What You'll Learn
“Life is all about relationships, including the one with yourself. That is the beginning and the end. In fact, you are in continual relationship and conversation with all things, even the air you breathe.”
— Victoria Erickson
Just like in life, relationships are everything in music. To be successful, you need to create, nurture, and develop your relationships with:
Your instrument/your body
Who you are as a musician
The songs you sing
Other musicians
Your audience
And the people who will help you in your career — whether that’s a manager, agent, club owner, record company, or your own support team.
This course will cover everything you need to know about your relationship to your instrument, the music you want to make, and the people you’ll be making it with and for. By the end of the course, you’ll feel more confident to step out on stage with a sense of purpose, ready to share your authentic voice with the world.
Module 1: Finding Your North Star
In Module 1: Finding Your North Star, we’ll start with your why and use it to help you create a map for your musical journey.
Module 2: Your Body Is Your Instrument:
Your body is your instrument. It’s YOU! And because of that, no one else will ever sound like you. In Module Two, you’ll learn how your body makes sound and how to maintain a healthy instrument. Understanding how the body works when you sing will help you consistently make the sounds you want to make in all kinds of performance situations throughout your lifetime.
Module 3: Repertoire: It’s All About The Song
Because songs are the vehicle for your voice, your relationship with the ones you sing is one of the most important. In Module Three, we’ll look at how to choose, interpret, and communicate through them. You’ll also learn how to pick the best keys for your voice.
Module 4: Preparing For Performance Part 1: Practicing
In Module 4: you’ll learn how and what to practice to achieve your musical goals. We’ll look at the difference between practicing technique vs. practicing artistry, and you’ll learn how to organize your gig book and charts.
Module 5: Preparing for Performance Part 2:
Module 5 begins with a lesson all about rehearsing. You’ll learn how an enthusiastic mindset, thoughtful preparation, and a few practical tips will make your rehearsals more productive and fun.
People hear 80 percent with their eyes. How we stand, walk, our facial expressions, and hand movements — communicate a lot to our audience. Great performance enhances great music. But there’s no right or wrong to how we move or emote physically. So what we need to do is teach ourselves how to see. What do we look for when watching ourselves and others?
In Module 5, you’ll learn how we “see” each other through gestures, facial expressions, and body language. I’ll share with you some thoughts about acting and authenticity. And you’ll learn how to practice with video so you can feel comfortable in your own skin and communicate more authentically with your audience.
Module 6: You’ve Got A Gig! Live Performance From A-Z
Finally, in Module 6, it’s time to step out onstage.
You’ll learn about gear, microphones, effects, monitors, PA, stage plots, and what to do (and not do) on performance day. In addition, I’ll share some helpful techniques for warming up your body and mind before performing, how to navigate performance anxiety, and we’ll explore the what, when, and how to talk with your audience.
We’ll also answer the age-old question — What the ... am I going to wear?
Some people have a talent for fashion. I did not. I had to learn how to work with clothes and makeup. You’ll see some of my worst 80s fashion moments as an example of how NOT to do it. Over time I figured out what made me feel good. If, like me, you’re not a natural at this — don’t worry. We’ll take your why that you discovered in module 1, create a collage, and you’ll end up with a design board that expresses who you are and how you want to present yourself to the world.
A Vocal Life in Balance:
Self-Care
This course is practical. I want you to have some tools that you can use to further your career. But I also want you to have some tools to help you meet the challenges that failure and success will bring. Because your love of music and your relationship with yourself are the most important things.
Creating a life in the arts isn’t easy. Making a living, the business of music, taking care of oneself and family, plus carving out time for creativity, practice, and rehearsals quickly leads to overwhelm and burnout. I’ve learned the hard way that self-care is perhaps the most critical skill for singers to develop. Throughout this course, I’ll share some strategies and practices that you can experiment with to keep your body, mind, and spirit healthy as you navigate the different facets of your musical life.
Let’s Recap
By the end of this course, you will be prepared to step out on stage with more confidence and purpose because you’ll have learned:
The why behind your chosen path
How your body works as an instrument
Strategies to maintain vocal health
How to choose, interpret and connect more deeply with the songs you sing
Methods for making your practice and rehearsal time more constructive and fun
How to authentically connect with audiences
New ways of taking care of yourself while navigating all of the above!
