An opera librettist's quarantine film picks

How-To

"Probably my favorite comedy. No matter how many times I see this movie, I can’t help but laugh my ass off. I will go anywhere for Melissa McCarthy."

6 out-of-the-box gigs for singers to consider

How-To

The most important thing to remember is being active on all social media platforms - it is super important right now to have an online presence so that people can see and respond to you. It’s also the easiest, fastest and a free way to advertise for any gigs!

Aria Guides: Vedrai, carino

How-To

The plot thickens when we consider that Zerlina nearly left Masetto for a tryst with the Don, and pouted her way out of getting caught by basically daring Masetto to spank her for being bad. This current aria can be taken as genuine love from Zerlina, or it can be a gross display of emasculation, the operatic equivalent of saying, "Aw, did Masetto get a boo-boo?"

Aria guides: Donde lieta uscì

How-To

Lyric sopranos fall easily in love with the music that Puccini writes for Mimì. As you work with your teacher on this aria, we can help you stay on track.

Aria guides: Parmi veder le lagrime

How-To

In this aria, the Duke is angry that Gilda, the young woman he lied to in order to get into her pants was kidnapped (by other terrible men), and until he finds her he can't get into her pants yet. That's right: Gilda's kidnapping is bad for him.

The Top 5 Things Your Music Instructor Wants You To Know

How-To

Have you ever wondered, when taking on music lessons, what requirements there may be when starting? Some instructors might give you a list of their requirements ahead of time, but most probably don't.

5 classical voice podcasts to try

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I'll fess up: I'm a podcast addict. They're the morphine drip that gets me through the day. But I've only dabbled in shows that focus on classical voice, and that's a problem. As an antidote, I've found five series, with different focuses, that are worth checking out.

5 ways being a background actor helps your singing

How-to

Background acting (AKA working as an "extra" on a television or film set), with few barriers to entry and mostly single-day commitments, could be a good way to fill gaps between gigs. Approach it constructively and you can hone your craft while earning a (mostly) quick buck.

Nerding out: why you should definitely care what key your aria is in

How-to

So. Back to the key of your aria. Basically, in the Baroque and Classical eras, the out-of-tuneness of various keys became associated with different affects. The theory was that a listener could be swayed to feel differently when they heard music played in G major versus in B-flat major, or in d minor versus f minor.

3 tips for being a respectful voice coach

How-to

That mutual respect is at the root of how opera's best voice coaches work, and it's something singers should look for in their work. A coach's ability to demonstrate respect for a singer's work counts for a lot, and we have three ways to achieve it: