Giovanna Gattuse and Cyntiha Gibb

A Journey To Fame
Michael Holloway, Australia

In July 2010, two of the most alluring and talented musicians and voice coaches, Giovanna Gattuso and Cynthia Gibb will be teaching one of their celebrated masterclasses in Italy. Gattuso is the founder and president of the Venice Voice Academy and she runs both the campus in California, as well as the satellite school in Italy.

Gattuso organises tour-masterclasses twice a year in Italy (December-January and June-July) and their new masterclass, A Journey To Fame is part of the current program of the tours.

Gibb is a partner in this endeavour, she is a special guest at the Voice Camp that Gattuso runs at the Venice Voice Academy (in Venice) every summer (for the Italian students) and has been doing so for six years.

This is a very special event that goes for three weeks in three sessions (August-September-October). The masterclass is extensive with courses ranging from: vocal coaching, Italian for singers, vocal improvisation, classical voice, Italian folk repertoire, jazz voice, songwriting, pop voice, Broadway voice, choral performance, Latin for singers, Bossa Nova, music appreciation, music theory, and ear training. Intensive training in the following subjects enriches the broader course: anatomy ( particularly focusing on the palate, head, larynx, and position), formation of sound (anatomy of sound, physical sensation of the sound, The Mask, resonance system, Crossover Voice, chest and head voice, the jaw exercises), the support appoggio and sustain, the sound release, vowels and positions (exercises), respiration, (theory), exercises for diaphragm and respirations, exercises on Crossover Method, improvisation exercises, agility, intonation and pitch exercises, low and high notes, ’ÄùForte and Piano’Äù, relaxation, voice ranges and bridges, health and prevention of vocal injuries.

An Apple For The Teacher

Gattuso not only teaches the above and more, she has also written a book detailing her knowledge of The Crossover Singing Method, which is a complete method for all singers, choir directors, teachers, and students at every level. The book dedicates itself to teaching vocal training from basic to advanced Crossover techniques. This book was designed as an invaluable resource to maintain a healthy, balanced, and expressive voice which coordinates all the various styles in singing.

According to Gattuso, she “can personally testify that a good and healthy vocal technique allows one to sing anything. There is no difference between a classical technique, or a modern technique of this style or that one. To utilize the voice correctly, in my opinion, THERE IS ONLY ONE TECHNIQUE, and the limitations are not in the voice itself, but in the limitations that we as human beings place in front of ourselves.”

The Crossover Singing Method has recently become a “Certified Method” which means that Gattuso and Gibb will be able to branch out and have “official” and “certified” teachers all over the world teaching the Method. Gattuso and Gibb are currently working on a new book A Journey To Fame, which will delve even deeper into the complex world of vocal training and the rewards which can be reaped from their coaching.

Gibb is also a fully accredited voice teacher having studied the pedagogy of voice (the study of teaching voice) since 1999 and now shares her years of expertise with her own students. Gibb’s philosophy states that when a student of the arts becomes proficient in their craft, they themselves can become efficient teachers in their own right. However, singing is the one exception to this rule. According to Gibb, even the most proficient of singers are unaware exactly how and why their body can act as an instrument. To teach singing, you not only need to be able to sing, but you must understand the human anatomy and how it makes music in the mechanical sense. There are several vocal problems which can be corrected, including loss of falsetto, problems with chest voice, hoarseness, breaking vocal registers, vibrato that is too quick or slow, and nodal and intonation problems.

Under Gibb’s training, a student can be taught to create a properly functioning singing and speaking voice for every occasion once a solid technique is established. Regardless of whether the student’s musical interests are in pop, rock, opera, musical theatre, or any other genre, graduates of the program can be assured that their voice will be in top form for any sort of performance, with the commitment of proper nurturing and practice of course.

There is one special rule that applies to teaching children as Gibb is quick to assert:  “The muscle systems responsible for the singing voice are not fully developed until after puberty. My teaching method for young people is geared for an immature physical body, and takes special precautions to shield young singers from injuries, some of which can be permanent. When choosing a vocal coach for your child, be sure that the teacher has been trained specifically for children. Kids are delicate in every way, and their voices are especially so. Feel free to contact me to discuss the potential for injury and how I adjust my teaching method for children to keep them safe from harm.”

