Classically Trained
Recently a new friend asked me what it meant to be a classically trained singer. I was horrified to find that I could not find a succinct way to explain it without sounding super high and mighty. It brought up a lot. As a young professional, I had a great deal of musical snobbery to work through. I left my university feeling pretty proud of myself and my art. The training I received there was solid and I am happy for it, but one need not be uppity about it!
Through the musical evolution of my husband, I found that I had a lot of areas that I needed to humble myself in. While I am a work in progress still, as we all are, I have done a lot of work towards shedding biases and preconceptions around music. If you are interested in what that might mean or look like, I encourage you to check out Vocal Coalition, my husband’s equity minded musical project.
So when my new friend asked me what it meant to be classically trained and the only explanations I could come up with dripped with bias, I realized I needed to keep working AND come up with a better definition. And here it is: a classically trained singer is one who is trained to use the voice in the most healthy way possible to allow for ease of production and quality of sound with the goal of vocal longevity in mind.
Some things that I think do not apply to one classically trained:
pain
stress in the sound
overuse of the body or its parts
In the same way that yoga teacher training taught me how to best use my body and breath to support my long terms goals for mindful movement in and out of yoga postures, my vocal training has done the same thing. I know how to use my body and breath to ensure that my sound production is both beautiful and created with as much ease as possible. The sound I produce will ensure that I can make singing a life-long joy. And isn’t that what we all want, the ability to make our passion something we can enjoy our entire life? I sure hope it is.
My commitment to my students is the give them as much of that knowledge as possible as they study with me. I hope they will find life-long joy in singing in ways that bring ease and health to their lives.
Happiest of New Years
Hello all!
I hope you were able to have a wonderful holiday season spent with those you love the best. My husband and I were in town during the holidays. He was involved in several productions with the Colorado Symphony Chorus, one of which we participated in together. I completed my 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training. We were able to spend time together and with dear ones, which was a a delight.
There are some exciting changes coming to how I run my studio and interact with singers. Many of you know my love of a regular yoga practice and how deeply it has impacted my singing story. I came to yoga to find a way to connect with my body and thoughts while using my body in a way that felt good. When I practice regularly, my back and hip pain is greatly lessened, often disappearing completely. My overall posture and alignment is better. I have more patience, and greater contact with my own emotions. I am much more in tune with my own body. Wanting to bring those benefits to my voice students, but unsure of how to proceed in a way that would be safe for everyone I decided to get my 200 hour certification. Best decision ever. I am beyond excited to bring the breath work, postural alignment work and mindfulness work to you on a regular basis. I'm still working out the kinks of exactly what that might look like, but I've got some wonderful ideas I am brainstorming. I would love to hear from you. What ideas do you have? At this point, I'm still waiting on my registration to come back from Yoga Alliance, the certification board for yoga teachers, as well as gathering the additional insurance I need to practice responsibly so nothing is changing right this moment. Of course, you will still be getting everything from audition prep to solid technique work to confidence building around singing, just as before. If you decide adding yoga movements is not the best fit for you, just let me know and we can continue as before.
As for resuming lessons, most of you have told me you would like to keep your typical lesson time from the fall. Please let me know if that has changed. I plan to resume lessons the week of January 7th. If you will be unable to resume that week, please contact me as soon as possible. Remember that day before notice is required to avoid the cost of the lesson for a cancellation. Musical season is ramping up; please let me know what your musical schedule looks like going forward. If I do not hear differently from you, I will assume that you will be resuming lessons the week of January 7th. I'm feeling very excited for what the new year holds.
My intention for the year is to embrace all that life brings. I can't wait to see how that plays out in the voice studio especially!
Settle down, it'll all be clear...
This morning I awoke still feeling some imposter syndrome feelings, but also with the song, Home, written by Drew Pearson and Greg Holden and performed by Phillip Phillips completely stuck in my head. If you don’t know the song, take a listen.
If you aren’t sure why I am even musing about this, check out this post from last night. I’m feeling and hearing the message loud and clear. Settle down. Yup, always words I need to hear.
Oh no you don't
Oh no you don’t.
That phrase typically follows a situation where someone tries to do something unexpected or outside of the norm. Someone swoops in with a hand swat and an “Oh no you don’t!” That’s how I feel right now with yoga. Or maybe, I should say, I’m concerned that’s how yoga feels about me.
