Revolve Arts

Group Noise ROCK CHOIR

2012-02-11T21:02:00.002+11:00

Our studio opening Party!!!!!

2011-05-28T15:40:00.002+10:00

Revolve Arts
singing studio

You're invited to our studio opening!

Friday 10th June from 6pm

Our fabulous new GROUP NOISE CHOIR will perform along with
a number of our students entertaining you with some great
ballads, musical tunes and original compositions.

Bring your friends and have a glass of bubbly with us!

Studio 119B Level 1 Salamanca Place, Hobart
entrance via the Rektango courtyard
SALAMANCA ARTS CENTRE

www.revolvearts.com.au

GROUP NOISE CHOIR 2011

2011-01-19T12:57:00.004+11:00

Hi singers

Grab your latte and come to rehearsal!

Group Noise Choir will commence on Saturday 5th February

Where: Revolve Arts Voice Studio,
Studio 119B 77 Salamanca Place

When: 11am - 12.30pm every Saturday
Cost: $10.00

Repertoire; contemporary pop, a bit of gospel stuff, some original compositions and the occasional 80's hit!

Please email or call me asap to be on the list and let me know if you can sing kinda high or kinda low and what part you may have sung in choirs previously?

Don't panic if you've had no prior experience, we will be a mixed bunch.....but please be able to sing in tune (most of the time!)

Regular attendance is a must.....yes we are pretty chilled types but plan to make some impressive sounds.

Mobile 0405 550015
lisa@revolvearts.com.au
http://www.revolvearts.com.au

Directions
Go down Wooby's Lane (towards Salamanca square) and turn left into the Rectango Courtyard.
Look for the tree and the red fire escape door. Go up 1 flight of stairs to see a yellow door 119.
Go thru the yellow door into the waiting area and see the door marked Revolve Arts!

Born on stage?

2010-12-23T15:56:00.002+11:00

continued from last week

So...it made us wonder. Does good pitch and singing get harder as we get older?

It would seem that as children we have not yet learned to judge ourselves with a harsh critical eye. We are free to express ourselves because we are not afraid to make mistakes. When we are young we know that we have many more opportunities ahead of us in life so perhaps it takes the pressure off this one? We perform without inhibition because we are happy to express ourselves as we are now, before we begin learning that the world makes comparisons... or more importantly we do. And it would seem that when we let go.... trust our ear, trust ourselves or perhaps more accurately, not try too hard (as we adults tend to)....our pitch is almost always spot on!

As we get older we must remind ourselves that what we have to offer is still unique. It might be fear that tells us we should just keep a lid on what we hope is within us or life experience that has taught us that it is more productive to stay on the well-paved road. Then there is also the point that people are a whole pile more forgiving of the mistakes children make and by the time we are adults we really should know better?

But let's put all this aside because perhaps when it comes to singing it would seem that it might just pay to tap into your inner child, go with your spontaneity and trust your instinct because holding back is just so easy for a whole pile of boring adult reasons.

And the moral of the story is...perhaps if you go with your inner child it could actually help you sing more in tune. It might even help you perform like you were born on stage!

Ti lascio una canzone

2010-12-12T10:57:00.004+11:00

Occasionally we watch the RAI Italia channel on pay TV. We signed up for pay TV convincing ourselves that we would watch Italian television all the time in order to keep up our Italian language skills and watch some of our favourite programs. Unfortunately we were to discover that the Aussie Italian channel only showed the absolute worst shows on Italian telly with almost nothing worth watching...except one program, Ti lascio una canzone.

Ti Lascio Una Canzone is basically a children's singing competition, not dissimilar to X Factor but with the kids ranging in age from about 8 to 13. Most of them seem absolutely teeny weeny and it is amazing to see them up on stage, fully confident, strutting their stuff and belting out classic Italian ballads with almost perfect intonation.

Their pitch was so good and seemed so natural that it began to make Jamie and I wonder if singing in tune is something that actually gets harder as we get older. Anyone who watches our Australian version of X Factor or Idol will be well aware that a lot of the singers struggle to stay consistently in tune. Yet, these kiddie winks on the Italian program sang really well in tune for their entire performance, were at ease with themselves on stage performing honestly and spontaneously.

Perhaps we just get more self conscious as we get older which prevents us from being truly in the moment. Maybe the sound engineer was really good on this program!

