I love your larynx. Where can I get one like that?

My husband loves guitars.  Not just guitar players or guitar music, but guitars.  All of them.  We have dozens of books, and countless magazines, in our house about every guitar imaginable.  He even writes for two guitar publications talking about, what else, guitars.  As I was putting another copy of the latest music store ad in our large container of music store ads, I began to think about how much musicians love their instruments.  I know guitar players who are on the constant quest for the best strings for this axe or the best humbuckers for that one.  I know horn players who will spend hours searching for the best mouthpiece to create the best tone or the best reeds, etc.  

As singers, we don't do this so much.  How can we?  They aren't exactly putting new vocal folds or the latest style of larynx on the market.  What we can do is study and research how the voice works and what we can do with what we have to create a sound we want.  Instrumentalists are able to do this by listening to recordings of their favorite musician, research the instrument and accessories they use, then try to recreate that sound.  To be fair, you will never reach the point, as a singer, where your voice sounds exactly like your idol.  It's obvious why; Carrie Underwood just isn't putting her voicebox up for sale!  But learning about your instrument, all it's parts (yes, even all the tiny little muscles and tissues) will help you to understand how to use your voice and experiment with the different sounds you can create.

 There are many excellent resources to learn about your voice.  Two books I recommend are Basics of Vocal Pedagogy: The Foundations and Process of Singing by Clifton Ware and Complete Handbook of Voice Training by Richard Alderson.  If you're not sure you're ready to drop the dollars on these books, or they aren't available at your local library, go ahead and do some online searches.  There are plenty of great articles available online.  While you're at it, why not ask your voice teacher about how the voice works?  I promise, your teacher has desperately been waiting for you to ask!  Better clear your schedule and get some coffee - that conversation should take a while!

I hope you take the time to really get to know your instrument.  Why not even explore what your voice is capable of?  Those jazzy Norah Jones licks aren't the only thing you're capable of.  If you have vibrato like Toby Keith, give some classical music a try.  You might just like it!

I Was Glee Before Glee Was Cool

I was an awkward teenager.  This comes, I'm sure, to no surprise of anyone I have ever met.  How could I not be?  The odds were totally stacked against me.  I grew up in rural Northwest Iowa (by rural I mean we had to drive two towns over to the nearest Walmart).  We had country radio stations and....nothing else.  Ok, there was one pop radio station that came out of Minnesota but that was it.  I loved musical theatre, and jazz standards, and Elton John.....the list goes on and on.  But where do you go to express yourself, to immerse yourself in the arts that you so love, when there isn't anything around?

You don't.  So, how did I try to fit in?  I tried several things: cheerleading, talking a lot, not talking at all, being smart, pretending not to be smart, dating a lot, not dating at all, etc.  Oh, and it was an EPIC FAIL on all accounts.  I just didn't fit in.  I was shy so I would pretend to be outspoken.  One day I thought, if I can't fit in maybe it would be better to stick out.  So, I cocked my head in every picture taken of me in a yearbook.  (If you went to ELC High School, take this moment to check your yearbooks to validate).  I was WEIRD!  But here's the real kicker: I wasn't so unlike everyone else.

Being an arts educator, I have students relate their versions of this story to me every day.  The awkward boy humming show tunes in the back of the classroom, the seemingly shy girl hitting all the parties on the weekend to fit in, the jock who really likes music but can't tell his other jock friends.  It's everywhere!  This is why I was so happy when GLEE came onto the small screen.  Sure, it's got good music (or as a friend of mine put it, it's Say Anything the Musical).  But the greater impact of this show is how artistic people now have something they can relate to.  Sure, these appear to be fictional characters, but more often than not, this is really happening at most schools.  Who can't relate to at least one of these characters?  The prom king and queen?  Well you don't count anyway!

So I say, keep these shows coming!  Give us weird, socially awkward, artistic people something to relate to.  Maybe we'll finally realize we're all weird!!

Is NickJr the next Met Broadcast?

It's a joke of course (well, sort of).  If you've wondered where I've run off to, my family recently relocated from our home in Connecticut to Iowa.  Because this was such a quick move, we actually haven't found a place to live.  My husband, Jason Shadrick, is staying in Marion, IA (working to support my lavish lifestyle) while our son and I stay with my folks a couple hours away. 

So what have I been up to?  Well, besides house hunting, very little.  I watch A LOT of NickJr with Parker, and I have to tell you, I secretly LOVE it.  Seriously, the music is REALLY good.  I really have to commend the writers and composers for these children's television shows for really using a variety of musical styles and doing them well.  Some of my favorites include, The Backyardagains, Jack's Big Music Show, and The Wonder Pets.

Please check back with me as updates are posted.  As soon as we find a home, I'll be reopening my studio, setting up online lessons, and much more.  In the meantime, please feel free to email me with any questions you have about voice, auditions, theatre, or with anything you would like to read about.  I promise to not be a complete stranger!

Is this Heaven? No, it's Iowa

After years of missing home, Jason and I were given a great opportunity to head back to the motherland.  Starting next week, Jason will be the Managing Editor of Guitar Edge Magazine.  We are very excited to be moving back to Iowa (I know what you're thinking.....excited about Iowa???).  And our parents are very excited to have their grandson within driving distance!

So how will this affect voice lessons?

I'm glad you asked that question! I will be opening my studio in Iowa as soon as we get settled. I've spent the last two weeks telling my local students about my having to move my studio out of the state of Connecticut.  I'm heartbroken to leave them!  This brought on an extensive search into offering lessons online (over Skype or a similar web offering).  This really intrigues me and I'm planning to run some tests into this soon.  If everything goes well in tests, I will be offering lessons online.  So let me put this out there.....would you be willing to take lessons with me online?  Please let me know your thoughts.  I have students all of the country and I'm thrilled at the idea of being able to coach them without the stress of expensive flights, etc.

Please keep checking back for updates regarding the new studio and the plans for online lessons.

Let's Talk About Callbacks

So, you had your audition and now you've been asked to attend "callbacks."  What does that mean?  What do I prepare?  What am I going to wear???

Callbacks are a sort of "round two" audition.  It means that the director liked you enough, or saw enough potential, to give you a second shot.  Sometimes it means that the director has you in mind for a specific role and would like to see you again to make sure he is right.  Other times it might mean that he liked you for several parts and would like to see you again to decide which one is right for you.  Two important things to know about callbacks are: 1) Just because you didn't get a call back does not mean you didn't get a role (the director has already made up his mind that you are the lead).  2) Just because you get a call back does not mean you are going to get cast.

What should you do to prepare for your call back?  Prepare for this as if it were the first audition.  If the director gives you sides, look over them.  Don't just hit on the actress in the waiting room.  Go over your monologue or song.  One good trick is to wear the same thing (or close to the same thing) you wore for your first audition.  You want to give the directors a visual reminder of your first audition.  When you walk into the room, assert yourself that you have this role.  No need to be cocky, just proud.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, thank the directors for the opportunity to audition for them again and leave the room graciously.  It is just as important for the directors to like you and want to work with you as is your talent.

Remember that each audition experience is a chance to perform.  Love what you do!