Music Lessons/Tutoring

Hello all!

This post is dedicated to promoting my new profile on WyzAnt.  This is a tutoring, teaching, and coaching site which organizes qualified professionals as "independent contractors".  They require you to complete certifications in the areas that you seek to tutor or teach in, and have you get a background check so that possible students and their guardians know that you're qualified.  I personally have 11 subjects listed that I am willing to tutor for (including voice, music theory, reading, and writing).  If you're in the Central Wisconsin area and are looking for a tutor, contact me via my profile (I'm also willing to do Skype lessons).  If you're looking for a way to market yourself as a tutor, I highly recommend this site.  Take a look!

   
   

Powered by WyzAnt Music Tutors

Classical Singers Forum

I just wanted to let everybody know about a very extensive forum called  The New Forum for Classical Singers.  This forum can be very interesting and helpful if you ever have voice-related questions.  I am not saying to take the information presented here as 100% accurate and true, but sometimes it is good to see others' opinions on topics that you are considering.  I am a believer in having resources and since nowadays we all seem to turn to the internet to comfort ourselves, I thought I'd share.  Enjoy! :)

Kiss Me, Kate

For the last concert cycle of the semester our Concert Choir is doing selections from the screen and stage.  One of the numbers we are performing is "Another Openin', Another Show" from Cole Porter's "Kiss Me, Kate".  For those of you who aren't familiar, this is a musical adaptation of Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew".  This musical is quite comical, and is one I'd definitely suggest renting. I actually used "So In Love" from this same show as an audition piece to my undergrad voice program.  That being said, I am a huge fan of classic musical theatre and my viewing suggestions reflect that.

This 1953 film stars Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson.  Here is the original movie trailer.  Take a look, and enjoy!

Zwischen-fach

This last year has been a momentous journey in terms of my vocal development.  I just finished singing the role of the Countess in Mozart's Figaro, and am right now preparing "Things Change, Jo" from Mark Adamo's Little Women.  Confused?  So was I.

If you aren't familiar, the role of the Countess is lyric soprano, and the role of Meg (Little Women) is mezzo-soprano.  Of course there can be crossover when choosing repertoire; sing what suits your voice.  But how are you supposed to choose repertoire when you aren't quite sure where you fit?

I happen to have a weightier tone than some of my soprano colleagues, have both a high and a solid low range, but have a difficult time singing those higher notes on lower dynamics.  I have found that in singing lower into my register, my higher range has also extended and improved.  This is not to say that I am now a mezzo because I have that strength in my low range, but I am finding that I am not only able to sing a variety of repertoire, but am comfortable doing it.  I don't quite fit cleanly into either the soprano or the mezzo category. 

The term that is used to describe that exact situation is Zwischen, and in knowing that I am comforted that there are other people in the same boat.  Sometimes singing lower soprano repertoire and high mezzo repertoire in combination can be exactly what is right for your voice.  I just wanted to share this little piece of enlightenment as today it gave me a bit of perspective into my own situation.  Don't put yourself in a box- sing what feels good and helps you to improve as an individual singer.

Figaro, Figaro, Fiiiiiigaro!

It has been a while since I last posted.  Until very recently I was very literally buried in my "Marriage of Figaro" score.  I sang the role of the Countess in a cover cast performance back on March 29th with my wonderful colleagues, and it was an amazing experience to say the least.  Regardless of the fact that I am technically the "cover" to the Countess, I am still so grateful to have gotten the chance to learn the role and perform it in front of an audience.  I honestly wouldn't have traded the experience for anything. 

This week is our official ticketed performance, and I am working with the lighting designer so that I can run the light board cues during the production.  Even being involved in this way is still a gratifying experience.

As a friend and colleague once said, when offered experiences early on in your career, ALWAYS SAY YES.  Experience is experience, and there is no substitute for opportunities, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.

Now, here's a little Contessa for your listening pleasure :)