On this day 9 years ago, I moved back to the East Coast from Milwaukee. I moved because I wasn’t performing anywhere, and I wanted to sing somewhere before it was too late. Because I felt as though a singer’s shelf life varies from person to person (depending on fach, health, and other circumstances) andContinue reading “Not too late”
Tag Archives: performing
Are you an Offensive or Defensive Performer?
I was looking through my blogpost ideas for today and came across something I saved marked Offensive/Defensive, and I thought it would have something to do with football (the Super Bowl is this Sunday). But it actually came from a Seth Godin post about offensive/defensive behavior and finding the place in between. It pertains more to marketing.Continue reading “Are you an Offensive or Defensive Performer?”
Consequences of Change
I’ve written about change a lot. And I’ve implemented a lot of changes in my life when it would’ve been easier to stay put. I left a teaching job without having another job lined up I left a husband (without having another one lined up) I left a job as a legal secretary to openContinue reading “Consequences of Change”
Why do we perform when it terrifies us so much?
For most of my 20s, off and on in my 30s and again in my early 40s, I suffered from performance anxiety. Often crippling performance anxiety. Dry mouth, shaking legs, unable to get my breath under me. In my 20s, it was because my technical ability wasn’t at the level I needed to be atContinue reading “Why do we perform when it terrifies us so much?”
Make a Fool of Yourself!
Today I attended a masterclass hosted by Susan Hanlon, a voice teacher in Dallas, and Izzie Baumann, a voice teacher and performance coach in Mainz, Germany. The clinician was Christian Borle, Broadway star and Tony award winner (Peter and the Starcatcher, Something Rotten). He worked with six singers from the US to Germany. He wasContinue reading “Make a Fool of Yourself!”
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”
Why SHOULD we sing – when there’s nowhere to sing? (Part 2 of 2)
Yesterday, I wrote about the findings of medical professionals regarding singing and the safety about doing it publicly. You can read that here. Apparently, singers and loud talkers are considered “super-spreaders.” Guilty and guilty. And feeling kind of judged about it. Like I said, I found this terribly depressing. Everything had been going so well.Continue reading “Why SHOULD we sing – when there’s nowhere to sing? (Part 2 of 2)”
Why I DIDN’T Sing – For Far Too Long
When I lived in Wisconsin, I spent about 8 years in a sort of vocal quarantine. I suddenly found my private studio taking up more of my time and energy, and I chose to stop seeking work in Chicago, where I’d been doing the bulk of my singing, and reduced my performing with professional choralContinue reading “Why I DIDN’T Sing – For Far Too Long”
Online Lessons – Choices Abound!
In the last few weeks, as I’ve made the transition to online lessons, about 1/3 of my students have come along with me and scheduled lessons. They’ve either downloaded an accompaniment app or have a prerecorded track on their end. They’ve downloaded Zoom, made sure their audio set up is in place, and made appointmentsContinue reading “Online Lessons – Choices Abound!”
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”