"A mega important job!" - Nemo's thanks to the Biel music school

Pictures: Tanja Lander

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"You only get to experience something like this once," says Luca Carangelo, a member of the four-member school management team at Biel/Bienne Music School. As part of the welcome party for ESC winner Nemo in Biel on June 17, the music school was able to put on a twenty-minute performance - two formations, led by Nemo's former music teachers at the music school in Biel, took to the stage and serenaded Nemo and the celebrating crowd. The first group of singing students, some of them big fans of Nemo even before the ESC, were visibly joyfully nervous and sang the medley arranged by Helena Danis in front of the packed Burgplatz with great audience participation. And the second group, a percussion ensemble led by Richard Lepetit, brought a lot of groove to Biel's old town.

Nemo was visibly moved by the performances. "It's a huge task to pass on the motivation and joy of music to the next generation," said the much-traveled musical talent, addressing the music teachers. "Thank you for doing this, it's a mega important job!" Nemo also thanked the music students personally - his own performances with the music school have a firm place in his heart.

"We are extremely happy that everything went so wonderfully and successfully," says Luca Carangelo. The city's culture department had approached the music school two weeks earlier - the reason for this was Nemo's many years of lessons in the children's choir, percussion ensemble, singing and piano. In order to make its offerings known to Biel's schoolchildren, the music school organizes an annual tour of the Biel music school for the 1st-6th grades of a selected elementary school from Biel and the surrounding area. It is quite possible, however, that this event with its national appeal gave the school another major boost to its profile. A few days after the performance, the music school received the first fan mail asking them to forward it to Nemo.

Nemo with pupils from the Biel music school and singing teacher Helena Danis

IN CONVERSATION WITH NEMO'S VOCAL COACH

It was already clear to Nemo at the age of sixteen that music would determine his life path - and the future star was supported by teachers from the Biel music school, among others. Singing teacher Helena Danis talks about dealing with particularly ambitious pupils and how singing lessons also have many advantages for those with normal talent.

Helena, you have been teaching singing for over twenty years and ukulele for two years. How much of your life is dedicated to teaching?

On average, I teach three days a week at the Biel music school. I'm also an active musician myself, formerly with electropop projects such as Electric Blanket, and now with musical cabaret.

Supporting gifted students is an important topic for music teachers. How do you support gifted students?

I motivate them to learn an instrument such as guitar or piano in addition to singing lessons, if possible, so that they can accompany themselves and learn to write songs. In addition to the instrument itself, music theory and solfège are also important, as is gaining experience on stage. The Biel music school offers a wide range of ensemble and band lessons.

Do you feel it is a great responsibility to support gifted students?

In any case. You do a lot of assessments, seek discussions, including with the parents. I try to lure them out of their comfort zone, but always in a way that keeps them happy and motivated. I don't want to overwhelm them, because there's a lot going on at school too. It should be noted that there are different individual stages of development in the area of singing. There are pupils who already have an amazing voice at the age of 12, while for others it only comes later. I give them time. And the most important thing is always to involve the pupils. 

Do you have many students who decide to study at a university?

I would say it's about one student every two to three years who goes on to university or a musical school. It's nice to follow their paths - suddenly you see each other again, or you find out that they're playing with vocational colleges.

Can we conclude that gifted education is fulfilling, but also costly?

Yes, I do. You're in constant communication with the other teachers involved and you also have to make sure that you keep up to date yourself, including with the study requirements at the universities, which are constantly changing.

You also accompanied Nemo. How did you experience Nemo as a student?

That was back in 2016, when Nemo became known as a rapper through the SRF show "Die grössten Schweizer Talente" (The greatest Swiss talents), got a record deal and was very busy and constantly traveling between Biel, Bern and Zurich. Nemo wanted to spice up the technique and open up his voice - he was just about to break his voice at the time. We did pop vocal technique and also rehearsed some jazz standards. But Nemo also came up with his own songs or ideas that we worked on.

Would you describe Nemo as particularly ambitious?

Nemo already knew as a child that the stage was the goal. You don't have to motivate him much (laughs). It was about accompanying Nemo, giving him input. I think it's nice when you know that at such an early age and decide to follow such a path, even without certainty. At the time, Nemo had just finished compulsory schooling.

Was there a little voice inside you that would have liked to advise Nemo to do his A-levels after all?

No. I thought Nemo should try it. In Switzerland, you still have lots of opportunities later on. With Nemo, I never had the feeling that it wouldn't work out. In any case, I think more people in Switzerland should have the confidence to go all-in on art. Even without a university degree. There are many ways.

Not all students are so ambitious - promoting the wider community is also a big part of your everyday life.

Promoting the masses is my main business. You can do so much make a difference! I want to awaken and promote the joy of singing. This is also my goal with the ukulele lessons I recently started offering. It is important to me that all students learn something new in every lesson and can make small progress each time - with a focus on the joy of making music. 

So singing lessons are not only suitable for people with an outstanding voice?

No, not at all!

Do singing lessons also offer - to put it casually - advantages to the normally gifted?

Standing up and singing in front of other people is a big step, especially for adults. You develop an awareness of your own voice and posture. The voice gives a lot of insight into a person. In a way, it is a mirror of the soul.

Live stream of the event (from 1:29 contribution music school Biel)