One of the things I’ve been learning lately is how to let go. It’s a concept that has pervaded my personal and singing life. For months, my coach has been telling me to ‘have fun’ and to ‘play’ in my performances. I watched myself seize with terror as I feebly attempted to ‘have fun’ with … Read more
My father wisely stated, “one day you will likely have to do something other than music to make money.” Wait, what?! Hold the phone. I didn’t sign up for that! I just want to sing. That’s what God put me on this green earth to do. As it turns out for me, Dad was right. … Read more
Seriously! How many times has that same person been late to rehearsal? How many times have I spent weeks on a score and the person next to me is fumbling around looking at it for the first time? No matter what a great singer they may be, I know I would never recommend them for … Read more
Just like the saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, it takes a plethora of teachers and mentors to raise a performer. Today I’m going to focus on just one who was absolutely influential in my development as a musician and artist. He was taller than me when I first joined the orchestra … Read more
Growing up in Los Angeles, I didn’t know much about German Romantic poetry. I did read some Goethe and Heine (because I had excellent high school German teachers) but I didn’t exactly grasp the scope of that literary movement. And I couldn’t have guessed that those poems would change my life. But when I moved … Read more
“Don’t sing until you’d die if you didn’t.” Giovanni Battista Lamperti I’m in seventh grade, a nerdy, clumsy, awkward kid wearing oversized glasses. Music has always been my favorite class, and this year I get to be in orchestra AND choir. I am very excited. During the first week of classes we are asked to … Read more
I had always sung growing up, but it was more of a hobby of mine rather and it didn’t hold the passion that playing instruments held for me. However, curiosity finally got the better of me in high school, and I auditioned for choir where I met Mr. Williams. He was an incredibly tall, goofy … Read more
My grandmother must have read it in Good Housekeeping magazine. “If you’ve burned yourself, put butter on it to stop the swelling.” Well ladies and gentlemen, it doesn’t work! In fact, it makes the burning worse. Such can be the case for any advice we get in life. Especially career advice. If I were to … Read more