Every year, World Voice Day seems to coincide with something that prevents me from celebrating it. Last year, it was during Holy Week. The year before, I was teaching all day at Howard Community College. And the year before that it was Easter Sunday. And this year, we have a pandemic. And all performances areContinue reading “World Voice Day in a Time of Silence”
Category Archives: Expressivity
Feel the Grief and Do it Anyway
Back on March 4, I had a conversation with a friend on how overwhelmed I felt because I had taken on too many projects. In the upcoming weeks, my schedule included: Six more performances of Don Giovanni at the Kennedy Center in DC; The world premiere of a concert of music with texts by Irish poets,Continue reading “Feel the Grief and Do it Anyway”
Creating a Cabaret FAQ
From last night’s Curiously Stronger Performing workshop (in case you weren’t there): “What is a cabaret? How is it different than a recital? Or a musical?” “Cabaret is personal musical theater” (Amanda McBroom). Cabaret Traditional Recital Musical VENUE Place where people are seated at tables, eating or drinking (or both) Performance hall or church; audience is seatedContinue reading “Creating a Cabaret FAQ”
Making a list … and checking it …
No, I’m not writing a blog to the tune of “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.” (But don’t tempt me.) Last weekend I judged the MDDC NATS auditions and saw some people sing with little or no expression in their eyes. Their eyes were fixed on a spot slightly above the judges’ heads, and itContinue reading “Making a list … and checking it …”
Curiously Stronger Performing
It is my passion to help people perform to their highest level. To interpret music in a way that realizes the intent of the composer and lyricist while still maintaining a connection to the artist performing it. To re-create old material to have a fresher feeling and to be able to play with it. IfContinue reading “Curiously Stronger Performing”
Curiously Stronger Performing, Session #2: Singing Expressively in a Foreign Language
On February 12, we will be holding the second session of the Curiously Stronger Performing series at the Roland Park Community Center. The topic is Singing Expressively in Foreign Languages. The class goes from 7-9pm, and I’ll be working with 6 singers for 15 minutes each. The inspiration of this workshop was going to recitalsContinue reading “Curiously Stronger Performing, Session #2: Singing Expressively in a Foreign Language”
Scattergories/Categories
Scattergories is a creative-thinking category-based party game originally published by Parker Brothers. Why I Sing is a creative-thinking but currently somewhat unfocused blog currently published by Christine Thomas-O’Meally (why, that’s me!). Recently, I established the Curiously Stronger Performing series, which focuses on specific elements of performance: The functional (how to present your music, how to walk intoContinue reading “Scattergories/Categories”
Vulnerability vs. Oversharing – Part 1
NOTE: This was originally published in July 2013. In reviewing it, it’s ridiculously long, so I’m re-doing it in two parts… ***** Recently, I’ve been watching videos by psychologist Brené Brown on the topic of vulnerability. She has done extensive research on the advantages and disadvantages of making yourself vulnerable and allowing yourself to be authenticContinue reading “Vulnerability vs. Oversharing – Part 1”