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Within the past year, I have been privileged to debut new work performance vignettes for anti-trafficking organization galas and human trafficking awareness events in Atlanta, GA, and Charleston, WV.  These vignettes are part of a larger work, a musical I have written set in the trafficking world.  Observing the talent in rehearsal last night, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for not only being an artist but for being able to use my work, work that is often limited to the upper socio-economic classes, for a greater purpose than strictly entertainment.  For each performance, I have been blessed with talented performers who are as passionate about telling this story as being onstage.  In five days, I look forward to playing a small part in an event that I am hopeful will spark change in Charleston’s community.

Thank you to the Charleston Gazette for agreat article regarding the YWCA Human Trafficking Awareness Event that my cast and I were a part of last week!

Click here to read the article. 

Here’s to an exciting 2018 so far. I was able to team up with the YWCA Charleston and provide two performance pieces for their Human Trafficking Event on January 9, 2017. The event was packed even beyond the organization’s anticipation which was a welcomed surprise. The West Virginia girls who performed at Wellspring Living’s event at the Cobb Galleria in September 2017 all came back to participate in this event so once again the audience was entertained by a stellar cast.

This project has been a part of my personal life so long that I often forget how many communities are unaware of this hidden issue that is often prevalent. I am so thankful for organizations such as Wellspring Living and the YWCA who make it their mission to not only provide an oasis for the victims but also to educate the general public and raise awareness. As an artist, I am truly thankful to these organizations for recognizing art’s influence and opening the door to showcase my work as an opportunity to advocate through art.

The piece we performed is titled “While I Hope”, and the final sentence is a fitting ending to this post and blessing to the readers. “I will wait to see all the joy life will bring to me while I hope.”

As with any profession, the more experience gained, the more knowledge possessed. After seventeen years of working as a professional vocalist, I have picked up quite a few tips and tricks for maintaining a healthy voice. Singer Sundays is my means of passing on this information and hoping it will serve useful to those who enjoy sharing the gift of vocal music.

Tip #9 –Listen and listen again

This is a tip I wish someone had told me at a much younger age because the beginning of mastering vocals requires more listening than singing. Just as in life, the more we listen the more wisdom we can glean from the seasoned veteran. This holds true with singing as well. I am not just talking about listening to our own voice but listening to others. Listening to the classic greats that carved the way for vocalists before us. When I began listening to others I began understanding my own voice. I would hear control, inflections, power, and breath in great vocals and listen over and over to them. After listening a few times, I tried to find the same placement. After listening a few more times, I began to match my placement to the vocalist I was listening to and then voi loi – I would find it! Oftentimes, I had no clue what I had done, but I knew I found it, and it felt healthy and right. I would then listen and imitate again and again until I finally understood where the placement was and what I was physically doing with breath, the palette, and larynx. Listening is the key. You will begin to find what genres compliment your voice and what your strengths are. Listening also gives you new ideas. If you stick with listening to one style of music then your creativity bank will quickly become stagnant. If you listen to classics before you then you will connect styles of your favorites with previous greats and will have an arsenal of nuances, vocal tricks, and playful scats that keep performances fresh and new. With so many ways to stream music nowadays, there is no reason you shouldn’t discover a new voice a month. I’ve a sneaking suspicion after listening awhile you may find this becomes your favorite hobby.

As with any profession, the more experience gained, the more knowledge possessed. After seventeen years of working as a professional vocalist, I have picked up quite a few tips and tricks for maintaining a healthy voice. Singer Sundays is my means of passing on this information and hoping it will serve useful to those who enjoy sharing the gift of vocal music.

Tip #8 — Grab a Neti-pot and see the results

Perhaps the most frustrating issue for a singer is a continuous scratchy throat. While the causes of this symptom could be a variety of reasons, many times even after multiple doctor visits there is not a specific answer for the problem. This past week I was struggling with a scratchy, sore throat yet did not feel fatigued, fevered, etc. Allergies was the suspect cause.  Fearful of taking an allergy pill that would further dry out my voice, I opted for a Neti-pot. For a week I performed a nasal cleanse and after three days I noticed a definite difference. After a week my throat felt normal. If you are struggling with frequent vocal scratchiness, I would highly recommend giving the Neti saline cleanse a try. Let me know if works for you.

As with any profession, the more experience gained, the more knowledge possessed. After seventeen years of working as a professional vocalist, I have picked up quite a few tips and tricks for maintaining a healthy voice. Singer Sundays is my means of passing on this information and hoping it will serve useful to those who enjoy sharing the gift of vocal music.

Tip #7 — Record yourself and listen, listen, listen!

