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 #17 – Casting Children’s Theater
In addition to giving singing lessons for kids and adults in Marin, I also love children’s theater. I’ve been involved in the Ross Valley Schools’ YES program as a music director for more than 10 years, [...]
Sound Advice #16 – Why a Voice Journal?
A recording device is an essential tool in my Marin singing and voice studio. What better way to review what you did in a session than by listening to it again when you get home? [...]
Sound Advice #15 – The Concept of “Inhibition” in the Alexander Technique
In my voice lessons for kids and adults, I like to introduce, early on, one of the Alexander Technique’s greatest gifts - the concept of Inhibition. No, it’s not psychology’s use of the word, as [...]
Sound Advice #14 – The Voice Student Living with Parkinson’s Disease
As a voice and Alexander Technique teacher who teaches singing lessons for kids and adults in Marin County, I have had occasion to work with students affected by Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s, as defined by the Parkinson’s [...]
Sound Advice #13 – Integrating the Speaking and Singing Voice – A Personal Journey
Sound Advice #13 – Integrating the Speaking and Singing Voice – A Personal Journey One of the games I like to play with children when I teach voice lessons for kids in San Francisco and [...]
Sound Advice #12- Singing and Vulnerability
A few years ago, a friend of mine told me about a TED talk by Brene Brown called “The Power of Vulnerability.” I was in a place in life when I wasn’t sure what direction [...]