The phrase, “I learned something today,” is one that is associated with the incredibly and self-consciously earnest sitcoms of the 1990s where there were always very special episodes. As soon as you heard that there was going to be a very special episode of a TV show, you knew that someone was about to learn a valuable lesson.Continue reading “I learned something today…”
Tag Archives: Vocal technique
NATS 56 – Virtually Fantastic!
Right now, I am the student learning on Zoom, instead of the teacher. I’ve been consumed with the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) 56th National Conference since Thursday. The conference was supposed to be in Knoxville, TN, but Corona…. The conferences are always things I look forward to – I’ve only missed 2Continue reading “NATS 56 – Virtually Fantastic!”
June Practice Challenge (Mine, Not Yours)
I’ve been seeing a lot of my colleagues set themselves a goal of singing through the entire 24 or 26 or 28 Italian Songs collection. They’ve taught them ad infinitum over the years, but they’ve never actually sung them themselves. So, in this time of respite from performing and in-person teaching, they’re recording themselves singingContinue reading “June Practice Challenge (Mine, Not Yours)”
Why I DIDN’T Sing – For Far Too Long
When I lived in Wisconsin, I spent about 8 years in a sort of vocal quarantine. I suddenly found my private studio taking up more of my time and energy, and I chose to stop seeking work in Chicago, where I’d been doing the bulk of my singing, and reduced my performing with professional choralContinue reading “Why I DIDN’T Sing – For Far Too Long”
Making Your Case in Auditions
Seth Godin wrote a blog a few weeks ago about the conventional wisdom of making your case vs. how it actually works. This was from a business/marketing perspective, but when I read this, I thought, “Wow, this could apply to auditioning!” My notes are in brackets. Conventional wisdom: Find a large group of people [audition forContinue reading “Making Your Case in Auditions”
Who takes voice lessons?
My mother never understood how I had so many students. She would say, “So many people want to be professional singers?” and I’d say, “No, mom, some want to be professional performers, but some just want to get into the musical at school, or into a special ensemble in choir, or some just want toContinue reading “Who takes voice lessons?”
What If You Were Your Own Teacher….
I just read the phrase, “as if they were their own teacher” on a FB page of independent teachers, in regards to how a student would do self-evaluation, including: Finding three things they did well Finding a couple of things they’d like to fix Figuring out how to fix them This was based on theContinue reading “What If You Were Your Own Teacher….”
Golden age musicals – why you should bother
I hear this way too often from people: “Why should I sing golden age music? It’s so old-fashioned! I don’t know any of it.” Technique. Today’s musicals tend to be very text-driven, and aren’t necessarily vehicles for mastering things like legato and breath management. (And that doesn’t make them less than, just different.) Revivals areContinue reading “Golden age musicals – why you should bother”
If you’re going to make a mistake, make a BIG one
I read a blogpost the other day by a musician and psychologist named Noa Kageyama (aka “The Bulletproof Musician”) about the idea that making deliberate mistakes can teach you a lot. Kageyama’s focus, generally, is on being very deliberate and mindful in your practice. So I was doing some thinking when I posted this onContinue reading “If you’re going to make a mistake, make a BIG one”
Suspending the breath – why I don’t teach it
This morning, the subject of my meditation app involved a lot of focus on the suspension/stillness between inhalation and exhalation. The momentary pause that exists both before the initiation of each. It’s infinitesimal and you really have to be aware to notice it even exists. I don’t really feel it and I don’t find itContinue reading “Suspending the breath – why I don’t teach it”