Manic March it was, but also Marvelous!

March was a very busy, wonderfully awesome month. Out in Mitchelstown our Easter Concert went over a treat- standing room only on the day! I couldn't believe how packed the Mitchelstown School of Music was for the concert & wine reception.

There was a lovely line-up of performers: pianists (the youngest was turning five the next day!), violinists, drummers, guitarists, and my own amazing singers & the Music Makers Junior Choir who finished the show with a sneak-peek of their Disney Menagerie, who received a roaring applause! There was so much excitement from the kids & young adults who participated and their very proud parents & community, the teachers & staff of the school (myself included) couldn't have been more thrilled with the performances on the day! The pride I felt watching two of my younger singers up on stage sing so beautifully was overwhelming (there were tears in her Mum's eyes!!) and my Music Makers were absolutely above and beyond brilliant (they're always so prepared and tons of fun to work with!) Well done again to all involved! :•)

Keep posted for more information on the school's next concert coming up the weekend of June 15th which will be 'Stepping into Summer' a Voice Studio showcase featuring our Vocal Tuition students, the Music Makers Junior Choir, & the debut of the Mitchelstown Adult Choir all accompanied by the amazingly talented pianist & repetituer Mr. Thomas Doyle! This show is not to be missed, so stay tuned for more details!

My Introduction to Singing & Intermediate Singing courses out in Bishopstown on Wednesday evenings finished up at the end of the month as well, and it was wonderful to see how much progress each student in both classes had made after 8 weeks in the course- the confidence, poise, & sound of each one vastly improved from week one to week eight & it was so thrilling to see each student grow over the (what seemed to fly by!) eight weeks.

The lovely ladies of my Intermediate Course took me out for a celebratory drink after class where we chatted about all things singing, musical, & ourselves- what a delight every one of them are! It was so surprising when I received some lovely gifts for being a 'great teacher!' (I felt so honored that my students would want to thank me for the experience they had in my class - what a brilliant feeling! I received a beautiful thank-you card and two porcelain mugs with roses & music notes (use them all the time now!), some gorgeous smelling Tahitian Coconut oil (actually brought back from when my student went on holiday!), and a lovely bottle of wine- thank you ladies all so much for your thoughtfulness.

I'm so looking forward to seeing my former students from both classes in the Bishopstown Community School Choir that will be starting up in September 2013 (fingers crossed!) with yours truly conducting! It is always the best compliment when students say, 'I'm so sad class is over, and I want to keep going, what else are you doing so I can keep learning with you?'

It feels like March ended on a very high note (pardon the pun!) and April is looking very good..... except for this silly cold windy-rain..... Wrap up warm everyone, and keep those singing voices healthy!! :-)

.......However, as a singing teacher, you  can and most certainly should, dedicate yourself to nurturing and cultivating the love of music in your students who demonstrate such passion for it. The past week has been a very busy & exciting  one for me as a teacher. My Mitchelstown students continue to exceed my expectations with their talent and dedication to their singing. They really love it, and that makes teaching them a great joy in my life.  Every time they come to their lessons and demonstrate the progress they've made in technique, breathing, and artistry, I'm really blown away. 

The Mitchelstown Music Makers , my Junior Choir, continue to impress me, showing up this past week with nearly their entire program for the concert at the end of this month memorised, eager to rehearse the Disney Menagerie scene, with gusto! I think I enjoy the hour teaching them just as much as they enjoy coming, each little girl is very special and they are all sneaking their way right into my heart! I can't wait for their parents to see all they've accomplished in only two short months at the concert this month! Friday night was very exciting for me as well,  with lots of new members joining the Mitchelstown Adult Choir, practically doubling in size!

Word has spread about this fantastic & fun group, and we are so delighted to have all of the new lovely ladies who joined us Friday Night! We had a blast continuing the work on our arrangement of 'Til There was You' from The Music Man as well as tucking into a brand new sacred piece, much to the delight of all the chorus members. There was a very special moment where the harmonies just came together, and I was absolutely seized with pure joy for the singers, as the beauty they created at that moment with all of their voices singing such intricate harmony,  is what choral music really is all about. I actually got giddy and the smile on my face was positively contagious! 

I am really looking forward to continuing our work this coming week with all of my amazing students and both of my choruses out in Mitchelstown. Can't wait for our June concert so everyone can hear these amazing singers!  

In this first post about my own past experiences in the early days of my vocal training, I want to share with you some fond memories of the very first teacher I ever studied voice privately with. There is something really special about the bonds that form between teachers and students and I am so lucky to have developed such bonds with numerous exceptional teachers over the past 15 years during my vocal training. 

I believe that a wonderful teacher is one who makes you feel good about your efforts, pushes you to be the best version of you that you can possibly be, and helps you get there, triumphing in your successes (whether its a single note hit exactly right or getting an entire song off by heart), as well as helping you through the tough times (like when you get that dreaded flu the day before your concert), inspiring confidence in their students at all times. I often still use tips and tricks that my first private voice teacher, the delightful Mrs. Traci Tornquist (who fits the description of a wonderful teacher) taught me so many years ago and recalled just the other day a lesson with her where I had one of the biggest break-throughs I ever had in my voice as a young singer- the discovery of how to properly mix the head and chest voices to create something uniquely my own. 

I started studying with Traci at the age of 12 and I have never forgotten the way she taught, always pushing me to try my best, explaining the technique along the way, and encouraging me to think outside the box. The confidence boost that came with 'nailing' a particular song, or note, or difficult run, and getting Traci's approving encouragement always made me feel amazing. I try to emulate her style of teaching everyday with my own students, and can only hope that I inspire them the same way Traci inspired me. 

I remember the first time Traci gave me 'Laurie's Song' - a particular favourite of mine which I have used throughout the years, and told me, "I saw this piece and though it would be perfect for you." I knew she was giving me a mighty challenge, it was a big aria, and went from the lower part of my vocal range at the time up into the top, so I had no choice but to begin to try mixing the two parts of my voice (what a big day that was for the growth of my vocal technique!!). I can distinctly recall all of the tips that Traci gave me to improve the piece. In fact, I still have the exact copy of music she gave me (with all our notes all over it!) 

I performed 'Laurie's Song' at my Masters Recital last September 2012, and I certainly felt that on the night of the recital, things fell into all the right places technically. I remember as I was about to start the piece, I had Traci's voice in my head even after all these years saying, 'when you go low 'mix' the voice and don't forget to create the scene with the very first note of the piano.' It is amazing the things we take with us through life, and I find this particular aria holds such a special place in my heart as it reminds me of my family and my very first experience learning a technically challenging aria with my very first teacher.  I can only hope that so many years after my training with Traci has completed, she can listen to the clip posted on the website and proudly say, "You nailed it!" :)