How to become a great Cantor

What are the elements of being and crafting oneself as a great Cantor?

1. Voice
2. Being a Ba’al Tfilah (Nusach). *
3. Coloratura (this can get sophisticated at an infinite number of levels
4. Personality Interpretation (Bitui)
5. Perush Hamilim – you have to bring yourself, all your experiences and your life view to the craft and art.
6. Musicality (chromaticism, harmonic concept, 

knowledge of scales and flexibility between modes)

7. Expression (Variety of expressive tools) see below

Religioso, Dramatic, Mystical, Chassidic Joy and Style, Parlando

8. Balance of cry/religioso and joy/celebration (Philosophy)
9. Slide (Musicality) advanced tool. In some of the great Cantors, this portamento which the Italians venerate, is essential at the advanced levels.
10. Chromaticism 

• Hazzonus is based on Chassidic Elements of Sequences

Elements explained in Detail

Religioso, Dramatic, Mystical, Chassidic Joy and Style, Parlando

Coloratura – can be an entire course –

Modes – an intimate knowledge of the modes, how they flow one into another

Note: in today’s day and age, it is a great challenge to work on one’s craft when what sells is in the realm of the fantastic. The allure of immediate gratification prevents us or has the tendency to prevent us from digging into our craft, and working on the elements of being and becoming great.