before or just after the recordings for YBC 4 and The Event and more will be leaving soon (see above) so they really need to pick it up with getting other boys into the soloist / star soloist groove.

Besides that one case of a singoing/voice coach, the boys DO NOT get any kind of official training.

It seemed to me like something was a bit off with the mikes at time…or maybe it was the boys tiring out after having been in Brooklyn College all day and perfoming twice at Uncle Mosihy/Bello shows, or maybe it was the mixed in tracks being slightly off at times. Regardless it was still extremely enjoyable.

Shea R was OK…he doesn’t have great stage presence. Neither does YC Shwekey. They were both just ‘alright’ in my book. However, I might add, they were WAY more enjoyable than Menucha who they had up there last Sukkos/Pesach. Menucha is OK to listen to, but painful to watch on stage for some reason. Then came David Stein who was really on his game and was very enjoyable. Gabay stole the show of the warmup crew and he has MASSIVE stage presence. He really knows his place, he moves around well, he’s very smooth, pleasant to watch and to listen to, and he interacts with the musicians and the crowd very nicely. If I would have left after Gabay I could have said Dayeinu, it was enough.

But then we had awesome music and songs from YBC which were very entertaining as usual. Looking forward to the next concert which should include some new songs and new coreography…not so much of the same old same old.Yossi Newmany said on JM in the AM that there would be “YBC T-shirt slingshots” on stage which never materialized but otherwise I think we all got what we came for.

By the way, yes those two twins are the Kogan twins and they are great to watch and listen to. I beleive I saw a 3rd brother in the back row as well. The amazing dancer is Tani’s younger brother. He’s the one who used to throw off the hat and bekesheh and do the dancing and headstand at the end of “Booraich”.

Lastly, the boy named Azriel also has a great voice and range but I think the incessant cheering for Azriel when he wasn’t even at the mike was a bit much.

By: Kol Isha

Kol Isha — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:09:50 +0000

TCK: Lost your comment…please post it again? Thanx?

By: simcha

simcha — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:10:47 +0000

OK… Even the one or two who are receiving vocal coaching, chances are they are grossly under taught, and or not being taught by the proper people. There are only a handful of people who can properly guide a children in a path for a voice as an adult. (I was fortunate enough to study with one as a child…) Aside from the Vienna Boys Choir there are a couple trainers in the states. There is almost NO relation in the upkeep of the voice of a child, to that of an adult…
V’hamyvin Yavin

By: tck

tck — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:04:32 +0000

VOICE OF REASON-

By: yalps

yalps — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:34:19 +0000

wow ya i probably laughed harder than you “voice of reason”.these kids do NOT have vocal coaches. while i do happen to know that ONE of the soloist DOES get voice lessons, since he was a camper in my bunk last summer, i also know that the VAST majority of these kids absolutely do NOT get professionally coached. maybe they should be, but it just doesnt happen.

By: Voice of Reason

Voice of Reason — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:23:11 +0000

TCK: I think you are missing my point. Anyone who goes to a concert knows that you are not going to here studio perfect sound. It’s live you have one shot to get it right. Mistakes happen. You go to a concert to see the performers live, feel the energy and caught up in the excitement. I don’t have a problem with the idea that YMG or Tani Martin didn’t give the best performances they ever gave on Monday night. Hello? They are kids, they are having a good time and they did the best they could under the circumstances.

My issue is with them doing things that are harmful to their voices. Both YMG and Tani Martin may one day want to sing when they are older. Wouldn’t it be nice if they didn’t damage their vocal chords by trying to hit notes they clearly couldn’t reach? Talk to any speech pathologist. THAT is how you kill your chords.

And I don’t think either boy stopped themselves when they couldn’t hit the notes – they tried for it and didn’t make it.

The ADULTS involved should not have let them try for those notes.

David: Am not trying to be critical, though you’re right, I probably am. I am sure these are good sweet boys, who just want to have a good time and share their talents with us. But it is the adults who bear the ultimate responsibility here. Would a coach let a pitcher pitch if he even thinks the pitcher will destroy his arm doing it? Of course not. Ultimately, it is the welfare of the kids that is most important. I know so many people who blew out their voices by singing out of their range when they were kids. And that’s it. You do irreraparable damage. FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER.