So...it made us wonder. Does good pitch and singing get harder as we get older?

Take a look!

Madalina Lefter

Damiano Mazzone

continued next week!

Salamanca Studio

2010-12-04T12:36:00.005+11:00

Hmmm...well there's nothing worse than a blogger who doesn't blog. Yes I am guilty!!
5 months can really fly by when you are busy setting up a new studio and having a baby!
Gorgeous Coco Siena Scott was born on 10/10/2010. Yes I had a word with the man upstairs who co-ordinated that date for me...usually you have to pay extra!

So...the NEW Revolve Arts Voice Studio at Salamanca is up and running! We have a great space in the Salamanca Arts Centre and I know that students will be inspired by the proximity to all the other artsy hobart types. I know I am!

We are doing a bit of baby juggling at the moment but teaching classes most days in at the studio.
Sometimes Coco sits and watches wide-eyed as students demonstrate their musical prowess.....gotta start learning young these days if you want to get ahead in the music industry. Although 2 months could be overdoing it!

So anyway....after a bit of time off(to hang with our baby girl) Jamie and I are back!
Call in and see us.

Over and out.

p.s Promise to write more often!

Festival of Broadway

2010-06-16T12:13:00.004+10:00

Well who would have thought that such exciting stuff would happen in Hobart!
Am I allowed to say that?

Have just spent the long weekend at a series of workshops for Musical Theatre Writing conducted by Stephen Schwartz. Yes THE Stephen Schwartz who wrote the hit musicals Godspell, Pippin & Wicked.
Not forgetting his film scores for Disney like Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Prince of Egypt, Enchanted....the list goes on.

A number of musical theatre composers were selected from around Australia to present their work and receive feedback. The workshops were open to the public although it seemed that I was the only member of the public that took them up on their offer. Liz Callaway also presented a workshop on Musical Theatre Performance.

It was an incredible couple of days, receiving great pearls of wisdom from Stephen Schwartz and a panel of other international guests with seriously impressive resumes. I was so inspired by their openness, modesty and genuine interest in encouraging and supporting the development of the writers and composers.

For anyone interested in Musical Theatre I would highly recommend making the trip down to Tas for the next series of workshops in 2011. I really do think that only in Hobart could you attend something like this free of charge.

There is a concert in Sydney on June 20th at Angel place 'An Evening with Stephen Schwartz'. The tickets aren't free and a bit more expensive in Sydney than Hobart(surprise, surprise) but well worth a night out. Liz Callaway and a young singer Adrian Li Donni are definitely worth seeing.

Anyway, here is a link to the website for all the info about Festival of Broadway

And congratulations to Kevin Purcell, head of the Con at University of Tas for instigating it all!

Over and out.
L

SYDNEY CLASSES

2010-06-09T12:50:00.005+10:00

Next week Lisa Roberts-Scott will be in Sydney teaching singing classes at The Independent.

Teaching Schedule
Wed 16th June 1pm - 5pm
Thurs 17th June 9am - 5pm
Fri 18th June 9am - 5pm

The Independent Theatre
269 Miller St
North Sydney

To Book a Lesson Time;
Call or SMS Lisa on 0405 550015 or email lisa@revolvearts.com.au

1 hour class - $60
1 hour Introductory class for new students $40

Thanks!

2010-06-08T12:00:00.007+10:00

Well after some trepidation about not geting the numbers to attend our Hobart workshop....we discovered that Hobart is brimming with interested artsy people and our workshop was full.

I'd heard rumors that Tasmanians were very active in local arts and we were excited to have a broad range of participants in our workshop from singers to music therapists, yoga teachers and Feldenkrais practioners. Even an architect! (Although that was my good friend Peta whom I forced to come along!)

I'd like to thank everyone who attended and a special thanks to Ingrid Weisfelt who managed to find some time in her busy performance schedule of 'The Age I'm in' to come and assist me in running our first 'Movement & Voice Workshop' in Hobart.

The more we explore the link between voice and movement the more we recognize it's potential and fundamental importance in not only assisting singers and performers to release inhibitions but to release tense bodies and muscles allowing them to explore a greater vocal scope and ultimately find greater vocal freedom.

See you all at our next workshop. Will keep you posted.

Lisa

Movement & Voice Workshop

2010-05-11T15:16:00.008+10:00

Monday 31st May from 5.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost $50.00
IHOS Studio, 32 Pitt St, North Hobart.

