Mary Ann Coggins Kaza, Donnell Plumlee, Laura Handke
I’ve been
teaching at Lake Music, not just in my home studio, since last August. Lake
Music’s second recital this year was Saturday, October 26th. Seven
of my students, four voice and three piano students, had originally signed up
to perform.
Now, the
word “perform” is a bit of a stretch for a recital. This is not an audition or
professional production, just an opportunity to stretch and show off what you’ve
learned so far with supportive family members and friends in the audience.
Yet it can feel
like a performance, as I remember from my childhood piano recitals and early
vocal performances in church and school. And…not that long ago…when I auditioned
for a musical for the first time in 20 years.
It can be
freakin’ terrifying…especially sharing your voice in a solo singing performance.
For me, having not jumped out of an airplane, or been diagnosed with a
potentially fatal illness, solo singing is the scariest thing I’ve done. Perhaps
even scarier than leaving a job when I had no money in the bank because I knew
I needed to complete my vocal training with the Transformational Voice® Training Institute, and I was forced to make a choice.
Lina Chang
How crazy is
this? That the thought of singing in front of other people can wreak so much mental
havoc we might as well be about to cross a railroad track in front of an
oncoming train. Can you see the headlight? Hear that whistle blowng? Feel all
that fog rolling up and around? I sure can. (Hmm…do I watch too many movies?
Maybe I’ve sung Folsom Prison Blues one too many times.)
The fear of
public speaking (without even adding singing to the mix) is consistently – in
study after study, year after year – in the top three fears of most people,
along with death and height-related fears, like falling or crashing in a plane.
I read somewhere that certain insects/bugs are close in the mix as well.
Allow me to
laugh about this for a minute. God, please make sure the flight attendant
doesn’t hand me a glass of tomato juice with a spider on it, while he forces me
to give a speech as the plane is crashing.
Okay, that
wasn’t very funny. I tried.
Because solo
singing (not speaking so much) has been one of my big fears, I can relate.
I’m getting
over it, and so can you. It starts in the brain, impacts the body, and you can
re-reprogram the brain.
Two of my voice students backed out of the recital because they were afraid of performing. And they were two of my strongest students, in different ways. Another spaced it because of competing family priorities. The one who did get up and sing sounded fantastic and empowered herself. I was so proud of Chloe. (By the way, I made a mistake while accompanying her on the piano to Scarborough Fair; I wasn’t perfect!)
I asked
Chloe if she felt good about her singing afterwards, and she did. Her family
was there supporting her with a bunch of congratulatory orange/peach colored
roses, taking family photos.
Chloe Baker
Performance
anxiety will lessen once you perform, in a safe environment, just a few times.
And I happen to have this very cool MP3 file (I didn’t create it) that helped
lessen my performance anxiety.
Yet it all
starts with the breath…being able to breathe with a relaxed core so your belly
goes out when you inhale, and your breath is carrying the sound of your
beautiful voice.
If you’re fearful about speaking or singing in public, know it’s natural and there are ways you can move forward and express your inner voice in the outer world.
Karma Bradley and Mark KelloggShelly Zhuge Donn Skrivanek
Love Your Voice
and Voice Your Love,
Laura
Please spread the love and pass this along to a
friend!
Lake Oswego’s Transformational Voice® Teacher (Transformational
Voice® is a
registered trademark of Transformational Voice® Training Institute, LLC, and Linda Brice.)
As much as I love teaching private voice students…and I do thrill as my individual
students grow and excel…there is something magical about group workshops.
For when two or three gather in my name, there am I with
them. -Matthew 18:20, the Bible, English Translations
This Bible quote is, of course, credited to Jesus of Nazareth.
Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich, expounded
on the value of master mind groups, which he defined thus: The coordination of
knowledge and effort, of two or more people, who work toward a definite
purpose, in the spirit of harmony. (I, personally, often use the term wish-weaving
interchangeably with masterminding.)
Is it possible the disciples were Jesus Christ’s mastermind/wish-weaver
group? I think so.
I’ve led, or been a part of, way too many wish-weaving circles and voice
classes to ignore the potency of this group dynamic. People learn more quickly.
