IN the Philippines, everyone sings. No, let us rephrase that. Every Filipino sings, whether you live back here or transplant yourself elsewhere. Is it any wonder then that the karaoke was invented by a Pinoy (called Minus One in the early days to mean, the full accompaniment minus the vocal tracks of the songs which the individual singer would provide). Then there was the videoke, and lately, the the all-in-one microphone embedded with a chip containing hundreds of your favorite songs you can warble to.

In addition, others go as far as joining choirs and singing competitions, or take up Music as a course in college, or, lacking the chance but having some money and time, they train at the Center for Pop Music or at other similar institutions.

Not all budding singers has a father like Regine Velasquez’s, who famously enhanced his daughter’s lung power by making her sing while immersed neck-deep in water.

Or Sarah Geronimo’s, who as an employee of PLDT, had encouraged his daughter to join the telco’s annual Tuklas Talino, a contest that included singing.

Or Roselle Nava’s dad who accompanied her to music trainings and exhibition performances (and did more in the process like help the then start-up Center for Pop Music to take care of say, sound mixing, among other crucial technical aspects to singing).

When multi-awarded Roselle Nava traveled to Nevada to perform in 2003, she told her Filipino audiences that she’d soon like to learn to play a musical instrument and write songs.

She also dreamt of mentoring budding singers and musicians.
Apparently, she found the means to try and do it all.

Seeking to hone the singing talents of people aged 3 onwards, Roselle recently opened her own music school in BF Homes in Parañaque.

Callled Muzik Korner, the music school aims to give “superior, quality music education to aspiring singers and musicians of all ages and skill levels in an encouraging and supportive environment.”

Muzik Korner offers voice lessons from basic to intermediate to advanced to concert-level; it also offers classes on playing the piano and guitar.

"In little ways, sa pinagdaanan ko, I can help them,” she says, citing the lessons, insights and practical tips she learned from her successful career as a multi-platinum and multi-awarded recording artist.

She can help even those who think they can’t carry a tune because she believes “everybody can sing.” She concedes, however, that if people keep saying they can’t sing, the self-defeating notion can soon become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

There are, however, truly gifted ones and Roselle aims to have Muzik Korner help them realize the full extent of their gift.

Opportunities for breaks
and exposure

Herself a hard-working singer who never seems to rely on her past laurels, Roselle Nava recalls the discipline she had to instill in herself in order to better her craft. Some of the breaks she got she may attribute to luck but she subscribes by the credo, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.”

It’s something she hopes to impart to her Muzik Korner students as well, as Roselle herself plans to conduct classes, even as she continues to fulfill singing engagements..
With partners Allen Tan and Baby Pacheco, a veteran talent manager and events organizer who’s also her manager, Roselle reveals their edge: “We can give the best students lots of opportunities to do shows, sing and play with us at various gigs.”

She adds: “We’ll expose them, give them hands-on training, bring them to mall shows, get them as back-up singers for starters, or as talents in our events.”
Partner and manager Pacheco says that the school might even offer scholarships to the truly gifted.

Premium on early training

Training is important for aspiring singers and musicians. Roselle notes that some of today’s new singers are hardworking artists who started training as early as age three.

She herself began training at 10. By the time she was 16, she began reaping accolades as Most Promising Female Singer. She realized the promise barely a year later by garnering an Awit Award for Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist.

Now 30 and with six best-selling and award-winning albums to her credit, Roselle decided to open Muzik Korner as her way of sharing her experiences and contacts in the music business.

It will also motivate her to improve musically.

"I plan to learn to play the piano,” she says, and hopes that with her new skill, she can try her hand at songwriting.

There’s also
music and play for kids

There’s a cute room in Muzik Korner meant for the three- and six-year-old set. Like other rooms in Muzik Korner, it’s bright and candy-colored and has a a large mirror.

However, the musical instruments in this room are scaled-down versions and kid-friendly. One finds miniature versions of guiatrs, drums and xylophones.

"I want kids to learn music in an atmosphere of playtime,” says Roselle.
She scrunches her nose at the thought that some kids are being taught music in deadly serious and boring ways.

Another room functions as an auditorium with a stage and musical instruments and with a wall lined with mirrors.

Students learn to sing and perform in front of an audience, and view themselves to check out their stance and track the progress they’re making.

And improve they will, Roselle promises.

She also swears that although their voice lesson classroom has a complete sound system that’s good enough for a mini-concert, their students will improve their singing with or without microphones, let alone the “daya” of electronic enhancements.