by Shannon Coates | Oct 19, 2018 | Fri Fav Five, Productivity 101, Singing 101, Voice Pedagogy 101, Young Voice 101
~ the once per month edition (aka: the disdainful black cat edition) ~
(Because: SCHOOL IS IN SESSION, Y’ALL. And I am WERKIN’ it.)
Soooo … here are some #voiceped favs from the last MONTH.
Some FANTASTIC advice for your students who are working in CCM genres. Plus? #PENNYTHEDOG!
did you say dog? because that’s just rude.
My friends, “bad behaviour” is rarely actually BAD BEHAVIOUR. #isallImsayin
i am not hiding because i am bad. i am hiding because i do not have the tools or resources to face what’s happening right now.
I mean, is it a little stereotypical? Sure. IS IT ALSO KIND OF NERDY-HILARIOUS? Also sure. (For extra nerdy-goodness, try figuring out what the sound is from the description, BEFORE he makes it. Go on and challenge yourself. heh heh)
where are the phonetic transcriptions of all of the incredible sounds that cats make? HMMMM? WHERE IS THAT HUMAN? #catdiscrimonator
Ugh. Productivity and stuff. Read it and weep. Or make a few small decisions now that will free you up to make better big ones later. For example, because I see different people every day of the week? I often wear the same outfit five days in a row (that’s why essential oils were invented, #amiright?). AND WHY THE HECK NOT? Men have done this for … ummm … WELL HOWEVER LONG THE SUIT HAS BEEN AROUND. Same suit every day, different shirt and socks. Seriously.
i wear my fabulous fur every gosh-darned day of my life. and i LICK IT CLEAN WITH MY OWN TONGUE FOUR OR FIVE MILLION TIMES PER DAY. #getwithithumans
Folks? THIS IS SO MUCH FUN. AND SUPER INFORMATIVE. If you teach CCM styles? It BEHOOVES you to get subscribed. #pinkyswear
“behooves”? really?
As per uzh: you can teach your face off … #pinkyswear
*THANK YOU CATHY! ****
** THANK YOU JOANNE! ****
*** THANK YOU MICHELLE! ****
****apparently, I’m only taking contributions from women this month. #thatscool #whatevs
ps The first FOUR module of my online course have dropped (only four more to go – two more coming this weekend!) and one lovely early-adopter writes: “she is SO much more fun than my science professor in my “Structural Sound and Acoustical Analysis” was”. Which, probably not what I want on my tombstone but, you know, I’ll take it when it’s about my course! Pre-Sale price extended to 1st November (or until all modules are dropped … whichever comes FIRST).
by Shannon Coates | Aug 11, 2018 | Fri Fav Five, Performing 101, Singing 101, The Vocal Instrument 101, Uncategorized
the Saturday edition. because: vacation.
Yeah. I’ve been on vacation and technically? I STILL AM. But you know what? There are SO MANY teach your face off things on The Internets right now (possibly because a lot of voice teachers aren’t teaching as much as they usually do at the moment?) that I just have to share a few.
I had forgotten all about this clip until Marnie posted it to her studio FB page. Not only is it REVELATORY for young singers to hear/see the difference production makes, but Matt spells “mic” correctly. (I mean, OF COURSE HE DOES. But STILL.)
this is me off-mic, human. and i’m awesome at it. of course.
I know, I KNOW. NOT ANOTHER MAILING LIST. But, seriously: it’s way easier for me to just be all: JOIN THIS MAILING LIST than to be linking to his posts every gosh-darned day. (And yes: It’s all about what’s EASIEST FOR ME.) John’s musings are kind of like Seth Godin’s* musings except for singing and voice-teachery-stuff. Which: AWESOME-SAUCE. (Also? He’s funny on that there old email thinggie. which: never a bad thing. #yourewelcome)
really. REALLY? gah.
If you’re kind of nerdy about language (and a lot of singing teachers seem to be …?), you’re going to get a kick out of this one. #truestory
dear great gouda in the sky but is english exhausting.
