Years ago, I had a young student who walked into her half-hour lesson one day and announced, “Today I want to sing three songs and I don’t want to waste any time.” I said, “Okay.” We skipped the stretching and obligatory how-was-your-week discussion during same and launched into vocalises. She rolled her eyes and sighedContinue reading “Voice Teacher vs. Voice Coach – Can they co-exist in the same person?”
Author Archives: Mezzoid Voice Studio
A critic and a performer can’t live in the same body (at least not at the same time)
Don’t try to create and analyze at the same time John Cage pointed out they’re different processes. Doing one will interfere with the other. What will you create today? You can analyze it tomorrow. https://seths.blog/2019/05/dont-try-to-create-and-analyze-at-the-same-time/ Years ago, I took a writing workshop that said, “You can’t be a writer and an editor at the sameContinue reading “A critic and a performer can’t live in the same body (at least not at the same time)”
She’s the Crazy Ex-Girlfriend – with something to say
I am a huge fan of the show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, the fourth (and final) season of which I’m watching on Netflix right now. The star and creator and producer and writer of the show is the multi-talented (as well as multi-tasking) Rachel Bloom, who plays the title character, Rebecca Bunch. Each episode of the showContinue reading “She’s the Crazy Ex-Girlfriend – with something to say”
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”
"An instrument of discovery"
I just read this in a Facebook ad for former U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins’ poetry masterclass: “I think of a poem as a flashlight, an instrument of discovery. I’m here to light the way for you, to show you what I’ve learned, and not just about rhyme and meter. I’ll also teach you aboutContinue reading “"An instrument of discovery"”
Money Notes
Wikipedia‘s definition: A money note is a music industry slang term which refers to a part of a live or recorded singing performance which is subjectively judged to be very dramatic or emotionally stirring. Mezzoid’s definition: A note you sing that is so fantastic, that sits in just the right place, that you’ve infused with so much emotion and strength and power, that peopleContinue reading “Money Notes”
New Resource for Choosing Repertoire!!
Last week, I added yet another item to my list of things-to-spend-money-on-so-that-all-our-lives-can-be-better! This resource is MusicalTheaterSongs.com and offers thousands of songs from 1850 to the present day (with the purchase of a subscription – and my NATS membership gets me 50% off of the annual subscription price). For example – are you looking for a songContinue reading “New Resource for Choosing Repertoire!!”
Spring Forward!
UGH, it’s Daylight Savings Time. I hate the transitions both in and out of DST. I feel like I gain nothing in the fall because I wake up too early, and I definitely feel the loss of the hour in the spring. (Spring? It’s spring?) But I do like the idea of “spring forward.” OfContinue reading “Spring Forward!”
Exploring Online Lessons
Oh, the weather outside is frightful –But the fire is so delightful –And since we’ve no place to go –Let’s do an online voice lesson! (With apologies to Sammy Cahn) **** Yesterday, the college where I teach opened two hours late. And then 4 hours late. At which point I said, “I’ll bet you they’reContinue reading “Exploring Online Lessons”
Ch-ch-ch-changes – Welcome to Mezzoid: The Voice Studio of Christine Thomas-O’Meally!
Longer ago than I want to admit, I was in a choir at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception as a paid alto chorister. For those of you who aren’t that well-versed (no pun intended) in choral music, mezzos usually sing alto in choirs. This is due to tessitura, rather thanContinue reading “Ch-ch-ch-changes – Welcome to Mezzoid: The Voice Studio of Christine Thomas-O’Meally!”