Ideas are generated and exchanged for more facile solutions. Sometimes lasting
connections are formed in the built-in community.
Jesus and Napoleon were onto something.
If you’d like to celebrate your authentic voice in this kind of collaborative community, come to Four Vocal Superpowers Most Pros Don’t Know November 2nd.
If you’re in the neighborhood, know you’re also invited to Lake Music’s recital at Lakewood Theatre this coming Saturday, October 26th, from 1:00-4:00! Several of yours truly’s voice and piano students will be showing off their talent and skills.
In the meantime, love your voice and voice your love,
Laura
Please spread the love and pass this along to a friend!
Within the
first couple of lessons with vocal coach Laura Handke, I learned to use my
voice in a more powerful way using the breathing and resonance techniques she
teaches. She is always pleasant and upbeat, which helps me to relax as I
learn. I would recommend her to anyone who wants to take their vocal
expression to the next level. Thank you, Laura! –Mary Jo H.
Lake Oswego’s Transformational Voice® Teacher (Transformational
Voice® is a
registered trademark of Transformational Voice® Training Institute, LLC, and Linda Brice.)
Do you want
to commit to the amazing authentic voice already within you?
Here’s a
great way to do it!
Four Vocal Superpowers Most Pros
Don’t Know
Learn to:
Harness the power of the Breath to create maximum vocal impact without weakening your voice or your throat getting hoarse.
Avoid harsh Onsets, which can cause damage to the vocal cords. (Internationally renowned pop singer, Adele, had to have vocal cord surgery due to this issue, not once, but twice.)
Create vocal Resonance, so your voice carries to the back of room without a microphone, and without pushing or straining your voice.
Speak in your natural, authentic Pitch to avert vocal fry.
November 2, Saturday, 1:00-4:00 pm In Partnership with Brenda Bryan and
The Speakers Club
In the
meantime, love your voice and voice your love,
Laura
Please spread the love and pass this along to a friend!
In only a few lessons with Laura, my voice quality
improved tremendously, both for singing and speaking. I’m noticing more
resonance, clarity, and range. Laura has a great ear, and her teaching and
coaching style feels safe, friendly and professional. She is supportive and
stretches me. Her acting, singing, and speaking backgrounds blend beautifully
to support presence and confidence in her students, as well. I’m excited to
continue with her, and highly recommend her if you want to improve your voice.
–Cricket W., MD
Lake Oswego’s Transformational Voice® Teacher (Transformational Voice® is a registered
trademark of Transformational Voice® Training Institute, LLC, and Linda Brice.)
I have two upcoming vocal
workshops I’m excited to tell you about, but this post is personal.
I got married!!!
I have a husband!!!
I’m a wife!!!
Okay, I’ll stop with all the
exclamation points.
Or not!!!!!!!!!
George and I have been in a
committed, loving relationship for seven years, but it still feels weird to say
those two little words. My husband.
The ceremony was short, sweet
and simple, planned just a little over two weeks ahead of time.
Still, getting married is a
big deal, so I wanted to share our big news and a little bit of our story.
In September of 2010, I started a new full-time job as a Sr. Claims Examiner, while I was completing apprentice teacher training with the Transformational Voice® Training Institute. I was at the studio three nights a week after the day job, doing homework and rehearsing, and dating was the last thing on my mind. I didn’t have the time, and besides…as my marriage of 12 years was ending in 2006…I swore I’d never get married again. (Oddly enough, my new husband was also married once before, in 1994, and divorced in 2006.)
My back, especially around
the left shoulder blade area, was bothering me as I was sitting at a computer
again for hours a day. It became almost intolerable one day. I had left my previous
chiropractor and massage therapist in Salem behind when I moved to Lake Oswego
after my divorce. And I had just moved into a new apartment, with a
chiropractic clinic right across the street.
I searched my mind trying to
remember the name of the chiropractic clinic and thankfully found it online. I
called and was told Licensed Massage Therapist George had an appointment
available at 5:30. I booked that appointment, and my back was so grateful I
did. The owner of the clinic also became my new chiropractor.