Folks. If you’re feeling a little (or a lot – no judgement here) overwhelmed by the thought of how to do justice to your studio / business / side-hustle / sheer awesomeness on social media? THIS IS THE PODCAST FOR YOU. Unless you don’t want immediately applicable tips and tricks to make negotiating social media easier. You know, unless that.
but why wouldn’t they want this information? WHHHY?
GROWTH MINDSET, my friends. Fostering growth mindset in our students will radically change the way they learn. Or at least it has the potential to do so. #TRUESTORY
that is a very big promise you’re making, human. YOU THINK YOU CAN HANDLE THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THAT PROMISE?!
Pretty sure I’m up for it, white cat who is full of disdain.
Also? You can teach your face off … I can help.
Go on and find #voicepedme on all the things:
* ummm … if you’re not on Seth Godin’s mailing list, maybe get on that one too … it’s my fav non-singing-related but TOTALLY LIFE- AND BUSINESS-RELATED thinggie.
ps y’all know that my course, The Vocal Instrument 101, is on PRESALE ($200 off. YES: $200 OFF. That is NOT a type-o.) now, right? mmmkay. Just checking.
pps if you want to figure out how to run your business without hating your boss (hello independent voice teachers: I AM LOOKING YOUR WAY.)? You’re going to want to check out Michelle’s course. YES YOU ARE. #pinkyswear
by Shannon Coates | Jul 6, 2018 | Fri Fav Five, Young Voice 101
The “My Kid and His Friends Are Playing D&D VERY LOUDLY at My Kitchen Table So Things Might Get a Little Weird” Edition*
You guys. Nikki put a mic in our faces and asked a question and then we just talked voice ped stuff. And it was SO SO SO fun. Like, SO FUN. Because, if you put a mic in my face and ask me to talk voice ped? I WILL DO THAT THING. ALL NIGHT LONG.**
#forthelovewoman aNOTHer podcast?
This one was floating around the singing teachery sites all week. And for good reason. IT TELLS YOU HOW TO TALK TO CHILDREN. Which, you know, SUPER-USEFUL if you happen to be an independent teacher who works with children. Or a parent. Or ANY PERSON WHO MIGHT ENCOUNTER A CHILD AT ANY TIME IN THEIR LIFE.
i am a little kitty. the way you talk to me matters. (ha!! no it doesn’t. I AM A CAT.)
So, this one time, someone I am working with posted on FaceBook about this great book they’re reading and how FANTASTICALLY AMAZINGLY APPLICABLE it is to teaching voice lessons. And I was all: WOW. THAT BOOK LOOKS SO SO SO GOOD. I’M GOING TO INCLUDE IT IN MY NEXT #FFF. And then I realized that one of my students had loaned me THAT VERY BOOK LAST YEAR and that I HAD ACTUALLY PERUSED IT MY OWN SELF so I KNOW IN PERSON HOW GOOD IT IS****.
I’m awesome that way, y’all.
And? If you work with singers? YOU WILL FIND SOOOO MANY TOOLS and TIPS in this book. Because you know what? WE ALL HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS.
we are all calicoish cats. and yet we are all our own cat. #justsayin
You guys. #ICantEven
i mean. the level of talent it takes to do that? is kind of astounding. truly.
This is an “Oldie But A Goodie”. And by “oldie” I mean “it was written a WHOLE THREE YEARS AGO, so IT’S ANCIENT” and by “goodie” I mean “THIS MAY BE HARD TO BELIEVE BUT IT’S STILL RELEVANT”.
yes. YES IT IS A GOOD ONE. high five, human.
Go on and teach your face off #whydoncha?
*Also? I made an entire package of hot dogs (#ItsFridayNightSoNoJudgy) … and the three of them ate them all. In WAY LESS than ten minutes. TAKE THAT Joey Chestnut.
** NOTE: I use the term ‘diagnose’ / ‘diagnostic’ in this podcast. And I am fully aware that I am not a medical doctor so please note that I do not mean “diagnose” in the “use my medical degree to figure out what pathology that singer has”. I just mean it in the “use my voice ped degree to figure out something about how that singer is producing sound”. So if you are tempted to tell me that I should not use that word (because: NO MEDICAL DEGREE), please just keep in mind that I WAS TIRED and JET LAGGING and PROBABLY DRUNK*** so I used a word *somewhat* carelessly and I AM SORRY.
