Sound Advice from Monica
When it comes to the freedom, beauty and strength of the voice, I’m always panning for gold. I like to gather nuggets of wisdom from my beloved teachers, colleagues, students, books and my own vocal practice and experimentation. If someone teaches me something, I’m always judicious, trying it out, clarifying the instruction and checking its value before passing it on. All the lessons I’ve taken through the years have led to many “ah-ha” moments and ultimately have informed my vocal philosophy. Here is a sampling of my teaching philosophy as expressed in my lessons with my students.
Sound Advice #35 – What Voice Type Am I?
For a year or so, I’ve been having a lovely exchange with a singer on the East Coast. Every so often, he sends me clips he has recorded of his singing – warm-ups, hymns, sections [...]
Sound Advice #34 – Going with the Flow
Recently one of my students who takes voice lessons in Marin with me was expressing frustration that after so many years of vocal studies, her voice still wasn’t “flowing” like she wanted it to. It [...]
Sound Advice #33 – Detecting Energy Leaks that Affect the Voice
One of the first things I do when a prospective student comes to my Marin studio for voice lessons is to get a general impression of his or her body organization and energy. Some folks [...]
Sound Advice #32 – In the Beginning, There Is A Lot Going On
“I’m always terrible starting a song,” an adult student who takes singing lessons with me in Marin said to me recently. And she said she didn’t know why. Whether it’s beginning a song or [...]
Sound Advice #31 – Voice Lessons as a Reflection of Life
Recently, a student, while leaving one of his voice lessons, told me that singing lessons bring up all his non-singing issues. It reminded me of what some psychological therapists call a “doorknob” moment, when we [...]
Sound Advice #30 – Singing Lessons Open Your Eyes and Ears to Excellence
The past week, two singers who take voice lessons with me in my Marin studio expressed amazement after listening to other singers. One student had heard Angela Lansbury singing “By the Sea” from “Sweeney Todd.” [...]