“Has anyone ever heard of the famous American composer Cole Porter?” I hopefully asked my college Voice 1 class last week. I was met by utter silence and blank stares. “How about The Great American Songbook? “ I tried again. “No one?” I followed up, even more wistfully. “Really?” I cried one last time. Nada. Zip. Zero….
As a voice teacher, I work with students every day who are experiencing singing problems due to health issues rather than their vocal technique, and none is more troublesome than acid reflux! As a professional singer myself, I have had more than a few bouts with it at various times during my career, ranging from…
There probably isn’t a singer alive who doesn’t know the feeling of auditioning for something— a solo, that choir you love, a part in a musical or opera, a fabulous band, or some other vocal opportunity—and then not getting it! Disappointing, discouraging, and frustrating, to say the least. If it’s a professional paid gig, it…
“In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it…”. If you can’t finish that phrase, then you are missing out on one of the most beloved Irving Berlin tunes of all time, “Easter Parade”, from the 1948 movie musical of the same name. Starring Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Peter Lawford, and Ann Miller, this…
It’s now Part 2 of our discussion on the use of humming (and related exercises) to find your best, most natural and free vocal resonance for singing and speaking. Have you ever heard the expression “hum like a top”? If you’re old enough to remember a childhood without computer games, where we actually played outside…
Did you know that when it comes to improving your voice, you can learn a lot from your dog? Seriously! Have you ever heard a puppy or even an adult dog whimper? That very sound can be the starting point for you to find a clear, free, and natural sound that is uniquely yours. Let…
Once you have the name (or name), of some voice teachers that you’re thinking of studying with, then what do you do? What questions should you ask him or her before committing to take a lesson? In Part 2 of this series, I suggested going with a friend to his or her voice lesson, where…
So after reading Part 1 of this series, you’ve now decided that you definitely need a voice teacher, and not a vocal coach. What’s a singer to do who is looking for a voice teacher? Where do you look? As with anything else, it starts with being an informed consumer. Here is a brief guide…
Finding the right voice teacher for you may be the most important choice you make in your singing life, whether you want to sing professionally, or just as a beloved hobby. I’ve had a number of voice teachers throughout my career, some of them good, and some of them truly great. I’ve also worked with…
Celebrate Women’s History Month! Clara Schumann’s “Liebst du um Schönheit” is the perfect way to spotlight this virtuoso pianist and composer, by featuring one of the most famous and lovely German art songs of the Romantic era. Clara Schumann was the wife of famed composer Robert Schumann https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Schumann but carved out her own place in…