I’ve been working on my 200 hour certification with a fantastic organization called Breathe for Change. I’ll let you do your own research on them, but if you work in education you should check them out. It’s been a fantastic journey that started with a Facebook ad (really!) and is ending with my graduation from the program next weekend. Throughout it all, I’ve been feeling pretty good about everything and my part in it and what I might be becoming.
Then we had to teach. Wow, I was so nervous. I ran through everything several times. I did the thing. I didn't completely choke. But I’m not sure. Did I cue well? Did I make sure everyone was safe? Did I help create a space that was safe and welcoming? Did I get any of the mechanics right? Will I get to read through my feedback sheet? What are my next steps? Should I even be doing this? Maybe I shouldn’t try teaching yoga? (cue the downward spiral…) “On no you don’t!” Don’t do this new thing. Stay in your lane.
There it is. Imposter syndrome. Self doubt. The ick. We all have it. It’s so hard to combat, that feeling that everyone else is crushing it and you are just trying to stay afloat. That feeling of “oh no you don’t.”
I don’t have answers. I don’t have steps to get yourself out of that nasty self doubt cycle. I’m not totally sure what my next steps are, but I know this: when a stressful work situation reared it’s head today all I wanted to do was asana. So I did, in my classroom, in skinny jeans. Five sun salutations. My problem wasn’t solved magically. but my mind was quieted and that’s the point of the practice.
So, tomorrow, I’m going to get on my mat. I’m going to do the thing. I’m going to spend some time meditating and praying. I’m going to trust the journey and try to quiet my mind. Sometimes, that’s all you can do.
The Breathing App
In my yoga teacher training, my meditation teacher introduced us to The Breathing App. It’s pretty wonderful. It helps facilitate ratio breathing and resonance breathing. While I love being able to use it as a meditation tool, I also immediately thought about its uses in the voice studio. Here are a few reasons I like it in the voice studio…
Students are able to create and cultivate a deep breathing habit on their own or the beginning of each lesson
It’s free! Yup, completely free!
There are different cue screens to guide your breath management, a count down cue screen, a visual of a growing or shrinking ball (much like a Hoberman Sphere,) and a completely aural cue screen
The interface is very simple, clean and easy to use
Looking for something to help with your meditation practice or help you learn to manage the length of your inhales or exhales?
Britten War Requiem
Last weekend I had the privilege to perform with the chorus for Benjamin Britten’s monumental War Requiem. The piece was composed for the dedication and consecration of the Coventry Cathedral and it uses the typical latin requiem format interspersed with poetry of Great Britain’s Wilfred Owen who was killed just days before the end of the first World War. It is challenging both musical and emotionally.
When the chorus first began rehearsing the work in September I found myself challenged musically. As the weeks progressed, I still had a difficult time wrapping my mind around how the whole work would eventually come together to create something that has touched numerous hearts and minds since it’s first performance in May of 1962.
As we continued to rehearse, I kept finding people who hold the War Requiem near and dear to their hearts. And, admittedly, I still did not. Finally, during one of the orchestral dress rehearsals, while singing through the In Paradisum section, I got it. This particular section employs the use of a chamber orchestra, baritone and tenor soloists, a large scale orchestra, symphonic chorus, and soprano soloists, and an organ and children’s chorus. The final weaving together of so many voices and instruments combining such rich texts and textures made it all click. It’s gorgeous and emotional work both for the performer and listener.
I feel humbled and grateful to be part of the musical legacy of such a piece. If you've never heard the work, I encourage you to read through the poetry of Wilfred Owen prior to listening. Check out the Colorado Symphony’s dress rehearsal of the In Paradisum, the point where it all came together for me.
straws for SOVT work, T-Rex for fun
Working with Arvada West Sounds of Calliope
Two weeks ago, I was invited to work with the Arvada West Women’s Choir, Sounds of Calliope. It was so fun! We had forty-five minutes to talk about the benefits of semi occluded vocal tract exercises and inhalation phonation.
The students were so receptive to trying new things which was wonderful considering the crazy things I was asking them to try. They had been prepped by their awesome directors, Chris Maunu and Esther Terpenning, both of whom spend a great deal of time on technique with their choirs. A voice teacher’s dream! The students knew basic straw usage for warming up and cooling down. I was able to add to their knowledge by speaking to how the pelvic floor coordinates with exhalation to fully support the voice. We used big straws both in and out of water. We used small coffee straws as well. I loved getting to teach briefly about inhalation phonation, the idea of sound on inhalation. It sounds like death but works like magic. It’s not magic, it’s science, but man, does it feel like magic!
