Studio Week

About Studio Class

During Studio Class, students sing a short song or a section of a longer song for me and their fellow studio-mates. They will then receive comments from other students in the studio, and I will work with them a little bit in front of the group. The most valuable part of studio class is what we learn from watching one another. Everyone is required to be ready to give comments when asked.

Don't Forget

• to arrive 5 minutes early and already very warmed up.

• to bring a copy of your music for the accompanist to use. If you are not memorized, bring an extra copy for yourself.

• to act and perform like this is a normal performance. That way the comments you receive can actually be useful.

How to Give Good Comments

Comments should be:

1. Specific - "That was good" is not a helpful comment. Be specific about what you liked or didn't like. Eg: I loved the way you used your breath support to shape the phrases musically.

2. Constructive - These comments are meant to help the student in some way. Critical comments can be very helpful, particularly when paired with advice about how to fix this issue. Eg: It seemed like your sound fell back into your throat a little bit on that high note. It helps me to think of sending my breath up through my face as I ascend.

3. "And" not "But" - When constructing a compliment cookie (positive comment, followed by critical comment, followed by positive comment), try to link these phrases with the word "and" instead of "but". But negates everything that comes before it, while and allows for their to be both positive and negative. Eg: You sing so musically and expressively, and your performance would be taken to the next level if you worked on being just as expressive with your face. Have you tried....etc.

4. Unique - Try not to repeat a comment someone else just said, unless you plan to add something new.

How to Behave on Stage

When it is your turn to sing, bring your sheet music to Scott (our accompanist) and let him know your tempo by clearly and loudly singing one phrase of your music in tempo. Then, stand in the crook of the piano so that your accompanist can see you, and look down to get into character. When you are ready to sing, look up and your accompanist will begin. Do not look at your accompanist to get them to start.

If your accompanist starts with the wrong tempo, simply come in at your exact tempo and do not waver. Your accompanist will get the message and change their tempo to yours.

If you forget something, pretend like nothing is wrong and simply come in again as soon as you can. Your accompanist may cue you with a line to help. Your job onstage is to put on a good show for the audience and set them at ease. Always prioritize this over letting us know something is wrong. Fake it til you make it!

When your performance is done, give the audience a big smile, and take a bow. A good bow means bend over, look at your feet for the amount of time it takes to say "Hippopotamus" and then stand back up. Gesture graciously to your accompanist and look at them, in order to send applause their way and thank them for playing with you. Smile at the audience, and exit the stage quickly.

It is important to do these things even if you feel the performance didn't go well. A bow is a way of thanking the audience for listening. Even if you feel you didn't do well, you still owe the audience a gracious thank you in the form of a nice bow, a gesture to the accompanist, and a smile.

If you are nervous about performing, don't hesitate to talk to me. I have lots of great ways to deal with performance anxiety.