Following successful workshops in Sydney at the Independent Theatre, Lisa Roberts Scott and Ingrid Weisfelt are now offering a one-off workshop in Hobart that explores the direct link between the body and the voice.

Having a strong understanding of our own bodies and how we use ourselves physically is crucial to being an effective and affecting performer. Ideally we sing, act, dance and create with our whole bodies and intention. It is crucial for performers to learn that it is possible to free and develop their voices through movement instead of feeling the need to 'control' the voice with muscular tension.

Incorporating the Feldenkrais method this workshop focuses on liberating the voice through movement. Conducted by Melbourne based, dancer, choreographer and Feldenkrais practioner Ingrid Weisfelt and Queen Elizabeth II Music Scholar and voice teacher Lisa Roberts Scott.

Don't miss this opportunity to take part. Limited places

Bookings essential on 0405 550015
or email lisa@revolvearts.com.au

Ingrid Weisfelt
Lisa Roberts Scott

Suitable for singers, actors, dancers, performers and anyone wishing to develop a stronger connection between voice and body. (No previous experience required).

Carrying the Summer within!

2010-04-29T09:55:00.011+10:00

My mother in-law sent me this quote this morning;

Au milieu de l‘hiver, j‘ai découvert en moi un invincible été -

In the midst of winter, I have discovered that I carry inside me an
invincible summer. Albert Camus

Must admit that it is rather timely after awaking to a high BRRR factor
in Hobart this morning.

Apparently it is not yet winter here although
last night our little country house was battered by such ridiculously strong winds it caused me to ask my husband if we were likely to lose our roof and if that would be very dangerous. To which he nonchalantly replied 'Well it wouldn't be good!'

Tiger the cat even came trotting inside seeking refuge which is quite something considering he has been obsessed of late with catching at least 4 mice a day in his new home after we recently liberated him from his previous indoor apartment prison.

So as winter approaches I am going to keep the Summer within. How?
By singing of course!

Today I begin teaching voice lessons at IHOS Studio in North Hobart.
I am looking forward to whipping my new victims into shape and am happy to say I have been receiving a lot of inquiries from a range of singers in varying genres. Love it!

Fortunately for me, Jane Edwards,one of Australia's most experienced and acclaimed singers, is a Hobart resident after relocating back to Tas a number of years ago and am off to her this arvo for a vocal coaching session myself.

I might play the Beach Boys on the way!
Let me know if any of you have any good ideas about how to 'carry inside you an invincible Summer'. Am open to suggestions!!

p.s That is not a photo of Hobart by the way. I think it was a tornado in Florida!

Singing & Socializing in Sydney!

2010-04-19T09:34:00.011+10:00

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)

Where am I?

2010-03-18T11:25:00.006+11:00

For those of you who may have thought that I had fallen off the planet....you may very well be right.
Jamie and I have relocated to Hobart, Tasmania!
Well we seem to have fallen off the 'mainland' it would seem which is what Tasmanians like to call it.

We are now living on the apple isle and I had 2 apple trees full of lovely red apples in the back garden to prove it! Yes... HAD! Am going to have to make a bit of a quick adjustment back into being a Tassie girl because I left it slightly too long to pick my lovely red apples from the tree and the possums cleared out the lot! Gotta be quick round here!

The other thing I learned recently was that when one picks lovely fresh red tomatoes from the garden and makes delicious pasta sauce, one has to be extra careful to get rid of the little grubs first in case they turn up on top of ones spaghetti! URGH! No pesticides is apparently a good thing?

I will begin teaching voice lessons at IHOS studios in North Hobart in the next few weeks as well as returning to Sydney next week to teach at the Independent from Wed 14th to Fri 16th April. Drop me an email if you'd like to book in a time but make it snappy as spots seem to be filling fast.

Last week Jamie and I performed in IHOS Opera's production called 'Kitchen Table Rondo'. A crazy new composition about food, family and tradition. Each act was performed in a different location. The first on a train platform, the second act in an old warehouse and the third in a traditional Greek Hall. All set up with props, lights, smoke machines, radio mikes...impressive stuff. It was about the most avant-garde production I have ever been involved in and we had great audiences who arrived on buses and in limousines. I had to kick myself....am I in Tassie?

