In improvisational comedy, actors are trained to use the prompt “yes, and” in order to accept what their scene partner has given them and expand upon it to take it further. It doesn’t necessarily mean you agree with your scene partner, it just means that you heard what they said. I think it’s somewhat relatedContinue reading “So that…”
Author Archives: Mezzoid Voice Studio
Happy Thanksgiving!
Not much time to say a lot today – I should be downstairs putting out platters for our Thanksgiving “dinner” (who eats dinner at 2pm?). It’s been a rough year for me so far – healthwise and somewhat professionally (mostly related to the health issues). But I am thankful for my students, past, present, andContinue reading “Happy Thanksgiving!”
Rorem and Sondheim
I just wrote a tribute to Ned Rorem on his 99th birthday. And just a few weeks later, he died. I feel like this is my fault, somehow. Of course, it’s not, but it’s kind of like saying “Beetlejuice/Betelgeuse” 3x in reverse. Instead of him appearing, he… left. I have written a lot about StephenContinue reading “Rorem and Sondheim”
Takeaways from the NATS Conference – July 4, 2022
🎵 On the fourth day of July, NATS gave to me…. 🎵 July 4, 2022 “The Non-Binary Songbook” presented by Liz Jackson Hearns and Alexandra Plattos Sulack Takeaways: Rather than providing an actual songbook (which is kind of what I wanted),this was based on exploring gender expansion via classical repertoire for the AFAB/non-binary singer fromContinue reading “Takeaways from the NATS Conference – July 4, 2022”
Takeaways From the NATS Conference – July 3, 2022
Day 3 – more takeaways! (addt’l comments in purple italics) July 3, 2022 “Social Media and Building a Studio” presented by Phyllis Horridge et al Takeaways: YouTube: Reaction videos on YouTube (and TikTok) are very successful at getting you known Editing is crucial Instagram It’s where the kids are (and TikTok) – FB is deadContinue reading “Takeaways From the NATS Conference – July 3, 2022”
Takeaways from the NATS Conference – July 2, 2022
Here is the second day of takeaways from the NATS Conference in Chicago – July 2, 2022 (additional comments below each session in italics) July 2, 2022 “Pricing for Generosity” presented by Michelle Markwart Deveaux Takeaways: “My worth as a human being is not manifested in how much I earn” Pricing should have impact andContinue reading “Takeaways from the NATS Conference – July 2, 2022”
Takeaways from NATS Conference – July 1, 2022
I promised I’d share my takeaways from the NATS Conference this summer, and here’s the first one!! (These are from the report I submitted to the MDDC NATS chapter on October 23.) July 1: “That was Intense! Cool-downs for Vocal Athletes” presented by Gwendolyn Walker and Edrie Means Weekly (off-site at Roosevelt University) Takeaways: Alexander TechniqueContinue reading “Takeaways from NATS Conference – July 1, 2022”
Happy 99th Birthday, Ned Rorem!
Happy 99th Birthday, Ned Rorem! (And doing a bit of catching up) I am a couple of days late with this birthday wish – but I was having a problem with WordPress yesterday. When I was in undergrad, I had to write a paper for theory that linked a composer with an artist in aContinue reading “Happy 99th Birthday, Ned Rorem!”
The Summer of Suck
It was the best of times – it was the worst of times – NAH, it was the Summer of SUCK. (TLDR: Lots of health issues, a couple of studio issues, but Emma Langford and other folx made it all better) I thought I had coined this term myself, but then discovered that it wasContinue reading “The Summer of Suck”
House Concert!
I am very excited to announce that I am hosting Emma Langford in a house concert on August 12, 2022. I have talked about Emma in these blogs several times, both in the context of World Voice Weekend and, the first time, about how inspired I was her (“Her voice was broken, so I singContinue reading “House Concert!”