*** I was not drunk. Like, in NO SENSE of the word. IT’S A JOKE Y’ALL.
**** THANK YOU LINDSAY! I WILL READ IT FULLY ONE DAY! #pinkyswear
by Shannon Coates | Apr 21, 2018 | Adjudicating 101, Ageing Voice 101, Fri Fav Five, Productivity 101, Singing 101, Vocal Health & Hygiene 101, Voice Pedagogy 101
I’ve spent a LOT of time listening to and evaluating singers this week. Because: FESTIVAL TIME. And this post is cutting it pretty darned close to the wire (I mean, it’s still Friday in Vancouver so, you know, SUE ME). I have heard A Path to the Moon* about a million times in the last four days so I feel I AM ENTITLED TO A LITTLE BIT OF LEEWAY FROM YOU.
you are a very whiny human. and that’s coming from a cat so …
1. favourite independent voice studio tool: postermywall.com
If you’re an independent voice teacher? You’ve made a poster or two in your life. Or four hundred thousand. You know, give or take. Postermywall.com is kind of like canva.com (which, incidentally, I just discovered a few months ago (thank you SECO friends) and virtually LOST MY MIND when I did. Because: SO EASY AND NOW I REGRET THE LIFE DECISIONS THAT LEAD ME TO FIDDLING AROUND WITH GOOGLE THINGS AND WASTING HALF OF MY LIFE MAKING CUTE POSTERS TO ADVERTISE ALL THE THINGS WHEN I COULD HAVE BEEN USING CANVA AND GOING TO BED A LOT SOONER), but better. So, #yourewelcome. (And thank you Patti for the heads up!)
you’ve missed a lot of sleep, human. you are not smart. you would be smarter if you got more sleep. and you would know to use handy programmes that save you time so that you can sleep more. and presumably get smarter. too bad about that.
Singing Voice Specialist, Kristie Knickerbocker demonstrates how a scope works, ON HER VERY OWN SELF. #happyworldvoiceday
humans are so weird. why are humans so weird?
3. favourite unintentionally educational YouTube video: Okurrr – Kris Jenner
The student of one of my friends? Taught herself how to tongue trill by watching this video. Yes. YOU HEARD ME.
did i hear you though? because i could swear you just said that a KRIS JENNER video was useful.
New initiative from Total Vocal Freedom with the purpose of supporting and empowering female singers over the age of 50 that are concerned about the longevity and quality of their singing voice in the second half of their life.
Yes. I stole that copy directly from their website. And yes. That’s the copy I included when I sent the information about the Phoenix Project to all of the women in my studio who might benefit from joining it. Which was about thirty seconds before I realized that I AM VERY CLOSE TO BEING THEIR TARGET MARKET. SAY WHAAAAAAT NOW?!?
you thought, perhaps, you weren’t aging with the rest of us, human? that you somehow escaped the inevitable? you clearly need more sleep. you are growing not smarter by the second.
If you have an hour or so to watch some cool voice teachery discussion unfold (and you weren’t able to watch it live because it happened at, like, MIDNIGHT YOUR TIME**)? This is well worth your time.
do not do this thing, human. we have been over this: YOU NEED YOUR SLEEP.
Here’s to sleeping and slowing down the inevitable decline into not-smartness. And as always:
You can teach your face off … I can help.
* Don’t get me wrong: I love me some A Path to the Moon. I just, you know, heard it a LOT this week. And you know what? You need to create ever-more energized K-sounds as you follow the composer’s crescendo marking on the chorus and allow that energy to build to create the crescendo. That’s right: those K-sounds? ARE A GIFT and will help you to avoid pushing or over-pressurizing to sing the crescendo. Also? You need to develop some subtext for those long chunks when you aren’t singing and make me believe that you have a reason to sing the next bit of text. AND? ASSIGN AN EMOTION TO EACH DYNAMIC MARKING ALREADY. THIS WILL HELP YOU TO EXECUTE THE DYNAMICS IN AN ENGAGED WAY AND ENHANCE YOUR PERFORMANCE. I HAVE HEARD THIS SONG A LOT AND I PROMISE YOU IT WILL HELP. #IPINKYSWEARIT
** Guess how I know what time Dr. Dan’s Lives are in my time? Because I am hanging out live with Dr. Dan in a few weeks and before I agreed to do so? I checked to make sure I wasn’t committing to trying to be interesting and witty at, like, three in the morning. That’s not good for anyone. Least of all someone who clearly isn’t getting enough sleep in the first place.