And Vocal coaches? You think these boys have vocal coaches? Anyone else out there laughing as hard as I am?

By: david hamsa

david hamsa — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:53:05 +0000

Wow!! How negative have we become? We need some serious help if we r sitting and critisizing with out knowing any facts!!! As if knowing them makes us immune to the ultimate judgement we’ll face after 120
Fact: ymg and most kids his age in choirs r sweet good kids you need to keep good grades and all of that stuff most kids their age r very competitive my I had a teacher who had leagues where he made 5 teams of 5 and it was competitve I loved that competition we all loved it except for like 3 kids but he let them do their thing…it is very possible that ymg being a 10 or 11 year old kid is very competitive and was told backstage to relax warm up and let the ppl backthere or eli or whomever know, whether he was a go or no go. I’m assuming a kid they fly in from israel for a show has a vocal coach as I’m sure most of these kids do. All I’m saying is its obvious that you r assuming the facts and you should be dan l’kav zchus ymg as well as all of our brothers! Be happy see the good! The bal shemtov says “what we see in other ppl’s character is a reflection of our character….” Let’s stop judging and being synics let’s unite againgst negative! I was @ the concert and I agree he was hoarse but he owned that stage like he was on a mission kudos to the 10 or 11 year old that went to the plate l’havdil like gibson for the dodgers…@ the end of the day these shows r great for the kids and parents it can be a lot of kosher fun! Sometimes we get a sick perfect concert (been to quite a few by many artists) and sometimes we get a less than perfect show but we still see the tremendous effort and @ the end of the day if ur truly bothered by anything that goes on in a concert hall Don’t Go! Send the kids with uncle sam he’s 17 he just got his lic. and is eager to drive. As a holy looking jew who walked into my shul on simchat torah one yr said, after drinking a fifth of vodka…..Moshiach Now!! And he meant it!

By: tck

tck — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:34:36 +0000

Thank you Kol Isha. We both WERE at the concert- 2nd row center- and watching the soloists from so close you can see how hard they work!

Voice of reason- dont assume things when you dont know the truth. We were at the concert, and entitled to our own opinions on him sounding as good as he could be under the circumstances. You are right in that he is working extremely hard and his voice wasnt at its full potential. But he normally CAN reach the notes and I tihnk he did an awesome job stopping himself at parts that could have gone completley wrong if he continued to reach the note.

And whats with all the chit chat on YM Gerstner. He wasnt the only soloist unable to reach the note. I believe Tani Martin- blonde boy stopped himself at a really high part because it was too much. He still did excellent job! Why so much on YM G? because hes a gerstner? because he has a main act?

Thank you Sara, my review is on cooljew.

By: Kol Isha

Kol Isha — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:41:18 +0000

Sara: You are correct. There is pushing young ones to excel and then there is pushing too far. I don’t know if his hoarseness was due to the 12 hour flight or not. I just know the facts. Pushing a kid’s voice past it’s limits can be detrimental. FOREVER. If they want to groom YMG to be “the next big name in Jewish music” as you suggest, they might want to make sure they don’t kill his voice now. Because damage done at this age is very often PERMANENT. No joke.

And I was very wrong. Both bukin86 and tck were at the concert. My bad.

By: Sara

Sara — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:17:31 +0000

Voice of Reason- I was not at the concert (although just to correct you, I know that TCK was from thecooljew review) but from what it sounds like I definitely agree about the overworking of YM Gerstner. It is clear from both how many performances he has as well as how many times, both in concert and on the albums he is given solo’s, that he is being prepped to become the next big name in Jewish music. While there is nothing wrong with pushing young ones with talent to reach their full potential, we see this phenomenon too often in sports and acting of overworking children and it can come at an expense to their physical and mental well being. Mini Gerstner is very talented and it’s great to see him at his best but if he did just come back from Israel it was a mistake to schedule a concert that he is expected to perform right after he comes back from a 12 hour flight. It’s not the end of the world if he sits out on a concert, even a big event one like Succos Chol Hamoed. Overall, great review Kol Isha. The concert sounds like it was great.

