Most of my collaborations have been a direct or indirect result of going to music conferences. I’m at the Taxi rally again in LA this year. Just a few quick pieces of advice for anyone going to their first conference… or thinking about it: Try all sizes of conferences. Go to tiny ones such as […]
If you write songs, do you consciously try to write songs that are new, different, unusual, distinct from the music that has come before you? Something that will stand out and be noticed because it’s so creative or even weird? If you do, well, there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. You might find something that […]
Have you ever been to an open mic night? Not to be catty, but it seems like sometimes people use their open mic slots to simply play as long as they possibly can, without regard to whether what they play is actually interesting to the audience. If each person gets a 20-minute slot, they play […]
I had an epiphany last week. It’s one of those realizations that’s so simple and obvious that I almost hesitate to even tell you about it. And some of you might think it’s even a bit pessimistic! But because it helped my sanity, I’ll share it with you. Maybe it’ll help your sanity too. … […]
Several of my students are IT or biotech workers, graduate students, or office workers with high-stress jobs. Some of them have experimented with taking lessons on their lunch hour, after work, later in the evening, and on weekends. Most find that the calmer they are when they walk into the lesson, the more they get […]
Last week I went to Nashville to attend another Singer-Bands Bootcamp with Tom Jackson Productions. I came back excited about all the new things I learned and wanted to bring you a different perspective on your stage show. … Tom Jackson talks about “majoring in the minors.” That’s when you put too much effort […]
Do you ever feel on stage like you have no idea what to do with your hands and arms? Do you revert to holding the microphone with both hands, putting a hand in your pocket, or tugging on the edge of your shirt? If so, this one’s for you. … When you’re nervous on stage, […]
Singers who can hear the fine nuances of other singers’ voices can usually sing better themselves. If you don’t feel like you know what to look for, or you don’t feel like you have a good ear, don’t worry. You can learn to listen better. Then you can use other singers’ examples to make yourself […]
“Secret” is such an abused marketing term that I hesitate to even use it. But it’s accurate, because until you figure out how to use your voice easily and correctly, it may seem impossible to sing the way you want to sing. It’s like there’s an obstacle in front of you with no way past […]
I’ve been sick, moving from one house to another, and gigging a lot lately. I apologize for letting last week week go by without a newsletter. This past Saturday, I completely lost my voice at a gig. I have rehearsal on Wednesday and another gig on Friday, so I need to get my voice back […]
