New Job!

I have been hired as the Vocal Coach of a new chorister program at a church in Atlanta. It is a very exciting prospect for me, this whole working with kids thing. As I was going through all my schooling I assumed that college age youths were my target audience. But as I began to teach private lessons to younger and younger singers, I discovered that I loved stimulating and enriching the lives of teenagers. For me, 13 is a good age to begin honest to goodness voice lessons, at the least the ones I teach. It takes a certain level of emotional maturity and discipline to handle the ups and downs of developing a skill from a passion. Any younger than thirteen I always recommend that they try singing in a choir, a good choir.

In a good choir, led by someone who is truly knowledgeable about the voice, a child can learn most of what he or she needs to know about the basics of good singing. In order to achieve a certain depth of musical understanding one must learn the fundamentals of music. So, a choir that also emphasizes theoretical skills offers the most complete development.

I can't wait to delve into a world that has made me who I am today, a musician. At the age of six I began singing in a choir, and decades later I still love to sing and excel as a musician. This new job will teach me so much more about being a good person, teacher, and singer. I can't wait.

Catching Up

The end of May and most of June were spent following musical pursuits. Ben and I flew to Lincoln, Nebraska, so that I could concertize with friend and harpsichordist, Ben C. The concert was sparsely attended, but those who were present enjoyed themselves greatly. Then, Ben C. and I flew to Toronto to attend TBSI. After two weeks of Baroque bliss, Ben and I stayed in Toronto for a few days to be just tourists. A visit to Niagara Falls was mind-blowing, and then we headed home. These amazing experiences would not have been possible if I were still employed at my last place of work. I think it was meant to be.