In life, we are continually evolving and (hopefully) growing as individuals. The same is true for a vocalist. Listen to an interview with one of your favorite vocalists, and you will most likely hear them speak regarding how they are growing musically and vocally. One of my college professors recorded all my vocal lessons and would give them to me on a CD for the purposes of being able to hear myself outside of my own head. Admittedly, I did not take advantage of this opportunity in college. Most of the CD’s sat in my dorm room gathering dust. It was not until later in life when I was sincerely working on strengthening my mix that I realized the gift of modern technology and began to take advantage of audio recording myself while rehearsing. There is no better motivation for correcting than comes from hearing your own voice. Recording gives an aural reflection of the voice, allowing for understanding and familiarization with the individual voice that leads to the ability to correct. Recently, I took a master class online with Christina Aguilera only to find out she frequently records herself as well. From the beginner to the experts, the only way to truly learn your voice, your timbre, your vocal nuances is to listen to yourself. Whether you choose a voice recording or a video recording, take advantage of your smart device and become familiar with your voice – the sooner the better. Fifteen minutes of familiarizing yourself with your voice a day will put your on the fast track to the voice you want.

As with any profession, the more experience gained, the more knowledge possessed. After seventeen years of working as a professional vocalist, I have picked up quite a few tips and tricks for maintaining a healthy voice. Singer Sundays is my means of passing on this information and hoping it will serve useful to those who enjoy sharing the gift of vocal music.

Tip #6 — The Tuning Fork – a $4 gem

As a singer, I am always looking for ways to improve my range, vocal endurance, and especially my ear. During my first professional job at a theme park years ago, a musician in my cast showed me a tuning fork. I had no clue what it was or why anyone would need one. He explained that he carried it with him in case there wasn’t a pitch pipe, keyboard, etc. to tune off of. As we talked, I realized how helpful this would be for auditions – when you are sitting in a waiting room, nerves kick in, and you hope you can belt that C sharp, but you aren’t exactly sure where that C sharp is in your voice. That summer my friend ended up giving me a tuning fork as a gift, and I still have it seventeen years later. Over the past seventeen years, I have developed relative pitch all thanks to this tuning fork.

So how does it work? My tuning fork is an A. When I hit the metal against an object that is the pitch I hear. After years of using it, I know where an A sits in my voice below middle, above middle C, and above the staff.   Using intervals, I can find any pitch from the A and now so many years later, I am familiar with where most of those pitches sit in my voice. In this age of technology, there are apps for everything, but part of mastering anything is being so familiar with it that crutches are not needed. A tuning fork costs $4-6, you can easily fit in in your pocket, it helps develop your ear and brain by learning to hear intervals based off the original pitch, and allows you to be independent as a singer with no need for anything but your voice. Pass up that $4 latte today and invest in a tuning fork.   The gains will be worth much more than the investment.

As with any profession, the more experience gained, the more knowledge possessed. After seventeen years of working as a professional vocalist, I have picked up quite a few tips and tricks for maintaining a healthy voice. Singer Sundays is my means of passing on this information and hoping it will serve useful to those who enjoy sharing the gift of vocal music.

Tip #5 — Enjoy the Gift!

This week’s tip has nothing to do with sore throats or allergies, but rather the emotional side of singing. Age brings a bit of wisdom and insight with it. There are things I recognize when teaching now that I was oblivious to ten years ago. One of the more apparent things I have realized for myself as a singer and through teaching others is to ENJOY THE GIFT.   One of my major disagreements with all the competition vocal shows is that a voice is not something where there is a winner and a loser. Some voices are more trained, skilled in certain areas, and/or developed than others, but a winning voice is a preference of the listener. If all listeners had the same ear and same listening taste then I am sure there could be quantifiable measurements for a best but because that is not the case with humans than the best differs from person to person. Vocal development through exercises and training is an excellent discipline but if the joy of singing is lost along the way then I would say it is time to evaluate whether it is worth it. With every gift there is training, repetition, strengthening, and development along the way, but the love and joy of the gift should be the drive behind this journey even when painful. Remember that your voice is unique to you. Enjoy the sounds you make. Enjoy the experimentation with different colors and qualities of your voice. Enjoy the rigorous exercises that strengthen and eliminate trouble areas. Nothing in life is always fun or great – not even the greatest things in life, but singing – the ability to express yourself through music in a way that only you can—should be a joy and a lifelong journey of vocal growth. Record yourself and listen to your voice with an open ear instead of critical. Celebrate the nice sounds and colors you hear. Note the notes, phrasing, etc. that need work and then get to work experimenting with your voice in order to better the parts that aren’t truly what you want to express.

As with any profession, the more experience gained, the more knowledge possessed. After seventeen years of working as a professional vocalist, I have picked up quite a few tips and tricks for maintaining a healthy voice. Singer Sundays is my means of passing on this information and hoping it will serve useful to those who enjoy sharing the gift of vocal music.

Tip #4 — Honey — nature’s healer

At this time of year my allergies go haywire! I’m sure there are plenty of others in the same boat as I so what to do when you are scheduled to sing?  I suppose huge stars can pick and choose the time of year they prefer to sing, but for the working artist, the job dictates when we use our talent.  Itchy eyes and a scratchy throat are my regulars during spring so eyedrops and honey are my go-to’s.  Honey is a natural lubricant for the vocal cords so if you are experiencing a dry, scratchy throat carry some honey packets with you and swallow a few minutes before you sing.  It helps lubricate the cords so you don’t feel like you are singing on sandpaper and helps with producing a smoother sound.  Honey is another staple I would suggest to have in your gig bag.  You never know when you will encounter a sore or scratchy throat, and honey is just the balm to provide vocal ease and comfort.