How singing can feel like a risk but is worth it Have you ever done that thing where you shut your eyes and let yourself fall backwards, hopefully into the arms of someone waiting (and willing) to catch you? It’s mildly terrifying, and regardless of how well you know the person standing behind you, it can still feel like an enormous risk. This feeling is similar to how it can be when you first open Read more…
An exercise in seeing and hearing how notes move up and down When my daughter was learning to read we’d sit on the couch, each with a book in our hands. She’d flip through the pages, make up stories to go with the pictures, sing songs, and often turn the whole thing upside down. I had a ringside seat, watching her move from individual sounds to words and then entire sentences, her eyes and brain Read more…
Why curiosity is an essential ingredient to becoming a musician Do not underestimate the power of curiosity. Just ask my cat. She’s too afraid to go outside without one of us standing guard, but slice open a box, unzip a suitcase, or pull open a drawer and there she is, head butting us out of the way to see what’s happening, and then settling into the space (and no matter the size), as if the Read more…
Many of the adults who come to me for singing lessons have never learnt to read music, and I can see they think this is a bad thing, just a little bit shameful, like not being able to ride a bike. I tell them I don’t expect them to be able to, because, honestly, how could they if they’ve never tried? It’s a strange logic, this idea that there’s shame in not being able to Read more…
If you’ve ever thought you don’t have a musical bone in your body or can’t sing a single note, I’m here to tell you that it is absolutely not true. We’re all primed to enjoy and make music, even if we’ve forgotten how to do it or had someone tell us we shouldn’t even try (shame on them). If you’ve sung Happy Birthday at a party or tapped your foot while listening to your favourite Read more…