While his voice won’t shatter champagne glasses, John Keller finds his higher register more comfortable than the deeper notes that most male singers hit.
Keller, director of product development for PriceAdvantage, a division of Skyline Products Inc., Colorado Springs, Colo., discovered his vocal zone while taking opera lessons, a path he never imagined he’d be on when he started formal instruction three years ago.
His first choice in instruments was the trombone, which he picked up in fourth grade. But a few decades and three kids later, he’s singing a different tune, literally, as a church cantor, soloist at community events and student of the opera.
Q: Let’s talk fırst about passion. Why singing?
A: To me, it’s very moving emotionally. You go on YouTube and watch someone like Luciano Pavarotti sing opera, and you can see he’s lost himself in the piece. Some songs are so intense, you throw yourself into them 100%. It’s exhausting, but that’s what musicians do.
Q: But you started as a trombone player?
A: I was the youngest of three brothers in a musical family. I played trombone from fourth grade through two years into college, practicing about two hours a day. I made it to lead trombone in the jazz stage band at Boston University. I was a business major too, so the two trombone majors there weren’t happy.
Q: Why so much dedication?
A: I liked the complexity. The trombone is all slide, no valves. Like a violin has no frets. It’s all ear and muscle memory in terms of pitch and how far or close your arm goes. With jazz, you learn phrasing. Like hearing Frank Sinatra, you pick up on his style, where he adds syncopation and swing.
Q: Why did you stop?
A: Sometimes when you love something, you can’t make it a career. Then it becomes about money and being competitive over one or two jobs.
Q: How did your business life evolve from there?
A: I got my first job selling whitewater-rafting trips and mountain bus rides. Eventually, I sold computers and ran a help desk. It led to where I am now.
Q: How did you get back into music?
A: Our choir director at church needed singers for Christmas. I joined and soon became a cantor, leading the congregation.
Q: That’s when you decided on voice lessons?
A: I needed more stamina, more range and volume. I found Armour Ratcliffe, who sang soprano with the Washington National Opera. I told her what I wanted and she suggested opera.
Q: How has it been going?
A: I had a breakthrough when she said my body was an instrument, like the trombone. The air goes through the coils into the “bell” at the end of the horn. With the voice, the diaphragm presses air through, resonating in your head or “mask,” which is the bell. The trick is to relax the throat to let the sound through.
Q: Are you going to perform more?
A:I do functions, holiday events and funerals. I’m honored they ask. It’s an important part of a family’s life. If you can help them get through those hours, it’s moving.
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