I’m feeling humbled by what Chris Jones of The Bow Knows Video Production & Voice-Over https://chrisjonesmedia.com/ had to say after our recent video interview.
So, I’m humbly sharing his words as posted on LinkedIn. I’ve learned it’s not just okay – it’s important – for all of us to own our genius. To embrace our ability to inspire others. To acknowledge that we know a thing or two that will help other people live their best lives and most fully express their authentic voices in the world. Chris’ words and the link to our 20-minute interview is below.
Right now, I’m thigh-deep in rehearsals for Chapel Theatre’s production of Shine Strong the Moon. I am so very grateful for my acting partner, Marychris, and director, Aiyana. In just six short pages of script, I’ve found Patty (while Doris from The Owl and the Pussycat comes close) to be the most challenging character I’ve played to date. We are recording the show live at Chapel Theatre (in a COVID-safe environment, of course) on Sunday!!! Wow!!!
Thanks for keeping me in your inbox and on your read list.
Please spread the love and pass this along to a friend!
Love Your Voice & Voice Your Love,
Laura
Lake Oswego’s Transformational Voice® Teacher (Transformational Voice® is a registered trademark of Transformational Voice® Training Institute, LLC, and Linda Brice.)
Your local Transformational Voice® Teacher has been in an activity flurry as of late. I can “blame” (thank, actually) my Licensed Massage Therapist husband for part of the flurry. He’s turning one room in the house into a massage room, so we’ve been decluttering and rearranging like crazy. I tend to live lean as it is, but there was plenty of paperwork in my office to get rid of. I even bought a shredder so I could get rid of old tax documents. Me, a shredder! It feels SO good to streamline and downsize “junk.” Next will be the hall closet. I warmly invite you to join me and do the same in your own home. Just one drawer is always a good place to start.
If your vocal technique needs a little brush up, or you’d like to dip your toe into the pool of your inner authentic voice, I warmly invite you to join me for the next Saturday Voice Lab: Vocal Improv & Technique February 6th. We have fun while we’re learning and growing and using our voices. Register here: https://laurahandke.com/
I’m thrilled to announce I’ve been cast in another show (that’s two castings in two back-to-back auditions – happy me!) I LOVE the concept of the Chapel Theatre Winter Play Festival: This play festival will showcase local writers and their short plays by matching them up with directors and actors to carry out their work. Playwrights will submit their short plays to be considered while local directors and actors audition to take part in the festival. Chapel Theatre Co will connect the plays with actors and directors and allow two weeks to rehearse before presenting the finished product.
Seriously, how cool is that?! I’ve been cast as Patty in Kathleen Tomko’s 15-minute play, Shine Strong the Moon, with castmate, Marychris Mass, directed by Aiyana Cunningham. Here’s the director’s play synopsis: Lonely Patty, one of the last ones still breathing in an assisted living home, reminiscences with the spirit of her dear friend and soulmate. Amidst their usual sardonic interplay they leave us feeling that if we just look up at the moon, they will be sharing it with us. I warmly invite you to check out this website where you can find out more: https://chapeltheatremilwaukie.com/2020/12/01/chapel-theatre-co-play-festival/
Please spread the love and pass this along to a friend!
Love Your Voice & Voice Your Love,
Laura
Lake Oswego’s Transformational Voice® Teacher (Transformational Voice® is a registered trademark of Transformational Voice® Training Institute, LLC, and Linda Brice.)
Students, friends and colleagues, here’s a reminder the next Saturday Morning Voice Lab: Vocal Improv & Technique is January 23rd, 10:30 – Noon. For beginners and those who want a brush up! Register here: https://laurahandke.com/
How ironic that I was preparing my first open mic in the Portland area right before COVID started hitting hard here, just under a year ago now.
Since then, my performing outlet has been Toby Loftus’ Online Karaoke Circle.
Toby’s unique blend – love of music, strong technology background, and understanding of human nature – make him the perfect person to create a safe online space for people to practice their skills. And…you don’t have to sing! Some people play instrumental solos. Some just come to the party to watch, listen and applaud. One night I tried out the voices I was working on for a radio show version of A Christmas Carol.
Please spread the love and pass this along to a friend!
Love Your Voice & Voice Your Love,
Laura
Lake Oswego’s Transformational Voice® Teacher (Transformational Voice® is a registered trademark of Transformational Voice® Training Institute, LLC, and Linda Brice.)
Here is my reality as a voice teacher, singer and speaker. I can’t speak for other voice teachers or singers, only for myself.
Singing solo in public scares me. It scares me a lot. So much so that – while I can sing in the shower, or in lessons, easily and effortlessly, sounding great – even rehearsing for an online karaoke performance can make me nervous.
As I have become more committed to my own vocal practice, with my teacher, Linda Brice, it’s become all the more clear how singing to the best of your ability means a mind/body/spirit/emotional connection.
I got away from my own vocal training for a while. I wasn’t singing enough. Who would hire a life coach who didn’t keep up her own personal coaching practice? You shouldn’t pay for a vocal coach who doesn’t consistently keep up her own vocal practice. What I’ve found since getting back to my own vocal training is remarkable.
Being post-menopausal, but still having hot flashes, my voice is lowered. Hormones dramatically impact the voice. I am probably a mezzo-soprano now. Think Bette Midler. Adele. Tori Amos.
And…Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul…who likely had spinto soprano qualities as well…at least according to Google.