by Shannon Coates | Mar 23, 2018 | Fri Fav Five
Friends,
There were a LOT of amazing voice teachery things on The Internets this week; it was haaaarrrrd to pick just five (waaaaahhhh). BUT IT DID THAT JUST FOR YOU. BECAUSE I AM KIND AND FULL OF LOVE FOR YOU. yes. that.
If you are an independent voice teacher, chances are HIGH that you have worked with a singer (or two, or four hundred thousand) who does not easily match pitch.** Well, in this blog post, Brian sums up some KEY POINTS to working with uncoordinated singers and you know what? They. Are. The. Boss (the key points. not the uncoordinated singers. although uncoordinated singers are also awesome. just in a different way than key points are.).
i may look like i am staring into your soul and willing you to read brian’s blog post. but what i am really doing is reminding you that it is time for wet food and you are a lazy-butt who needs to get out of bed to feed me that wet food. and, yes, an animal who sleeps twenty out of every twenty-four hours is totally judging you for missing the six AM wet food feeding.
I mean, FAR BE IT FROM ME to be all up in your face about how awesome the RCM is (oh wait: I may have done this already in the past. A little bit.) buuuuuut: these apps are pretty danged awesome. My young students especially really like them and their parents have fun doing the games with their kids so that’s doubly awesome, #amiright? And? Seeing as learning music terms is pretty-much straight memorization (ugh) my students are LOVING the “Terms” apps because they (#clichealert) MAKE LEARNING (aka straight memorization) FUN!
MAKE MEMORIZING TERMS FUN AGAIN. [If I was any kind of fancy blogger, I would photoshop (or whatever the modern equivalent is (canva?)) the picture on that screen to a list of obscure Italian music terms like, “comodo” (which: commode! BAHAHAHA #IAmTwelve). But I am not that blogger.]
Next time you think a student is lazy, or just a terrible, terrible student (I mean, you’ve GIVEN THEM ALL THE THINGS TO SUCCEED AT PRACTICING HOW COULD THEY NOT DO IT?!), consider this.
i am not lazy. i am a cat.
Yeah yeah yeah … Upbeat PIANO Teachers … I know, I KNOW. But guess what? EVERYTHING SARA TALKS ABOUT IN THIS FB LIVE IS TOTALLY, ONE HUNDRED PERCENT APPLICABLE TO UPBEAT SINGING TEACHERS TOO (see what I did there?). #pinkyswear (Also, Sara may or may not be a singing teacher too. #truestory)
[Guess what, friendternets? THERE ARE NO PICTURES OF UPBEAT CATS ON THE INTERNETS. Go ahead and google that. I’ll be right here waiting. Whole lot of humans looking very happy while holding cats, #amiright? Good golly, do I love me some sardonic, better-than-you, resting-beyotch-faced cats.]
You know, if by “favourite” I actually mean “WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?!?”. (Also: #yourewelcome)***
no. seriously. WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?
And on that note, I wish you happy-weekending.
You can teach your face off … I can help.
*This blog post was written nearly EIGHT YEARS AGO. Brian is an early adapter. AND? HE’S WRITTEN A BOOK THAT YOU SHOULD BUY AS SOON AS IT COMES OUT. And in the meantime, you should sign up to get updates from him so you totally know when it comes out. So you can buy it. (Not that I’m telling you what you should do or anything. Except that I really am.)
**If you are an academic teacher, chances are HIGH that you have not worked with a singer who does not easily match pitch. Because: it’s pretty danged tricky / bordering on the MIRACULOUS to get into a university voice programme if you can’t match pitch. #justsayin
*** All y’all can thank my student, Lindsay M for forwarding that little bit of WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW to me.
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