» Great Singers and Songs

I train singers every day and I never cease to be amazed at the talent and creativity of my clients. The songs they write blow me away, their creative ways to practice their vocal technique and how open they remain to the creative process. My granddaughter, Shaela called me last evening to tell me I had to watch this video. She’s right – I’m fascinated! You will be too. Listen to...

A few weeks ago I had the honor of meeting on of my idols, singers Tony Bennett. To be honest I met him when he signed his autobiography for me at Barnes and Nobel. I was so in awe that I couldn’t speak – just stared like a star-struck fan. That’s a fist for me! One of the chapters in Tony Bennett’s book highlights the young vocal artists who have sung on his duet CDs. The one that surpris...

Can you feel it? Can you feel the vibrating energy of creativity? Take a moment to settle into your breathing and you’ll feel it. Part of my New Year’s celebration took me to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts where there had a short film festival. One of the films, Hyperpotamus “de Camino” by Lucas Borras of Spain blew me away. Take a look at the film below and then, what...

When I give a voice lesson, I give my clients 150% of my energy, expertise and attention. Some say they learn more from me in one lesson than they did from a year’s worth of lessons with another teacher. I’m honored to be held in such high esteem by my students – and I love them right back. Matt Luck and Emma Portner After the voice lesson it then becomes the student’s re...

Florence Henderson epitomizes celebrity, charm and grace. Yes, Florence Henderson, Mrs. Brady of the 70′s TV Show The Brady Bunch. Some of you may not be familiar with her body of work. I certainly wasn’t aware of the breadth of her work before the National Association of Teachers of Singing Gala Conference. Florence Henderson and Sally Morgan Ms. Henderson spoke to a pretty tough cr...

For the most part, I have trouble respecting ‘reality’ shows like NBC’s The Voice. After last night’s show though, I’m psyched because I saw a outcome for a really fine singer and performer. Jermaine Paul. Jermaine Paul There’s a little Blues Club on 72nd Street here in NYC where I happened in one night and was totally blown away by a singer. It takes a lot fo...

Brava! Adele!! On Adele’s website, she says, “Oh goodness!! I’m absoloutly flabbergasted! In between laughing my head off, welling up, needing to sit down and trying to maintain an open fire (which is pretty much impossible huh!?) I keep having flashbacks to Sunday night. The most incredible night of my life. Thank you to you all, I am so overwhelmed, it’s the strangest feeling. I ...

The music world is saddened by the untimely death of Whitney Houston, named ‘The Voice’ for her powerful and gorgeous singing. Over the last several years though, the voice was in great decline probably due to drug and alcohol abuse. Whitney’s voice was not only her identity but also her fame and fortune. Those of you reading this are singers in one way or another and you know yo...

They call it eating crow. That’s what I’m doing right now. The trailers I had seen for SMASH!, created by Steven Spielberg, had music that sounded over-produced and cliche. Broadway is fantasy, but the singing and acting are REAL. I objected right here on this blog to that pop sound with all the auto-tune and other pop music electronics. My bad. The show itself was amazing! I’m a...

Stephen Sondheim’s Follies is running on Broadway with a cast of fabulous performers. The ‘star’ of the show is supposed to be Bernadette Peters. That’s the way the producers planned it anyway. This show is a lesson in maintaining your vocal technique. The story is about a 30-year reunion of Follies performers when the old theater is about to be torn down and turned into a...