The girls were working on a lovely two part Mozart Alleluia. We took the straw, pelvic floor, and inhalation phonation practices into that song and they could all hear the change in their sound. So fun!
The absolute highlight of my time was two comments from students. One student said she had no idea it could be that easy to produce higher sounds. Another student told me she always feels pain after singing and didn’t after our work that day. Music to this music teacher’s ears. I am so thankful to Esther and Chris for the opportunity to come share with their students. I rode that teaching high all day!
Kids Meet an Opera Singer
I love it when we can have authentic experience. It’s so much more beneficial for humans to learn from another human than from a book or video. That being said, watch this video from HiHo Kids. The authenticity of the kids in it as well as the singer they interact with cannot be denied. It soars through the screen.
Moving Into the School Year
It’s unbelievable how quickly the summer went. I spent time in Vail, Colorado with the Colorado Children’s Chorale helping direct a choral workshop for elementary aged students. My church family traveled to Mexico to Casa de la Esperanza, a children’s home. My husband and I have gone down at least once a year since 2010. I was so happy to get to go down again this summer even though hubby couldn’t go. Hubby couldn’t go because he was presenting at the Chorus America national conference on his project, Vocal Coalition. I wasn’t able to hear him present, but was so excited to go spend some time in Chicago with him after the conference concluded.
July gave me some time to set a summer routine. It consisted of yoga, dog walking, and voice lessons. I joined a yoga studio close to my home and am so happy I did. I love to community that I’ve found there, it’s so friendly.
School has started and I am working afternoons only for the school district. I go in around 11:30 and work until school gets out then head home for my own private lesson students. It’s been delightful to have mornings to do as I please. Thus far, I’ve been heading to yoga a couple times a week and trying to schedule at least one morning a week for breakfast with a friend. Hubby and I will have a day set aside for us. I’m hoping to carve out some studio admin time in there as well.
It’s been a great transition back so far. I don’t feel nearly as stressed as I have in years past. That’s the biggest win ever for me.
Even though you might not be transitioning into the school year right now, there is something about the end of summer and beginning of fall. The equinox is about a month away. Take some time to take stock. What might you change as you move into autumn? This season teaches us about letting go of what doesn’t serve us or is no longer needed. What does that look like for you?
My new classroom!
Introductions
I could feel it happening the next to last day of school. I did not expect to see her yet. Her earlier-than-expected arrival took me by surprise.
Summer Emily.
Summer Emily is me when I’m not teaching. Summer Emily isn’t as concerned about bedtime. Summer Emily likes to tackle projects of all sizes. Summer Emily often has dirty hands from the garden. Summer Emily is more spontaneous. She laughs a lot. Summer Emily is often described by Teacher Emily as the best version of her(my?)self.
When I recently described Summer Emily I paused. The fact that I am not “the best version” of myself nine months out of the year hurt me. Why couldn’t I be the same all twelve months?
This summer my goal is to make Summer Emily the only Emily. I want to set up habits so that when the school year starts, Summer Emily just continues hanging around. I’ll talk more about my plans for that soon, but for now: meet Summer Emily.
Airports
I love seeing people disarmed in airports. Disarmed of their image, how they might represent themselves, their emotions. If you are familiar with John Mayer’s song Wheel from Heavier Things, you might know what I’m talking about. It plays on repeat in my head most times I’m in an airport.
Standing in security with so many other people makes my imagination go crazy. Where are they going? Where are they coming from? Are they looking forward to their journey? Who is picking them up?
My most favorite thing is noticing the small things. The impeccably dressed woman who takes off her designer boots and is wearing mismatched socks. The drink order of the person next to me. The luggage of flight crews. The laptop stickers on the laptop going through security ahead of me.
The weird sense of community in airports is also interesting. A man stood behind me today at the ticket counter. He openly began to tell me about how the airline had lost his luggage and he had no idea what to wear to work tomorrow in this city far from home. Flying out the other day a woman told me about how the airline had lost her reservation. She pulled out her phone and showed me the charge as she waited in frustration. Where else do people engage others in conversation so readily? Where else will we run like crazy people, huffing, shoes in hand, in front of strangers? Where else do you put on make up in a public restroom?
Listen to Wheel next time you’re in the airport and enjoy some serious curiosity.
