Have you always wanted to take voice lessons? Or do you have a child, sibling, or really close friend who has always wanted to try a voice lesson? This year, Mezzoid Voice Studio is offering a gift certificate that you can buy for a loved one (which also be yourself, because self-care is a goodContinue reading “Help Someone Find Their Voice (or your own) in 2023”
Category Archives: General
S’wonderful – Ira Gershwin
Today is the 126th anniversary of the birth of lyricist Ira Gershwin (12/6/1896-8/17/1983). While his brother George had the reputation as the celebrity composer beloved by movie stars and international classical composers alike (although less so by American ones of his era), Ira was the quiet, somewhat shy older brother. George was a notorious commitment-phobe;Continue reading “S’wonderful – Ira Gershwin”
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 5-6, 2022
Here’s an overview of the final full day of the conference and the general meeting the day after. July 5, 2022 “Laban for Singers: Laban Movement Analysis for Body Release and Character Development” presented by Kyle Sackett Takeaways: Created by a Hungarian dancer/father of modern dance “Laban Movement Analysis” – language to describe, visual, interpretContinue reading “Takeaways from the NATS Conference – July 5-6, 2022”
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!”