You may notice this blog take a bit of shift as I occasionally mention how amazing Tasmanian apples are, having bought some Golden Delicious and Cox's orange last week and actually getting a shock at how tasty they were. I may occasionally also throw in a recipe for something like pickled Beetroot which I made for the first time last week and wondered at why I have been buying it in a tin for all these years!

Yes I may harp on a little about gardening and country life....it will be a steep learning curve for me but I will also have lots of exciting musical projects on the go which I hope some of you will be keen to be involved in.

Keep you posted!
Over and out.

Tassie Girl

p.s anyone want my Pickled Beetroot recipe??

My 2 cents worth this Christmas!

2009-12-21T16:49:00.010+11:00

As I meandered down to Nielson Park this morning for a quick swim and a cuppa I was thinking about how Christmas in supposed to be a time for generosity of spirit! And generosity of the wallet!

As I wandered through the green grass and swaying gum trees I happened across another meanderer like me. Takeaway coffee in hand he was singing away to his ipod. As we crossed paths I convinced myself I would give him a friendly smile. So I did one of those half smile things where you don't actually show your teeth. Kind of a cop out smile really! And not surprisingly my fellow meanderer didn't even seem to notice me at all. He kind of glanced at me blankly and continued obliviously on his way. Oblivious of my half hearted attempt to show my generosity of spirit. Oblivious of me. stop.

So from that moment on I decided, especially during this Christmas season and heck....from now on in general, I am going to smile at strangers. Unless of course they are really strange! I am going to risk it, god damn it, and give them a full smile and perhaps even a friendly 'How do you do?'.

And if they don't respond, well perhaps they will next time or perhaps they are just unfriendly bastards....but that has got nothing to do with you and me! We shall spread our Christmas Joy.

And now to the main crux of my thinking.... the other thing we can share is our wonderful singing voices! Yes badly put, this suddenly sounds like a religious newsletter. Just makes one realize you know, singing is free. Singing for others is something that us singers can do easily but often we don't. Often we are held back by shyness or an over active ego which tells us that we have to fully prepare before breaking into song, know the words, practice our delivery, wear the right outfit. But just a reminder to all you singers out there, myself included....try not to be too precious.....just open up your mouths and belt out a carol or two this Christmas. It makes such an incredible difference to an evening or a party or to a simple gathering.

And although we sometimes forget, singing really is a gift. So let's all give it!

Tinsel Time Reminder

2009-12-10T16:56:00.002+11:00

'....deck the halls with ?? of holly, tra la la la la, la la la la. Tis the season to be jolly tra la la la la, la la la la.......'

It's Tinsel Time

We're gonna have a casual barby, sip champagne and sing carols.

Where: Our pad – 75 New South Head Rd

When: Friday 11th December (tomorrow)

Time: 7pm and on & on into the night!

Bring; some booze, your own deck chair unless you don't mind the grass, loud singing voices, a positive outlook, um....your pet reindeers, no dogs and santa hats!

The indomitable spirit

2009-11-27T09:54:00.012+11:00

Had a lovely day on Monday with one of my crazy students. I don't think she will mind me calling her crazy. Merenia Gillies is a very talented Sydney based singer/songwriter who runs music classes for refugees and women affected by domestic violence out at Penrith.
I went along to conduct a voice workshop with a group of women on Monday.

Merenia had been working with this group to create an original composition, not an easy undertaking! But with her down to earth approach, Merenia had managed to unite this group of unlikely friends. She told me she had encouraged the women to all contribute lyrics and melody ideas and the result of a number of weeks work was surprising.

I really had no idea what to expect when I arrived at the community centre out in Penrith after driving for what seemed like ages down that monotonous highway. On meeting everyone however I quickly saw what my job was going to be. It was to get the women to really 'SING'.They had written this potentially amazing song with uplifting lyrics and now all they had to do was sing it without inhibition, with the energy and strength that the song spoke of.

Some of these women had had unthinkable life stories of hardship and abuse, yet were standing there ready to listen to a skinny white gal like me.

To my surprise it really didn't take long at all to get these women dancing and singing with true conviction.Frowns and crossed arms were replaced with open smiling faces. We had one principal soloist who led the group in a call and answer type chorus. She was a powerhouse of voice and emotion and the group began to respond with equal intensity which gave me goose bumps!

It made me think about how we can be such 'winge-ie pants' about things that really don't matter. It made me think about how the smallest things can sometimes get us down and how we easily allow these feelings to re-enforce negative self belief and a cynical view of the world.