In 2004, Gattuso released a stunning solo album, Jungle E Maree through her Velvet Bee Records label, performing vocals to the accompaniment of Robert Traufic (guitars), Jorge Bosso (cello), Alfredo De La Fe (violin), Gilson Silveira (percussion), and Alberto Mandarini (trumpet).

Gattuso describes the album as being inspired by her Mediterranean Sea world featuring “the warm air of Southern Italy, the ancient smell of the Mediterranean Sea…an exotic blend of Brazilian and Mediterranean influences.”

In 2009, the title song of the album was featured on the soundtrack of the movie The Funeral Planner, featuring musician Joss Stone in an acting role.

Gattuso has also recorded or been featured as a guest on the following albums: Jungle E Maree – Live At Sermig (2008), Pino Russo’s La Musica Dell’Anima – Live At Santa Maria Maggiore (2008), Tony Corizia’s Basswoodoo (2007), Gilson Silveira’s Saci (2007), Fammi Cantare Con Gli Angeli (2005), Tate Nsongan’s Il Manifesto (2003), Songs For Psyche (2002), and Arie E Tamburi – Live At Lingotto (2000).

Giovanna Gattuso’s Website

Cynthia Gibb

Cynthia Gibb
December 14, 1963
Birthplace: Bennington, Vermont

Although Gibb does not have a solo CD to her credit, she does appear on the CD soundtrack for a very special project that is guaranteed to knock your socks off (along with anything else you might be wearing.)
Let Me Entertain You

In 1993, Gibb starred as Louise Hovick (who later became the famous stripper Gypsy Rose Lee) in the late Emile Ardolino’s televised production of the musical biopic, Gypsy, based on Lee’s own memoirs. Also appearing in the spectacular showstopper are the legendary Bette Midler as Mama Rose (Louise/Gypsy’s mother), Peter Riegert as Midler’s put-upon love interest Herbie, Jennifer Beck as June (Louise’s sister), Jeffrey Broadhurst as chorusboy Tulsa, and a delightful trio of hardcore “professional” strippers, including Christine Ebersole as Tessie Tura (The Texas Twirler), Linda Hart – a one-time Staggering Harlette – as Mazeppa (Revolutions In Dance), and Anna McNeely as Electra (Stripper With A Switch).

Prior to and after Gypsy, Gibb appeared in many great films such as Youngblood, The Karen Carpenter Story, Salvador, Modern Girls, An Accidental Christmas, Short Circuit 2, Death Warrant, Christie’s Revenge; along with fantastic TV movies like Mary Christmas, Accused At Seventeen, Life Life With Judy Garland: Me And My Shadows, Earthquake In New York, as well as iconic TV series like Fame.

However it is Gibb’s sparkling performance in Gypsy that first made me a devoted fan of the multi-talented actress and singer. She was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe, and in a perfect world she should have won, although her co-star, Midler did win a much-deserved Golden Globe for Best Actress. Her vocals in the TV production and the CD soundtrack reflect her character’s transformation from shy innocent (Little Lamb), to exasperated daughter (If Momma Was Married performed with Beck), to neophyte performer-in-training (Together Wherever We Go performed with Midler and Riegert), and all climaxed by Louise’s graduation from gawky wallflower into dynamically glamorous superstar, Gypsy with the increasingly confident Let Me Entertain You.

In an interview from the article Dressed For Success, from the December 1993 edition of Mademoiselle magazine, Gibb stated to interviewer Rick Marin that “Gypsy took the world by the balls and made herself a star.”

She also mused about the difficulty in playing a stripper “which meant doing the strips in front of 350 extras and a crew of 75 people, wearing very heavy Bob Mackie gowns and very, very, high heels.”

In the December 8, 1993 issue of Daily Variety, reviewer Jonathan Taylor gave the following appraisal of Gibb’s performance, which I completely and wholeheartedly agree with:

“Gibb gives a star-making performance as Louise. Although overshadowed by Rose, Louise is in some ways a harder part to play. She needs to seem an inept wallflower who blossoms into a confident, beautiful Rose Louise – later dubbed Gypsy Rose Lee as she embarks on her stripping career. Gibb pulls this off skillfully, conveying the character’s inner goodness, strength and pain.”

Tagged Giovanna Gattuse and Cyntiha Gibb, Gypsy, music, The Crossover Singing Method