Blogland
When Singing, Replace Cringe with Curiosity
In workshops and lessons, we do our best to create a judgement-free zone, where we can let go and really explore our voices, partly because it’s fun (and beginning singers need to find out that singing can be fun), and also because when you’re locked in by constant judgement it’s practically impossible to think straight or hear clearly, much less to learn how to sing. I say, “Let’s replace cringe and judgement with […]
Singing Tip: Make Something Up
A great singing tip for beginner singers is to play with your voice — just make something up! Anything! The scary word for this is improvising. But, I promise, this is really easy.
This isn’t about “being creative,” or inventing things that you’d sing again in front of other people. It’s about letting go of the whole idea of right and wrong, and just getting into a headspace […]
Have You Heard of Clarksdale, Mississippi? Part 2: The Musicians We Met There
Clarksdale: The Musicians We Met
In my last post I talked a little about the history of Clarksdale, Mississippi and it’s unique venues. So perhaps you know that Muddy Waters lived there, Robert Johnson had his famous crossroads moment with the Devil there, and that Bessie Smith died there after a car crash; I’m just naming a few of the well known blues greats that have spent time there. […]
Have You Heard of Clarksdale, Mississippi?
I hadn’t, until last week. We were in Amarillo Texas listening to music in a coffee bar and after the set we chatted a little with the musicians. We told them our plans to travel from Amarillo, through Little Rock and on to Memphis, Knoxville, Nashville and Asheville for our homemade music tour, and they told us that we had to stop in Clarksdale.
Birthplace of the Delta Blues
Clarksdale is where Robert Johnson […]
How Cool is Little Rock?
A few notes from a short, late night visit…
Rolled into Little Rock, Arkansas at about 10:30pm, aiming for the White Water Tavern. Stepped out of the car and nearlly fell over from the humidity. After complaining for the last two weeks about the dry air and what it’s been doing to my skin, I’m finally and suddenly appreciating what’s meant by the expression, “it’s a dry heat.”
The bar had a very cool […]
American Music Road Trip
We dropped the kids off at the Albuquerque airport yesterday, and officially began the music tour portion of our trip, as we head back to the east coast! I’ll tell you our plans, ask for your tips (because plans are made to be changed on a trip like this), but first I want to share a little of where we’ve been, because it’s been SO AWESOME and I have so many freakin’ photos — they’re burning a hole in my […]
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Event Schedule
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What People Are Saying —
“I just want to let you know how much I am enjoying the singing lessons. I haven’t had this much pure fun since I was in the third grade. It really is liberating for an old codger like me to just cut loose and make joyful noise like I did back then.”
– Brian, Adult Singing Student
“As a private lesson student with Nancy, with a lot of fear of singing, I found after just one session my confidence grow. I attended a birthday party, and when the candles on the cake were lit, I immediately led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday”! You have no idea what a big step this was for me!”
– Melanie, Workshop Participant and Private Student
“My mother, Charmian, called me this morning pretty euphoric. She said that she “finally felt free”. That she’d thought all her life that she was only capable of making a croaking sound but, instead, had heard herself sing one high note and one note in the middle that was really a tone. She’s always had fifth chakra issues, sore throats, laryngitis, power speaking, etc. This week, when she goes to her meditation meeting, she’ll join in the ‘oohming’ part for the first time.
She said that the workshop ‘changed her life’ after 94 years of being shut down/out.
This was an enormous breakthrough for her. Your program was so well structured and led with such enthusiasm and joy. Congratulations to you. What a gift for everyone there.” With gratitude,”
– Cathy (Daughter of 94 year old workshop participant!)
“The lessons made me feel a lot more comfortable with my voice, and singing in front of people. Also, I think that I’m better at staying on pitch, and getting the pitch right the first time. Plus lessons were just a lot of fun! I really enjoyed them! Thank you again. Hope to see you next summer!“
– Ruth, Teenage Singing Student
“It surprised me how easy it was most of the time, to let go and just sing and make sounds. One thing I really like about Nancy’s teaching is that she brings a straight forward can-do energy to the group, allowing for fears and nervousness but not focusing on those.”
– Workshop Participant