San Diego Opera's 60th Anniversary La bohème sees Mimì as a ghost
How-To
6 creative & affordable ways to learn a language
How-toAs classical singers, we constantly are looking for creative ways to learn a language quickly and affordably. Languages are important to our craft: we sing in different languages, we work in different countries, and our colleagues speak different languages. Yet we’re often not in another country long enough to learn the language by exposure alone.
4 tips for when there are too many notes
How-toWhen it comes to singing coloratura, it's easy to imagine that there are those who can, and those who cannot. "She's always been able to move her voice," we say, as if it's a skill one is born with. That may be true, but it doesn't mean the rest of you will never sing fast notes.
How to make the most of your summer program
How-toIt's summer program season, everyone. I'm so excited for you all! These are good months, spent in intensive training programs with teachers and coaches that are hard to pin down throughout the year. Lightbulb moments will be had, and new arias will be learned.
How to play for singers
How-toPianists, you're a busy bunch. So how do you learn all that music, and prioritize like a pro? When it comes to playing for singers, pianists are often in one of three situations:
Singers: here's how to use social media
How-toSocial media is...what? Handy? A headache? Free self-promotion? It can be all of those things, but more than anything, it's a necessity. We know that lots and lots of opera singers are on Facebook and Twitter, and it's completely changed the way we see the business.
How to lead your pianist
How-toSingers, how much do you love auditions? I know you're all troopers, experts at the art of wowing someone in two arias or less. It's really all about making your way through the huge list of Things You Can't Control. Often, one of those things is the prowess of your audition accompanist.
5 Tips for University Auditionees
How-toYoung singers, as you sing your hearts out for the faculties at the University of Toronto, GGS, Western University, McGill, Juilliard, Eastman, NEC, Peabody, Oberlin, Rice, and Curtis, I offer you tips from your audition pianist.
Music School Auditions: 4 Tips for Parents
How-toAs a follow-up to my recent 5 Tips for University Auditionees, I wanted to extend advice to the parents of young singers. You’re supportive, you travel long distances with your kids, and you wait around all day as they do their audition thing. Here are a few etiquette tips for parents, from the mouths of professional pianists who play auditions all day long.
How to be a Coach, with Liz Upchurch
How-toLiz Upchurch is a pianist, vocal coach, and the Head of the COC Ensemble Studio. She’s in demand as a coach across Canada, working regularly at places like the St. Andrew by-the-Sea Opera Workshop and the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy, and she was a judge for the Bravo! TV show, Bathroom Divas: So You Want To Be An Opera Star?