For a year and four months,
about once a month, I was typically George’s last client of the day, after I’d
finished adjusting claims at the office and my body at Curves gym. I’d show up
in gym shorts and a T-shirt, and George’s massage would make me feel better.
When I was getting ready to go home, he was closing the clinic after the doctor
and other staff had left.
We got to talking…George
behind the reception desk, me standing in the lobby. We became friends. He told
me about local bands he liked, and we became on friends on Facebook so I could
check out some of the music he suggested. It turned out we were also neighbors,
living just half a block away from each other.
Fast-forward several months. The TVTI graduation ceremony was complete and I had more free time. I hadn’t been in for a massage in a while, and it was around the time of the grand slam tennis events, which came up in conversation towards the end of my massage. I used to love to bat a ball around (I’m terrible at it, but it’s fun and good exercise) and mentioned that to George. He said he had a tennis racquet somewhere.
He flew at the Washington
State International Kite Festival while I celebrated my 48th birthday
with friends Lorinda and Richard. After George returned from the festival, I
received a message that he’d located his tennis racquet.
And that’s how it started.
George had never dated a
client and was cautious in his approach. I was just excited to have a tennis
buddy again!
We first walked to the tennis
court together on September 4, 2012. I thought we were just tennis buddies,
until I got an invitation to the Saturday Market. Then I realized my tennis
friend might be asking me out on a date.
This is the story we included
as part of our wedding ceremony:
L: It all started with a walk
to the tennis court
G: Sometimes when you first
meet someone, and you feel that energetic connection
L: Your heart starts to show
itself
G: So, I took her downtown to
Saturday Market and to see the Church of Elvis, which wasn’t really a church
L: Before we got the Moroccan
chicken seasoning packet that would soon cement our relationship, and we saw
the dragon boat races
G: Somewhere along the way,
we realized we spoke the same language
L: And looked at the world
through similar eyes, so I asked him to help me hang a sarong on my wall
G: And we made plans for that
Moroccan chicken dinner
Both: That was seven years
ago today and I’ve loved you more every day since, Baby.
We decided to get married
before our trip to South Dakota to visit my family late September and had
already made plans to visit our dear friends Kathie and Rod over the night of
September 14th. They live in the country, 30 miles from the Oregon coast.
After they agreed to host our wedding and be our witnesses, we realized the
date was exactly seven years after we’d committed to each other; 10 days after
that first walk to the tennis court.
Here we are with Kathie and
Rod and Rev Susan Dorn. Photographer Debbie is an old friend of George’s who
happened to be available at just the right time, and brought her granddaughter,
Gabby.
My favorite florist gifted me
with the orchids in my hair.
Each person was integral to
our sweet, short, simple and meaningful ceremony. (Which is what I would
recommend to younger people getting married, too, by the way. )
I had fun getting married,
and I hope you’ve had fun reading about it.
From your voice (and piano)
teacher,
Mrs. Laura Lee Handke,
Married to Mr. George Edward
Meredith
TWO UPCOMING WORKSHOPS:
October 5, Saturday, 2:00-4:00 pm
Dance with Joy Studios
8051 SE 16th Ave., Portland (Sellwood) OR
Embrace Your Authentic Voice: Four Critical Pillars for Effective and Healthy Vocal Technique
Learn to:
Harness the power of the Breath to create maximum vocal impact without weakening your voice or your throat getting hoarse.
Avoid harsh Onsets, which can cause damage to the vocal cords. (Internationally renowned pop singer, Adele, had to have vocal cord surgery due to this issue, not once, but twice.)
Create vocal Resonance, so your voice carries to the back of room without a microphone, and without pushing or straining your voice.
Speak in your natural, authentic Pitch to avert vocal fry.
In Partnership with Brenda Bryan and The Speakers Club
Location TBA
Four Vocal Superpowers Most Pros Don’t Know
Learn to:
Harness the power of the Breath to create maximum vocal impact without weakening your voice or your throat getting hoarse.
Avoid harsh Onsets, which can cause damage to the vocal cords. (Internationally renowned pop singer, Adele, had to have vocal cord surgery due to this issue, not once, but twice.)
Create vocal Resonance, so your voice carries to the back of room without a microphone, and without pushing or straining your voice.