Yet here I met this group of women who having suffered a great deal more than I can comprehend were not sitting around wallowing in self pity. They were standing up, fearlessly claiming their ground and singing out about their love for life.

I left Penrith, of all places, feeling almost hyperactive with optimism!
It was one of the most rewarding things I have done in ages!

L

Love and the voice

2009-11-03T15:59:00.008+11:00

So I was thinking...empathising with a student, contemplating what a huge effect your love life can have on your voice!

Has this really ever been discussed seriously? I mean it is pretty obvious that without love or loss there wouldn't be much playing on the radio? Not many people write songs about rising interest rates or asylum seekers (well some people do but they aren't usually playing on mainstream radio)! And it is not news that love has been the motivation for millions of compositions. But what what about the actual effect that love has on the voice?

Suddenly we have no high notes, suddenly our voices are hoarse and down in our boots. Or suddenly we can float through an aria effortlessly, our high C is mind blowing!
Could it be true that a bad love life or a tormented emotional state is bad for a singer and that a good relationship is highly recommended for vocal health?

But I do see it a lot. A student comes in, voice is in a mess, student has left boyfriend or vice versa. Student has shed so many tears that her/his sinuses are all clogged up and when she/he speaks I could have sworn they were doing a drag queen impersonation.
Now this is serious stuff!

I do recall myself meeting a fetching young fellow in Spain and flying to Kazakstan to pursue a love story that I believed had to be lived out...only to end up with my fragile heart in pieces.
And my voice? My high notes? My headspace? Out the window!

An unsettled emotional state unhitches the vocal wagon from the horse and the voice ends up cascading down the proverbial hill and landing in the creek! This is surely not a good thing before a concert or a competition.

Ok on a positive note, sometimes unhitching the wagon ( I'm still on about the wagon) can produce a raw type of abandon which can be amazing and relates back to the discussion we had in an earlier blog.

So what can we learn from this rather long winded contemplation on love and the voice?

DO NOT drop someone, get dropped or have an affair on the eve of a concert, performance or singing competition.
DO continue and pursue love that is nurturing, exciting and uplifting!

But as we singers all know very well...if that dark, mysterious, attractive someone turns up, concert or no concert, we will be in hot pursuit.

Because the moral of the story is that we are all passionate, impetuous beings despite our best intentions and strongest resolutions. Yes singers, we were born this way!

Eartha

2009-10-28T16:58:00.003+11:00

I am not quite sure how I missed the news....but did everybody know, except for me, that Eartha Kitt had passed away? Apparently it happened last Dec 2008.

I heard a rendition of Santa Baby last week and thought that it really couldn't be sung by anyone else except for Eartha!

Even caught a glimpse of her myself many years ago in Monte Carlo in my show girl days!

But here's one of my special photos....my pop, Ron Roberts playing bass for that fabulous lady. What a lucky man!

And a very belated Bon Voyage!

Spontaneity

2009-10-20T08:45:00.011+11:00

During one of my lessons the other day a student made me remember something about this artsy profession that perhaps we forget.

She was surprised I had not heard of the musical 'Spamelot' and proceeded to do a demonstration of one of the pieces from the show. She spontaneously began interpreting 4 characters all at once. She was singing and moving about the stage totally channeling the characters as they came into play. She was totally in the moment, not a seconds hesitation as she transitioned from one character voice to the next, only interrupted by a little giggle here and there. She was amazing!

I am sure she had absolutely no idea how great the performance was. She didn't care, she was having fun.

I began to question 'Could she perform like this in an audition, with exactly the same intention, intensity, abandon? 'Could she do this again in a performance with the pressure of an audience sitting there analysing her every move? '' Then I asked myself 'Could I perform with that kind of spontaneous, exuberance even if I wanted to?' Blimey!

She is 21, yes she is young and kinda has that irrepressible youthful energy thing that begins to make many of us question 'where did mine go'?

If she had been able to perform the piece exactly as she had done for me, alone in the auditorium at The Independent, if there had been an audience there to see it....they would have been enthralled. They would have said she was a star in the making! Perhaps she will be.....

But I wonder.....how do we keep that naive excitement for life which makes us able to throw ourselves completely and utterly into our craft, allows us to be there, totally present, without fear or self consciousness, delivering all that we are in that moment. Uncovering ourselves, letting go of the constant 'trying' and just sing with all the skills we have or haven't acquired up to that point?

