Hello Ztal,

I'll answer to your question 1 and 6, right ? The rest will be discussed some day, somewhere (with a glass of something in hands maybe).

Question 1) a) I've heard this interesting story about a singer who had a voice exactly like Edit Piaf, but apparently she could never really express the songs emotionally like Piaf ... apparently her character was very different or something...The "something" you mention is like me trying to follow scrupulously the recipe of a grand Chef Cuisinier in order  to prepare a great food. For this, shall I manage to get a great dish eventually ? Even by using the very same ingredients, the very same cooking time, observing absolutely all details requested ? Of course not, Ztal. And it's about the same thing with this singer who had a very similar voice to the great Edith Piaf. Unfortunately, despite she (I guess she's a woman) is probably an amazing imitator of Piaf with incredible technical skills, I'm afraid this person will never capture the very essence of the main thing : emotion.

b)What about a classically trained opera-singer (with very clear, balanced, controlled, operatic voice ...) singing Piaf...I don't like that in general. Question of style. It sounds "fake" like and out of the relevant mood or swing. Except with some rare people like Friedrich Gulda (both Classical & Jazz pianist - dead now), W. Marciallis, Michel Portal and some others, I'm pretty suspicious of these "classical trained opera singers" singing Jazz.

(Can this be applied to guitar? Why not ? Of course it can. Music is music, Ztal, whatever can be the genre or the instrument. Can we learn something here?) You mean in order to improve that ?  Not really I'm afraid..You got the required and necessary mood (or groove) or not . But you can't learn it (nor teach it so). It's not fair I know, but is music 100% "democratic" ever? But it's only my way of looking at things anyway.

7) What do you hate during masterclasses? Mostly new strings :) Plus when the student plays  to meone of his composition or arrangement BUT without score. The unknown music without score is undoubtly the worse stuff that could happen to me during Master Classes. Except this, I generally love all the rest :).

So, you got me, Ztal ! I responded to five of your questions eventually (and not 2 as planned by me) :).

                      All best though.

                                                Roland Dyens

Hi Ztal,

 You mention that I said I would be 100% sincere in my responses on this Forum. This is true, no doubt but your questions are 11 ! (in fact they aren't even 11 but at least 25 since they often have internal subdivisions in them). So may I ask you to make a selection of 2 (or 3 max.) of them ? I could never answer (nor even "improvise" 'as you say) to so many thoughts since I have many other questions to answer to + a lot to do as well.

                Thanks for understanding.

                                      Roland Dyens

I guess this ztal must have run out of questions.  Or perhaps he read his 12 question?