In my last lesson with my teacher, Linda, she likened my voice to Aretha’s. Which was interesting, because I had just watched the movie Michael and had gotten the sheet music for Chain of Fools. The song is featured in one scene in the movie. Aretha and I happen to have similar voice types – bold, brassy, and…loud. My technique isn’t what Aretha’s was…but I’m improving and she’s become my muse.
When I even rehearse for the next online karaoke, knowing someone is going to hear this, I get nervous. I can feel my abdomen clenching. It’s Aretha, for heaven’s sake, the Queen of Soul! How can I even begin to pay honor to her and the song writers?
I’ve started to understand that I can breathe. Relax all of the muscles in my body. Let go of outcomes. And connect with the musicians who made this amazing song possible in the first place.
Please spread the love and pass this along to a friend!
Love Your Voice & Voice Your Love,
Laura
Lake Oswego’s Transformational Voice® Teacher (Transformational Voice® is a registered trademark of Transformational Voice® Training Institute, LLC, and Linda Brice.)
As this bizarre and challenging year is coming to a close, I send you and your loved ones very warmest wishes and blessings for 2021.
If you are friends with a holistic coach, actor, speaker, or burgeoning singer who would love a body/mind/spirit approach to vocal training, please pass this message along. My free 30-minute vocal consultation could be the key to begin unlocking their authentic voice.
In the meantime, do you like to cook? I hope so, because my gift to you this holiday season is recipes for my Christmas day menu. Enjoy…and feel free to sing and dance in the kitchen!
Add diced tomatoes and diced green olives with pimentos.
Top with freshly ground black pepper and perhaps chopped fresh basil.
Chicken Cordon Bleu
-6 sliced (3 halved) chicken breasts
-Melted butter
-About a half pound thinly sliced ham (I like Black Forest, or whatever’s on sale)
-About a half pound sliced cheese (I like provolone)
-An egg or two, beaten with a bit of olive oil
-Bread crumbs (I like Italian style) with a bit of paprika
Pound chicken breast pieces (cover with plastic wrap for less splatter – I use a meat hammer.) One at a time, brush the inside of each chicken piece with melted butter, add ham and cheese, and roll it up, securing with toothpicks. After all of the pieces are rolled up and secured with toothpicks, dip each in the egg mixture, and then coat with the breadcrumbs. (Yes, this can be a little tricky with the toothpicks stuck in, but you can do it!) Place in pan and bake, uncovered, at 375 F for about a half hour. Serve with bearnaise sauce (I use a packet) and Uncle Ben’s original Long Grain & Wild Rice.
Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Toss Brussel sprouts with olive oil and freshly ground salt and pepper. Roast in oven, uncovered, at 400 F for approximately 35-40 minutes.
Steamed Broccoli
Get water boiling in a sauce pan and turn down the heat. Consider putting a lemon wedge in the water before boiling. Put broccoli or broccolini pieces in a steamer tray and put in the sauce pan. Cover. Steam for around five minutes until broccoli is tender, but still bright green.
Butterscotch Pudding (Betty Crocker) with Whipped Cream
-2/3 C packed brown sugar
-2 TBSP cornstarch
-1/8 tsp salt
-2 C milk
-2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
-2 TBSP butter, softened
-1 tsp vanilla
Mix sugar, cornstarch and salt in 2-quart saucepan. Gradually stir in milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir at least half of the hot mixture gradually into egg yolks; stir into hot mixture in saucepan. Boil and stir 1 minute; remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla. Pour into dessert dishes; refrigerate.
For whipped cream (so much better homemade) just get yourself some heavy whipping cream and sugar and vanilla to your taste. Your electric mixer does all the work for you – mix until you have the consistency you want. Then put a dollop on top of your homemade pudding. Yum.
Again…sending you and yours all best blessings in 2021.
Love Your Voice & Voice Your Love,
Laura
Lake Oswego’s Transformational Voice® Teacher (Transformational Voice® is a registered trademark of Transformational Voice® Training Institute, LLC, and Linda Brice.)
Hello from Lake Oswego! It’s been a departure from the norm for me recently outside of regular voice lessons and preparing for new vocal training classes in the new year.
I’m pleased to have been asked to be a guest on CallumConnects Micro-Podcast, your daily dose of wholesome entrepreneurial inspiration.
Callum says, “Hear from many different entrepreneurs in just 5 minutes what hurdles they have faced, how they overcame them, and what their key learning is. Be inspired, subscribe, leave a comment, go and change the world!”
Rehearsals for Mask & Mirror’s radio production of A Christmas Carol have been a blast – great director and cast – and I merrily invite you to listen in (on a donation basis) beginning December 18th – details here! https://www.maskandmirror.com/
If you know of an organization or school who needs the Four Vocal Superpowers Most Pros Don’t Know in 2021, email me at [email protected]. The entire workshop can be done via Zoom. Until then, I hope you’re enjoying the holiday season as much as possible in these days of COVID-19. Do something special for yourself. Put up decorations that make you happy. Put on music and sing while you’re cooking or baking. Do the same while stretching your body or doing yoga. Weather permitting, get outside and walk in nature. Season’s Greetings.
Please spread the love and pass this along to a friend!
Love Your Voice & Voice Your Love,
Laura
Lake Oswego’s Transformational Voice® Teacher (Transformational Voice® is a registered trademark of Transformational Voice® Training Institute, LLC, and Linda Brice.)