I remember one of my voice teachers in Italy saying to me ' Just because it is spontaneous and expressive doesn't mean it is art'!

I have thought about this statement for a number of years and can certainly see her point on one hand but on the other hand it throws into question the issue of where 'our art' actually comes from in the first place, does it not?

To be continued....

The Art of Singing

2009-10-14T17:56:00.004+11:00

Hi singers

Check out this website. It makes for interesting reading!

Here is a table of contents for what you will find;

THE ART OF SINGING By Luisa Tetrazzini
Luisa Tetrazzini—Introductory Sketch
Breath Control—The Foundation of Singing
The Mastery of the Tongue
Tone Emission and Attack
Facial Expression and Mirror Practice
Appreciative Attitude and Critical Attitude

THE ART OF SINGING By Enrico Caruso
The Career of Enrico Caruso
From a Personal Viewpoint
The Voice and Tone Production
Faults to be Corrected
Good Diction a Requisite
Pet Superstitions of Great Singers

Nan & Louis Armstrong

2009-10-06T19:01:00.007+11:00

This is a great shot of nan with Louis Armstrong.
She met him a number of times and always spoke of the warmth of his huge smile.

My nan passed away only recently and was a huge musical influence on my life.
She and pop used to perform amazing renditions of 'Happy Birthday'! Nan singing away with beautiful velvety tones and pop bashing out a trad jazz version which was never ending!
Amazing memories.

L

Italy

2009-10-01T09:19:00.008+10:00

A snapshot of 8 years in Italy.
Have you seen the sunflowers in bloom?

L

Ken & 'Feldenkrais & The Voice' Workshop

2009-09-27T13:52:00.003+10:00

EurekAaaaah- there it is!

I had arrived at the Lisa's Feldenkrais singing workshop with various trepidations, but mostly at the prospect of having to sing a solo in the afternoon.
I had been working with Lisa for about 4 months and had made some good progress, she's a great teacher, but I knew I really had to face the gremlins head on, stand up and sing without accompaniment to an audience...
And not to your average audience - a mix of gifted opera singers!

There were about 10 of us in the morning session - all female. Every cloud...
After the mind/body harmonizing exercises we moved into the afternoon session and hooray! another guy! Jamie Scott.

We moved to the solos - I was in the presence of some serious talent.
Jamie's Aria was incredibly moving - sensual and penetrating, and as a fellow (wanna-be) tenor, I really started to hear in which direction I wanted my voice to be heading.
It was just now a case of finding it...
I was last to creep up to the front and sang a Paul Young tune pretty badly in two different keys - I knew there was no conviction or belief in the delivery and too much self consciousness.
Still I was happy I had faced my biggest fear. But where was that release?

The final exercise of the day was another of Lisa's ingenious drills. All 11 of us walking round randomly on stage and when our names were called, we had to improvise a greeting/discussion to the person nearest in full voice.
After about 5 minutes of this almost pagan ritual, Jamie's name was called, and me being nearest, was privy to to a bigger than life tenor Vox ringing straight at me asking me how I was going....
I replied... spontaneously... from the balls of the feet and from the bottom of the stomach - there it was - my real voice. All the trebly crap had gone, and the bellows were on fire.
Eureka.
Still a long road ahead but after 10 years of searching, I can finally say I sing with my own voice.

Ken

2009-09-25T14:44:00.004+10:00

'FeldenKrais and The Voice'

Vocal Workshop for singers

An exciting and unique workshop to increase vocal freedom
incorporating the Feldenkrais method and movement.

Conducted by
Lisa Scott - voice teacher & Ingrid Weisfelt - Feldenkrais practioner

This workshop will explore the vital connection of our voice with our physicality
to increase freedom and potency of vocal expression.

Saturday 21st November
10am - 5pm
The Independent Theatre, 269 Miller Street, North Sydney

Morning and afternoon tea provided
1 hour lunch break

Workshop $90
Bookings essential - lisa@revolvearts.com.au

0405 550 015
www.RevolveArts.com.au

Thought for the day

2009-09-23T15:49:00.000+10:00

"The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decisions, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now."

Goethe

McDonald's Operatic Aria, Sydney Eisteddfod

2009-09-18T11:30:00.000+10:00

McDonald's Operatic Aria, Sydney Eisteddfod

Our very own Naomi Johns will be singing in the finals of the McDonalds Operatic Aria Competition this Sunday to be held at The Sydney Opera. She has worked her butt off this year and is singing fabulously!

