New Beginnings

It is rather embarrassing to think about the last time I posted.  Much has happened.  I had another baby.  I added piano students..............let's try this again........

I'm going to update the policy, required music, as well as dates within the current semester. Stay tuned!

Also stay tuned as I am in the process of conspiring with another teacher to put together a masterclass for our students.  Can't wait!  Details TBA.

Evelyn Harris Masterclass

An old friend of mine (Shea Bradshaw- Choir Teacher at SF High School) and I are sponsoring a masterclass for local/chapter voice students with Evelyn Harris who was the Director of Vocal Studies at Weber State University. Her knowledge and information on the voice is extensive. This will be an invaluable experience for voice students. You are all invited- we would love to have you come! (My students- it's REQUIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Please invite your full studios to attend this event. It is an awesome opportunity! Invitations are extended to anyone wishing to come learn with us! Pass the word!

If you would like more info about Evelyn, I will have her bio hopefully in the next few days and can send it on to anyone interested.

Evelyn has also offered to do a workshop on body mapping for any teachers interested. She is not officially certified but has attended the classes and has information we could glean from. I don't want to do this unless there are a few of you who would be interested (at least 5 people if not more). It would be the same day, most likely after the masterclass. Please let me know by next Saturday, April 30, if you would be interested in this opportunity as well.

Thanks!

Tiffany Jacobson

Evelyn Harris Masterclass

Spanish Fork High School

Friday, May 20, 2011. 4PM to 5:30 PM

PS-Donations of $2 per person or $20 per studio will be accepted.

NATS Adjudications

This last week has been EXTREMELY busy musically! I adjudicated the Huff competition for Payson High School one night and NATS adjudications were this weekend. I was busy getting my students ready and calling and collecting donations from hair salons for the winners for the competition. That was a major task! But it got done and then I had the opportunity to help adjudicate the NATS Friday and Saturday. It was so wonderful and TERRIBLE at the same time! I LOVE to adjudicate! Specifically beginning and intermediate students. And it was so wonderful to hear all these students that had put so much effort into preparing for these auditions! And the FINALS! I had a musical FEAST (including the dessert)! I was in HEAVEN listening to all these fabulous singers!

At the same time....the TERRIBLE: it is so hard in the music profession not to compare yourself to other people, how good a teacher you are, how much experience you've had, how much education you've had, how well your students have done, how well you sing, plus all the contraversy that occurs in the field. I have soooooo much to learn! I want to learn MORE! I want to feel more confident in that which I do! I would love to feel equal to the others instead of insignificant and insecure. I realize that everyone there almost has the same sentiments- on different levels.

However, and this is a BIG HOWEVER. I have to say that EVERYONE (except one person) in this NATS chapter has opened their arms and accepted me warmly- those with PH.D's, those who sing professionally, those who have many MANY more years of experience teaching. They have been wonderful!!!! And, putting my personal insecurities aside, they have made me feel their equal. THANK YOU! (that's for you Kathy, Ruth, Janilyn, Cynthia, Kenna, Jeanice, Arden, Diane, Georgia, Joanie, Helen, Michelle Scott, .....who'd I miss?)

Also, being immersed like that for the weekend awakens my grand desires to be more involved, more educated and in the profession more full time.

All my students- you were awesome guys!!!!! I hope you felt it was a good experience as much as I did! You're going to LOVE the comments from the judges! AND MELANIE!!!! Let's not forget to thank our pianist next time we see her! She was FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I learned a few lessons: don't sit in on your students performances (I think I was more nervous then my students.......!) and recommend that your students come to the finals. Seriously. They were sooooooo inspiring!

I really hope in the future that we can have more experiences of this sort and learn and grow from them!

Favorites

Some favorite pages from NCVS that I would LOVE my students to peruse......:

http://www.ncvs.org/products_health.html

http://ncvs.org/e-learning/faqs.html

http://ncvs.org/e-learning/warmup.html

http://ncvs.org/e-learning/strategies.html

Check it out everyone! I may make you read one of them during lab time this week!

NCVS

NCVS (National Center for Voice and Speech) just introduced an AWESOME new website!!!! it has tutorials about the voice and little tests you can take!!!! Check it out! www.ncvs.org

Dear Everyone!!!

NATS Auditions are coming up and I would like everyone who qualifies to participate. These will be held March 4-5 at BYU. There have been a few questions so here are some highlights:

• You can enter the Auditions as a competitor or comments only. Unless you are career oriented in your musical/vocal pursuits, I would recommend comments only. This will be INVALUABLE- better then performance/masterclass. Also, I, as your teacher, get to learn from your comments from the adjudicators as well- you get validation of what your teacher is currently telling you, and I get to gleen wisdom from my associates. It will make you a better singer and me a better teacher!!!
• All adjudicators that participate are my professional associates and friends! They are your friends as well. We are all qualified voice teachers who have met the requirements for membership in the National Association of Teachers of Singing. All teachers who have students performing in the auditions are required to adjudicate.
• Entrance fee is $15 per entry (payable to me- I have to write one large check for all students participating).
• I DO EXPECT all who qualify (that would be those age 15 and up) to participate!
• Unless you want to work something else out with another pianist, you will need to be prepared to pay a pianist (if you get a pianist who doesn’t require pay, I STRONGLY recommend you offer a small monetary token. It is the professional way). I have spoken with a local pianist here in town who has agreed to play for all who participate. She charges $20 hour (and there is no MINIMUM!). All pianists will be required to attend the performance/masterclass the week of the auditions. Which brings us to this:
• I timed my masterclass wrong. My bad. MARK YOUR CALENDARS- I want EVERYONE there!!!!!! Masterclass/performance class is now to be held Wednesday, March 2^nd (instead of March 9). 5 PM (notice the time change too.). The pianist will be here to play for you. I will pay for this rehearsal but this is the only one you will receive unless you make other arrangements. Then your responsibility is to pay her for playing for the auditions (and any other times you rehearse with her).
• All those who cannot participate in NATS auditions are still required to attend masterclass/performance class. Let me emphasize- your parents PAY for this “lesson” -you are expected to attend.
• At the masterclass I will have the sheets that the adjudicators will be using for comments and we will “adjudicate” everyone who sings. Don’t worry- positive constructive comments only that you won’t have to totally share.
• The required repertoire is TWO songs- we’ve got to get under the gun with this. I previously thought it was just one. Nope, it’s two. I would like to have decided TODAY which pieces each student will be singing as I am required to register everyone by next Tuesday.

I hope that addresses all the issues. Parents, if you have any questions or concerns, please email me or call me.

Yay! Can’t wait!

Tiffany

Cambrielle

Everyone be sure to give Cambrielle a pat on the back for a job well done.......and if anyone knows how to fix the center- let me know......