Speak in your natural, authentic Pitch to avert vocal fry.
Within the
first couple of lessons with vocal coach Laura Handke, I learned to use my
voice in a more powerful way using the breathing and resonance techniques she
teaches. She is always pleasant and upbeat, which helps me to relax as I
learn. I would recommend her to anyone who wants to take their vocal
expression to the next level. Thank you, Laura! –Mary Jo H.
Laura Handke, Lake
Oswego’s Transformational Voice® Teacher
Transformational Voice® is a
registered trademark of Transformational Voice® Training Institute, LLC, and
Linda Brice
Every time I meet a new student, give a voice lesson, or sing
intentionally myself, I learn something new.
Hearing “I can’t” dismays me. And I’ve been hearing those two little
words a lot lately, especially from young female singers. “I can’t sing that
high.” “I can’t breathe like that.” “I can’t hold a note that long.”
The more subtle and insidious message behind those I cant’s is “I
won’t.” “I’m not willing to consider that I can.” “I choose to believe I am
unable to do this.”
Admittedly, some of the suggestions I give students feel downright silly,
and that can be embarrassing for tweens or teenagers. Say ‘nyaaa’ like an angry
cat. Stick your tongue out of your mouth and tack it onto your chin with a
finger, while you say ‘aaa’ (as in the word cat or hat.) Pretend you’re
throwing your voice all the way across the room then down the street three
blocks while you say, ‘money, money, money’.
Yet these exercises help free the authentic voice. Trust me…it’s not always easy figuring out how to help students get healthy and effective vocal technique into muscle memory, while keeping in mind how self-conscious we can be at certain ages. It’s not like I’ve forgotten my own experience of being 12, 14, 17…
Students of all ages tend to respond to the idea that your breath is a river – or a conveyor belt – carrying the sound of your voice. If you can picture your belly/abdomen as the bellows which bring forth the breath, which carries your voice on the river… you’ll be several steps ahead of most people who talk all day long without having this conscious awareness.
Just one little tip today to help free your voice.
You’re welcome. 😊
TWO UPCOMING WORKSHOPS:
October 5, Saturday, 2:00-4:00 pm
Dance with Joy Studios
8051 SE 16th Ave., Portland (Sellwood) OR
Embrace Your Authentic Voice: Four Critical Pillars for Effective and Healthy Vocal Technique
Learn to:
Harness the power of the Breath to create maximum vocal impact without weakening your voice or your throat getting hoarse.
Avoid harsh Onsets, which can cause damage to the vocal cords. (Internationally renowned pop singer, Adele, had to have vocal cord surgery due to this issue, not once, but twice.)
Create vocal Resonance, so your voice carries to the back of room without a microphone, and without pushing or straining your voice.
Speak in your natural, authentic Pitch to avert vocal fry.
In Partnership with Brenda Bryan and The Speakers Club
Location TBA
Four Vocal Superpowers Most Pros Don’t Know
Learn to:
Harness the power of the Breath to create maximum vocal impact without weakening your voice or your throat getting hoarse.
Avoid harsh Onsets, which can cause damage to the vocal cords. (Internationally renowned pop singer, Adele, had to have vocal cord surgery due to this issue, not once, but twice.)
Create vocal Resonance, so your voice carries to the back of room without a microphone, and without pushing or straining your voice.
Speak in your natural, authentic Pitch to avert vocal fry.
In the
meantime, love your voice and voice your love,
Laura
Please spread the love and pass this along to a
friend!
In only a few lessons with Laura, my voice quality
improved tremendously, both for singing and speaking. I’m noticing more
resonance, clarity, and range. Laura has a great ear, and her teaching and
coaching style feels safe, friendly and professional. She is supportive and
stretches me. Her acting, singing, and speaking backgrounds blend beautifully
to support presence and confidence in her students, as well. I’m excited to
continue with her, and highly recommend her if you want to improve your voice.
–Cricket W., MD
Lake Oswego’s Transformational Voice® Teacher (Transformational Voice® is a registered
trademark of Transformational Voice® Training Institute, LLC, and Linda Brice.)