Three Simple Thoughts on Staying Well
It's cold and flu season where I live. Through the magic of social media I've watched this particularly nasty strain of flu makes its way west. I've been dreading it. Illness is practically an occupational hazard working with 300 elementary students in addition to all my private lesson students not to mention regular everyday encounters with humanity. So far (knock wood!) I've managed to avoid anything major. The slightly superstitious part of me was terrified to write that! Read on for my routine.
Rest I wanted to write "sleep," but that's not always as doable. By "rest" I mean, if you are exhausted- stop. Stop talking, stop doing, stop. Just be still. That might mean the laundry stays unfolded (again.) That might mean that you change plans with friends. Listen to your body- it might just need some rest.
Hydrate Do this thing. Do it again. Repeat. Our bodies need fluids to function optimally. Don't get me started on how dehydrated most humans are, just start drinking. Sorry coffee drinkers, this one won't be your favorite. The caffeine in coffee and other caffeinated drinks acts as a diuretic. It's stripping the moisture out of your system. It will take double the amount you just consumed to get you back to where you started before the first sip hit your lips. My favorite drinks, in lieu of plain-jane water, are herbal teas, and honey/lemon/ginger tea. To make this, just cut up some lemons (sometimes I use limes) in a jar, add some thinly sliced ginger, and pour honey over the top. Let that sit overnight then just put a couple spoonfuls into a cup of hot water. The honey is antibacterial, the lemon is packed with vitamin C, and the ginger is an added boost to the immune system. Bonus points if you use local honey.
Do something that makes you happy If I told you that you had the next two days off as paid leave, what would you do with that time? Meet up with a friend? Go outside? Only you can answer that question. Think for a minute. . . . Got it? Great, now, try to do that thing more regularly.
I raise my cup of herbal tea to you and toast your good health and happiness. Cheers!
Nope, I’m not a doctor or any kind of health care professional. I’m just writing what works for me. Try it at your own risk.
Happy Thoughts
a sunny day . bare feet . a warm drink . the smell of lavender . sleeping just a bit later . walking over fresh snow . petting my dog . connecting with friends . being in the mountains . my favorite stories . essential oils . yoga . singing well . a delicious hug . new sheets on the bed . a fully charged phone . the glow of a Himalayan salt lamp . my dog snuggled into her bed . comfy clothes . a happy home . transplanted plants taking root . a newly tuned piano . a clean house . natural light . three days weekends . no make up . snuggles . a new voice student . salvation . the family I was born with . the family I choose . new possibilities . stretching . love . promises
On resting and stretching
The city I live in boasts a symphonic chorus that performs a great deal. A typical season includes five or six productions, each running two to three performances. The time commitment is demanding. The chorus is made up of auditioned volunteers. Every week people drive in from suburbs and neighboring cities to sing together. After nine years of this, I was tired. I needed my Tuesday nights back. I needed production weeks back. I needed time to devote to my students more consistently. I needed rest. I took a leave of absence.
It's been necessary. Of course I missed seeing the excited children in the audience during our holiday season offerings. Of course I miss seeing friends I've spent three to fifteen hours a week with for years. Of course I missed singing some old favorites. But it was good to gain some needed rest time.
It was also good to go back this past Tuesday night. It was nice to feel missed. It was fun to get many hugs and greetings. It was good to sing something with a wider pitch range than the five note scale. It felt like stretching. Stretching after a great nap. Stretching after breathing in savasana for twenty minutes.
We humans need rest and we need stretching. I've become more and more convinced as I grow that our bodies and brains should and often desire to follow the seasons. They seek circadian rhythm. We desire the ebb and the flow.
After a long week, complete with stretching in numerous ways, I am grateful for the quiet of today's snow. Rest, stretch, repeat.
How do I find the best music teacher for me?
So, you've decided you want to take private music lessons. How do you find the best teacher for you? Of course you could check out the internet with a quick search of teachers in your area. Duh. I've got insider advice for you though- contact your local high school band or choral teacher and ask them. They've got a list a mile long of teachers in your area and will likely have worked with those individuals in one way or another. It's that easy. High school directors are the best managers I know. They motivate. They enable the creation of deep beauty. They manage every aspect of their programs. They just know. Ask anyone who has been through a high school music program and they will get misty eyed sharing stories about community. A person that knows how communities work is the person to ask about starting your own musical journey. Ninety percent of my clients come to me through the recommendations of three or four great teachers in my area. Every time a potential client says they heard about me from a high school director, I am humbled. Stepping out to try something new can feel risky. Ask the people that facilate risk taking everyday and you're sure to take get a great recommendation.
