At the beginning of this year, I downloaded a SMART worksheet to kick my year off as far as goal-setting. It’s almost November, and that’s as far as it got. I downloaded it. But while I didn’t actually fill out the form, I like to think that I do set SMART goals, whether they beContinue reading “Work SMARTer, not harder”
Tag Archives: Mezzoid Voice Studio
In the Service of Clarity
You may know that my favorite composer is Stephen Sondheim. My husband even gave me an autographed picture of him for my birthday (thanks to the family of Gary Lorenz, who apparently didn’t appreciate what their family member had and sold it on eBay). Sondheim has written two books on his lyrics (he meant toContinue reading “In the Service of Clarity”
International Stuttering Awareness Day and Singing
Today is International Stuttering Awareness Day. Famous stutterers include: Marilyn Monroe, actor James Earl Jones, actor Mel Tillis, country singer Samuel L. Jackson, actor Bruce Willis, actor Nicole Kidman, actor Emily Blunt, actor Chris Martin, singer Carly Simon, singer Lazaro Arbos, singer/American Idol finalist Joe Biden, presidential candidate (interesting that, as of this writing, thereContinue reading “International Stuttering Awareness Day and Singing”
Say Yes to Music
A few months ago, I watched a series of videos by Elly Ameling on art song, and jotted down my notes on them. Here they are (and I’ve added a few notes today, in italics): LEARN YOUR MUSIC “BY HEART” – so much more than just memorizing it. By heart. By heart – not onlyContinue reading “Say Yes to Music”
Hobby, Job, Career, or Vocation?
I am taking Seth Godin’s The Creative’s Workshop, a 100 day course on focusing my creative energies. Hence all the Seth Godin quotes that have informed my blogs recently. As part of the course, we listen to thrice-weekly videos from Seth Godin – and sometimes he has special guests talk about specific topics. Early on,Continue reading “Hobby, Job, Career, or Vocation?”
Choosing College
If you are majoring in music or musical theater, there are several things you need to consider: Who are the teachers with whom I’ll be working? What are the on-campus performance opportunities available to undergrads? What off-campus performance opportunities are available and allowed for undergrad participation? (This might not be a factor for you.) WillContinue reading “Choosing College”
Being a Good Colleague (Redux)
I recently read The Ultimate Musical Theater College Guide: Advice from the People Who Make the Decisions and one of the things I highlighted was this: This should apply to all your interpersonal interactions — in school, online, at work — because: You want to be a good person You want to be someone peopleContinue reading “Being a Good Colleague (Redux)”
“Learning is something we get to do”
Seth Godin does not like the term “taking” lessons. He feels that it sounds like something you have to do, like take medicine, or take your punishment, or take your lumps (that last one is mine). It’s not something that he associates with something you do voluntarily or eagerly. Learning is different. Learning is somethingContinue reading ““Learning is something we get to do””
An Artist’s Impression of Art
An artist’s impression is defined as the representation of an object or a scene created by an artist when no other accurate representation is available (Wikipedia). The above graphic has quotes by 17 different artists about what art means/meant to them. My favorite artist is Gustav Klimt. I have several prints of his in myContinue reading “An Artist’s Impression of Art”
We’ve Got Magic To Do!
I don’t really like the musical Pippin. I’ve seen awful high school versions of it, including one where they decided to do it in hip-hop style, but the director clearly had no idea of just what that was except for posturing. Plus the only person who had a really good voice was my student, Elyse Wojciechowski, inContinue reading “We’ve Got Magic To Do!”