By: Kol Isha

Kol Isha — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:05:41 +0000

Simcha: While he may have been a little tentative last night, I am thinking his album is a good barometer of what we can expect from Yosef Chaim. And I think we can expect a lot!

By: Voice of Reason

Voice of Reason — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:58 +0000

bukin86 and tck: I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that neither of you was at that concert, watching the poor kid try to get through his solos. My heart went out to him. They should never have put him on, for HIS sake. Hello? You shlep a kid back from Eretz Yisroel and then expect him to be able to sing? I wonder if they are going to have him singing at all NINE, yes, count them, NINE YBC performances this week. Even the superstars in the secular world have been known to cancel an appearance when their voice just isn’t there.

If there is anyone out there who should have given Yaakov Mordechai a break, it was the person who made the decision to let him try to hit notes that he couldn’t possibly reach.

By: simcha

simcha — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:59:14 +0000

Kol Isha- To that I am really looking forward to! Love his album…

By: Kol Isha

Kol Isha — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:49:41 +0000

Simcha: I think with enough live appearances Yosef Chaim will become comfortable on stage and will most certainly improve.

By: tck

tck — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:56:13 +0000

YM had just stepped off a plane from Eretz Yisroel where he was for the first days of Sukkos. Give the kid a break. His voice is strong regardleSS!

By: bukin86

bukin86 — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:54:01 +0000

YM GERSTNER WAS IN ISRAEL FOR YOM TOV!!!

GIVE HIM A BREAK!

loved the concert!!!

By: simcha

simcha — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:04:48 +0000

I was at this concert as well and was greatly disturbed by the way the children were singing out of their range. Aside from that I was shocked by the live mixing which was handled by real pro’s and still was much more out of whack than any other concert I’ve ever been too.
Next topic, Yosef Chaim Shwekey…. While he has a great voice and put out a really well rounded album he has no sense of vocal projection for the live environment. He started relatively strong but almost immediately lost his entire third register. One of the things that I see as value in a performer is their ability to sing live almost or just as well as they do on their album…
To be honest, I am really let down that this is the first time I’ve read a review on the JMR that really was like the typical run of the mill Jewish article. Lashon Horah is a very sensitive issue , and that is understood but in a situation as such it is better not to write anything.

P.S. If anyone is interested, I have done extensive research into the anatomy and science of the pedagogy and voice of male singers with a stress on the larynx / vocal folds of children. Contact the JMR for my email address as I can answer any specific questions.

By: concergoer

concergoer — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:02:00 +0000

I was there last night and it was pitiful to watch YM Gerstner try reaching the high notes or posibbly even the low ones:( A big possible contributing factor is the fact that they flew him in from israel after yom tov! big mistake kid must of been jetlag, tired, confused and all. well hopefully they learned!!!

By: Voice of Reason

Voice of Reason — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:53:05 +0000

I was at the concert and much of the audience was wondering what was up with YM Gerstner. Some were speculating that his voice was changing, and I’m happy to hear that he was just hoarse.

Which brings up an interesting issue. If your one of your star soloists doesn’t have his voice, what do you do?

If you put him up like that you are being both unfair to the audience AND to the kid. You cannot tell me that putting up a kid who was obviously struggling and having him try to hit those high notes isn’t going to do damage to his vocal chords. You should have seen the poor kid up there trying to hit those high notes on Shir Hamaalos. WIthout exaggeration, he was literally doubled over trying to get the notes out. And it wasn’t just that one song he had trouble with. His voice just wasn’t there. It wasn’t fair to him and it certainly wasn’t fair to the audience who paid good money to come to the concert. I don’t in any way mean to bash YMG or suggest that he isn’t any good. He just didn’t have his voice last night. It happens to singers all the time. But I don’t think that putting him up there was the right decision for so many reasons.

So then who should they have put up? Tani Martin? At 13, his voice is deepening and he couldn’t hit his high notes either. And those two were pretty much the only seasoned performers up there. Yitzi Gewirtz and Akiva Elbogen who both had solos on the CD were not on stage last night, which means they probably aren’t with the choir anymore. It’s not that there weren’t talented boys up there, but when you need someone to pinch hit at the last minute, a newbie just isn’t going to work.