A brief jaunt to Sydney is just what the doctor ordered! Singing and Socializing! My 6 weekly teaching excursions are proving to be great fun. Not only do they allow me to catch up with my fabulous students and continue with their vocal work but also to catch up with them on a personal level and see how they have progressed since last time. I feel lucky to be teaching such talented singers who are open, interesting individuals and becoming wonderful friends.
Here's a snippet of what a few of them are up to;
Merenia has just returned from China where she has been singing with her band for a number of months. She did her practice religiously and has really developed her high notes. Oscar from 'Watussi' has been living quite the rock star lifestyle of late. Jet setting off to New York to mix his latest album followed by a South American tour. Their album will be released at the end of the year and let me tell you, I've heard it and it's gonna be hot stuff!
Talking about travel, our international pilot, Mark, is coming ahead in leaps and bounds although he probably doesn't realize it. Having been gigging around Sydney and focusing on his musical sensitivity he really is beginning to sound like a pro.
Now as for Therese, she just sounds like an angel. This girl has such talent. I keep telling her that the world is her oyster but she has to buckle down and study her opera repertoire this year. Hope she is listening! Antonia thinks she's a bit rusty at the moment after having had to focus on her 'day job' but what a voice and gorgeous tone. Go girl!
Tony is not singing enough but back into his duo gig as pianist. I say SING Tony! You may have been a pianist in the past but now you are clearly a singer too with a rich, strong voice. So use it and that's an order!
I had a new student while in Sydney whom I'd like to mention as I thoroughly enjoyed teaching her. She called herself a beginner but with just a few instructions on keeping her tone and resonance consistent, some breath support and remembering to open her mouth(yes seems obvious).....out her voice poured. Fabulous!
I had a vocal session myself with Simon Kenway in Sydney. I love Simon Kenway!
Sometimes having a voice lesson is just like a breath of fresh air. It's like you've been missing something but not until you start singing do you realize 'Gee I needed that!' It makes you feel like your life is back on track. It doesn't necessarily mean you have to be on track to any great, huge goal, it just makes you feel like everything is good in the world again.
I hope the lessons I give in Sydney feel like this for my students!!
Perhaps it's obvious to say, but feeling personally fulfilled and inspired is so important. Whether it's a voice lesson that does it or doing a sketch or whatever it is that rocks your boat, it really is so important that the world around you feels alive
because you feel alive in it!
So my message for the day, along with all my other babble is this; go and book that lesson you have been putting off, ring up about that course, start learning French. We've all got to keep our creative juices flowing. As we get older it becomes easier and easier to stay within our comfort zones so I say....break out! It's the stuff that makes us see past where we are now and open up our minds to all the possibilities ahead of us.
Lisa
(aka Tassie Girl)