Why not come along and support her?

Sunday 20 September 2009. 06:30 PM

For tickets go to http://www.mytickets.com.au/mcdonalds-operatic-aria-sydney-eisteddfod/1-441847/view.aspx

'Be there when six of Australia’s finest young vocal superstars vie for more than $57,000 worth of prizes in a musical battle featuring some of the world’s greatest composers and operatic masterpieces.

This dazzling evening of technical skill and musical mastery promises to be a highlight of the 2009 Sydney performance calendar.'

It would be great to see you there.
Lisa Scott

Workshop Participants

2009-08-12T17:00:00.000+10:00

'Feldenkrais & The Voice' Workshop Reminder
with Ingrid Weisfelt & Lisa Roberts Scott

Saturday 15th August @ The Independent Theatre
Workshop Starts at 10am - 5pm
Please bring a yoga mat and/or rug
Wear comfortable loose clothing.(Not jeans or skirts)

Please remember to bring the sheet music for a piece you would like to work on.
Morning and afternoon tea will be provided and there will be a 1 hour lunch break.

The Independent Theatre is opposite Stanton Library.
269 Miller Street, North Sydney
The closest train station is North Sydney station.
See you all there

Lisa Scott

Sing thru the flu season!

2009-08-07T15:36:00.000+10:00

A number of my students have been coming down with the colds and persistent sore throats this year. I have to boast getting through this years coldest months without even a tinge of a sore throat. And lets face it, being a singer with a sore throat can be downright depressing.

What can you do to ward off colds and sore throats? Well it may sound like obvious advice but one of the best things to do is to simply take a good quality vitamin C powder on a daily basis. Some of the good ones contain other things like zinc and calcium and give your immune system a real boost. You will find a better range at a health food store than a pharmacy.
Keep your stomach healthy too by taking acidophilus regularly.

Although it is cold outside and one would prefer to stay rugged up indoors it is important for singers to keep their lungs working by going for a brisk walk or jog in the fresh air or doing some yoga.

Being around other singers who are not well can be a problem. A violinist friend of mine who is now in his 100th year told me that he managed to stay healthy even when the entire Chicago Symphony Orchestra had the flu by gargling whisky or a strong spirit and rubbing it around his nose before and after rehearsals!

If you do find yourself with a sore throat coming on, get yourself some good lozenges with propolis and manuka honey. You can break them up into small pieces and keep sucking on them regularly throughout the day to keep your mouth disinfected.

It is best not to sing on a sore throat. Just give yourself a few days off regular practice. You can sing with a snuffy nose and some singers often think they sound better than usual but this is just due to the increased resonance they are hearing within their own head and doesn't usually sound as great to the listener!

I hope you find this useful.
Lisa

2009-08-07T14:44:00.000+10:00

Lessons conducted by Lisa Roberts Scott are held in the auditorium at The Independent Theatre in North Sydney in order to take advantage of its state of the art acoustics.

Singers

2009-07-30T11:30:00.001+10:00

SING AS FREELY AS YOU SPEAK

Vocal Tuition at the Independent Theatre
with Lisa Roberts Scott
269 Miller Street, North Sydney

Private Lessons, Group Lessons, Workshops
Performance opportunities

Lisa focuses on the release of all unnecessary muscular action
for the free production of tone developing natural resonance,
good intonation, clarity of tone and clear articulation of words.
Lisa teaches the crucial connection between the speaking and
singing voice promoting the unique vocal identity of singers
creating a clear and honest performance.

Enquiries - lisascott25@gmail.com Phone 0405 550 015

2009-07-30T10:11:00.000+10:00

'FeldenKrais and The Voice'

Vocal Workshop for singers

An exciting and unique workshop to increase vocal freedom
incorporating the Feldenkrais method and movement.

Conducted by
Lisa Scott - voice teacher & Ingrid Weisfelt - Feldenkrais practioner

This workshop will explore the vital connection of our voice with our physicality
to increase freedom and potency of vocal expression.

Saturday 15th August
10am - 5pm
The Independent Theatre, 269 Miller Street, North Sydney

Morning and afternoon tea provided
1 hour lunch break

Workshop $90
For Bookings Email - lisa@aria.ac