When I walked up my skirt and fell into the first violinist’s music stand (see previous article on performance anxiety). When I had violent abdominal cramps while wearing spandex in A Cudahy Carolers Christmas and wound up going up on a line and breaking character for the first and only time in my life; When IContinue reading “Worst things that ever happened to me as a performer”
Author Archives: Mezzoid Voice Studio
GOLDEN RULES FOR CONQUERING PERFORMANCE ANXIETY
While preparing for our remodel and cleaning stuff out, I found these on an index card that I’d made up for myself that was stuffed in a drawer. From reading it, it seems that I got the actual rules from somewhere and then I wrote my own comment on it. So – I’m going toContinue reading “GOLDEN RULES FOR CONQUERING PERFORMANCE ANXIETY”
"Now Ulla Belt" – or not: Why We Belt
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about belting lately. I’ve also been re-obsessed with the score for The Producers (Book of Mormon, Spamalot, The Producers – are we noticing a pattern here?) and I was listening to the movie soundtrack the other day. What really bothered me about the movie was Uma Thurman’s casting asContinue reading “"Now Ulla Belt" – or not: Why We Belt”
It’s time for me to face the Fach….
The day before the oh-so-successful MacDowell Club performance, which clinched my knowledge that, yes, I am a classical singer and a good one at that, I auditioned for Sunset Playhouse’s Musical Mainstage Series. I sang Cole Porter’s “Give him the oo-la-la.” It went okay. But when I came home from Baltimore, I found a rejectionContinue reading “It’s time for me to face the Fach….”
I’m ME again!
Today I performed the Chausson “Chanson Perpetuelle” with Muzika Piano Trio and guests Kay Black and Rebecca Schulz at St. John’s on the Lake. I have to say that it was the best singing I’d done publicly in awhile. I have to thank Connie Haas for making me realize that I was off-track (too muchContinue reading “I’m ME again!”
I suck.
That is pretty much all I have to say. Not as a singer. Not as teacher. But in knee-jerk reactions that I am usually able to control. I did not control them this past weekend and I hurt someone I care about. Without even intending to. My apologies. You know you are. Please know thatContinue reading “I suck.”
50 shades of ….
I was thinking of how I would explain my feelings about a recent situation to my sister, the interior designer, in a way that she would be able to relate to. Imagine clients came to you and told you that they really, really liked the color red and wanted their house to reflect that. SoContinue reading “50 shades of ….”
Competitions – Subjective Wastes of Time or Valuable Learning Tools?
Yesterday was the MacDowell Club of Milwaukee’s first annual (?) music marathon, which was a competition for classical performers ages 14-19. Four of my students entered; two placed. All four sounded and looked fantastic, and sang at a level which I considered their personal bests up till now. Competitions are hard. Not so much theContinue reading “Competitions – Subjective Wastes of Time or Valuable Learning Tools?”
Awwww……..
My May/June 2012 issue of Journal of Singing arrived. This journal offers articles on vocal pedagogy on topics ranging from scientific analyses of the vocal mechanism to pragmatic points of view on studio development to reviews of books, scores and recordings. The regular recordings column, “The Listener’s Gallery” is written by Carthage voice teacher and baritoneContinue reading “Awwww……..”
MUSIC MARATHON & MUSIC SALE
I have been a member of the MacDowell Club Board for the last two years. The Club has been around for 102 years, and its mission is: To further musical interests in Milwaukee, provide performing opportunities for professional and amateur musicians, and acquaint the general public with the number and excellence of local artists. OneContinue reading “MUSIC MARATHON & MUSIC SALE”