by Michelle Markwart Deveaux | Nov 7, 2017 | Business, Pedagogy, Success
Open Door Productions is a brand spankin’ new company formed by the University of Utah Department of Theater undergrad students. (Yes. That means 18 to 23-year-olds are creating things. On their own. With sets! GASP!) This company did a thing. They staged the...
by Michelle Markwart Deveaux | Apr 29, 2017 | Inspiration, Technique
Lots of lessons this week with new-to-Jazz singers. YAY! I get great joy de-mystefiing much of what those outside of the jazz world see as shiny untouchable jewels. Lots of lessons this week with new-to-Jazz singers. BOO! Here in front of me stands the reason...
by Michelle Markwart Deveaux | Mar 31, 2016 | Technique
Velum is a sexy word. Even more amazing is that if you tickle your velum, you’ll probably barf. This is why you should study your vocal anatomy. Because velum sounds sexy, and you don’t want to barf. Velum is the sexy word for soft palate. Which also sounds *kinda*...
by Michelle Markwart Deveaux | Mar 9, 2016 | Business
Because adversity means misfortune that lingers, and follows. It’s a state of continual mishaps. Consistent difficulty. Constant tragedy. Adversity is not something I can say I experience now, or truly ever have. I can. not. belittle the adversity that folks face...
by Michelle Markwart Deveaux | Feb 17, 2016 | Business, Inspiration, Success
Chocolate & Peanut Butter. Mary & Bert. Salt & Lime. Rama lamma lamma ka dinga da dinga dong. Sometimes, togetherness just makes magic. Thing singular is delightful on its own ~ but paired up with another delightful singular… Viola! And, maybe one thing...
by Michelle Markwart Deveaux | Dec 16, 2015 | Inspiration, Technique
This is my very favoritist bestest love-it-the-mostest part of learning new material. It’s my favorite part because this is the time when you inject the piece with YOU and your unique sound and personality. You’ve done the work of Inspecting and Chiseling. You finally...
by Michelle Markwart Deveaux | Dec 9, 2015 | Technique
So you’ve looked over your piece, and your minds-eye can see it on the page, even when it’s not in front of you. You know the basic details and have taken the time to make some initial connections with the music and the lyric. Refresh your memory here, if you like....
by Michelle Markwart Deveaux | Dec 2, 2015 | Technique
The work of learning new material is daunting, especially on a time crunch. How can we get from page to stage, ready for performance, with less wasted time? In the work of taking a piece of solid, non-descript, hunk of hardness to, say, The David, a sculptor moves...
by Michelle Markwart Deveaux | Nov 11, 2015 | Inspiration
How many times have I had a student say, “I must not be a singer” or “I guess I am not good enough to go to (insert big name college/city of choice here)” or “Maybe I am not cut out for this”. Gasp! So sad! So untrue! Or is it? Lotsa times, I have to agree with those...
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