Author: akintsucrooner

Singer, teacher, excitable, proactive

What Is Voice Teaching?

akintsucrooner

WHAT IS VOICE TEACHING?
One of the things I love about being a voice teacher is the investigation discovery aspect of the job.

Yes, there are important and quantitative rudiments that comprise a well crafted bel canto singer e.g. compression in relation to efficient phonation, balanced Italian vowels as connected to personal vocal fingerprint, heavy and light register range access as associated with organic tessitura and so on.

In layman’s terms, all of that jargon means the following: learning how to breathe as a singer, finding vocal power, singing with your authentic tone, and accessing a healthy vocal range.

I have found, especially in my work with my LSU vocal technician/alexander teacher, in order to uncover the discovery aspect of vocal training, it’s a meeting of the mind, body, and spirit.

Each student comes with a different set of physical, verbal, and emotional variables. Those who I have encountered who taught me the only right way in their eyes didn’t help me grow in my vocal journey.

I have taught all ages over the years from single digits to senior citizens. People’s singing journeys are a puzzle; one that I have been privileged to copilot.

The voice teacher gig is never boring. There are always new things to learn for the teacher-guide and singer.

Today I continued my work with a gifted singer; a robust and formidable tenor.

We worked through the Italian vowels and found common ground via breath, intentional release, height, expansion, and direction.

His feedback was inspiring and indicative of his thoughtfulness as a human.

Some of my favorite Patrick quotes include the following:

“My vocal sensation is often going only as well as my neck feels.”

“Distraction, singing lyrically, and being in motion helped me free up my sound.”

“Well that was scary, my sound felt honest”

So what is voice teaching in my opinion? Voice teaching with the most effective results is most often collaborative, adaptive content exploration, learning to unlearn set approaches, and a living experience of garnering our muse.

#giddyup #ilikewearingatiara #voiceteacher #bloomstaxonomyoflearning #akintsucrooner

Joanie ❤️ #singwiththeangels #promotedtoglory

akintsucrooner

My role models growing up may have not been the norm but they definitely made an impact on my neophyte Liz-bian self. People I looked up to ran the gamut from free spirited spiritual leaders on the church camp beach to strongly independent, sapphic, pagan classical singers. As I age, I continue to meet varied spirits who leave a lasting and influential impression. I count myself lucky to have sung with alto extraordinaire Joan MacPherson in the Newark Cathedral Choir. She was talented, kind, witty, out of pocket, and part of the music tribe I relate to so well. Even when I was a sub at the cathedral 20 years ago, she needlepointed me a lovely ornament. Joanie has joined the heavenly choir She will be missed. I can only hope she knows how much she meant and how much she will always be loved. #tribe #rip #singwiththeangels #HeavenlyChoir #joanie

Joan M. MacPherson Obituary

https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/34361210/joan-m.-macpherson

Joan MacPherson (nee Aslanian), 93, passed away peacefully on January 8th, 2025 at Center for Hope Hospice, Scotch Plains, NJ. Born to the late John G. Aslanian Sr, an immigrant from Armenia, and the late Jane Kaljian of Woodside, NY. Joan grew up in Jersey City, NJ graduating from Snyder High School. She met her husband, US Army Staff Sergeant and Vietnam Veteran, Frank MacPherson, while they were both working at Fort Monmouth, NJ. They returned to Jersey City after years of living abroad and around the United States stationed at various Army installations. She loved her years spent in Germany, Colorado, and Texas. All her life, Joan’s passion and talent was singing, especially opera. She performed with several groups in the US as well as overseas while an Army wife. For over a decade nearing the end of her life, Joan was a member of the professional choir of the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, NJ.

Joan is predeceased by her parents, John and Jane, husband, Frank, and brother John G. Aslanian Jr. of Cranford, NJ. She is survived by her loving sister Marilyn Calabro (Thomas) of Brooklyn, NY, niece, Lisa Contarino (Al) of Selden, NY, nephew, Thomas Calabro (Amy) of St. John’s, FL, nephew, John G. Aslanian IV (Laura) of Cranford, NJ, several great nephews, and great niece.

A private viewing will take place at Dooley Funeral Home, 218 North Ave. West, Cranford, NJ, 07016. Friends and relatives are invited to attend a mass of Christian burial at 10am on Wednesday, January 15th, 2025 at St. Michael’s Church, 252 9th St, Jersey City, NJ. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, 340 Ridge Rd, North Arlington, NJ 07031.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Center for Hope Hospice & Palliative Care, 1900 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076.

“Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies.” -Edward Bulwer-Lytton

“Mournful and yet grand is the destiny of the artist.” -Franz Liszt

O Holy Night

akintsucrooner

The first time I sang in the cathedral choir was the spring of 2003. It was the Verdi requiem. I was subbing as an alto 2. I was petrified. Marion Gayles had reached out to me about the opportunity. I listened to the beautiful soloists Sara Murphy Valerie Bernhardt Theodore Chletsos and Gustavo Ahualli in awe. Never did I think that 21 years later I would stand before a Cathedral Carol Sing crowd of 2k for 2 nights in a row and bellow O Holy Night as a solo, full Bb5 and all. I hadn’t even yet said to my mom, come on mom you know (about my gayitude that is). Somehow, it has come to pass that I have found the guts to share my muse and I am forever grateful. Thank you so much for recording Lorinda Walker!! ❤️❤️❤️ #oholynight #newarkcathedralchoir #carolsing #Dec2024

Kid Actors #122024

akintsucrooner

My friends will attest to the following: I’m extra. This truth is much clearer now that I have less fear of living out loud. All I can say is that I see heightened extra energy alive in the littles. Perhaps they inspire me however they most definitely never fail to raise me some more extraness.

So today one spirited youngster claimed that another unlikely classmate pushed them. I said “I’ll keep an eye out” however I was doubtful of the alleged crime.

Their teacher told them to get in line.

Yours truly is a last century trained teacher so my “kid shenanigan” detector is fine tuned.

As this particular child was getting in line, I literally eye witnessed them THROW themselves on the ground and begin to say “they PUSHED me”.

The kid stopped mid sentence realizing I saw them and immediately dropped their case. They gave me their biggest puppy dog eyes and an ear to ear high fructose corn syrup grin. 🤣

This 5 year old will be a good candidate for a future Judd thespian. 🎭

In other news, it’s really fun to see what the littles come up with when they experiment with conducting different movements of the nutcracker.

#elementaryteacher #musicteacher #kids