by Rachel | Uncategorized
Oh, didn’t I tell you that it is teen pop sensation week here at Listen & Learn? :) That wasn’t my intention, but I think featuring Justin Bieber and Demi Lovato within the same week qualifies as such.
Carrie has been working on this song in voice/guitar lessons for the last couple of months, and we finally got around to recording it last night. This is her singing AND playing the guitar:
Carrie has been taking lessons with me for over two years now, and we’ve recorded quite a few songs in that time. We were talking last night about how much fun it would be to go back and listen to those older recordings, and compare them to how she sounds now.
That’s exactly why I’m so insistent about recording my students’ work — there’s no better way to gauge their progress (not to mention, make parents and grandparents extremely happy!).
by Rachel | Uncategorized
As much as I hate to admit it, these words actually came out of my mouth recently. But I have a good reason, I promise. Hear me out, okay?
I have a middle school student who has been taking piano and voice lessons from me for over two years now. This particular student is very sweet and always tries his best, but has told me on numerous occasions that honestly, he just isn’t that into playing the piano or singing.
However, his tune had changed when he came for his lesson last week. He looked at me very seriously and said:
“You know, Miss Rachel, I’ve been thinking. I really want to get more into singing, because I think I could be really good. You know, like Justin Bieber.”
I’ve never been struck by Bieber Fever, nor really seen the appeal at all, but I’m all for my students getting their inspiration anywhere they can find it. So I went with it. After sharing my excitement with my student over his new-found passion for singing, we got down to business.
One of the things we’ve been working on during his voice lessons is projection. I’m always searching for ways to help him turn up his volume, and today I knew just what to say. You guessed it:
What would Justin Bieber do?
My student answered that Justin Bieber would probably sing louder, and with more confidence. That he would smile, relax, and take bigger breaths from his diaphragm. Most of the directions I’ve been giving him for the past two years came tumbling out of his mouth, all because of this simple question.
He was a different singer for the rest of that lesson, and I’m hoping the trend continues. Thank you, Justin Bieber — not for your bubble gum pop songs, but for inspiring my student and countless other kids, I’m sure.
(Yes, I really did just thank Justin Bieber in a blog post. What is the world coming to?!)
by Rachel | Uncategorized
This is the “it” song of the moment in my studio, at least among the teenage girl crowd. I don’t mind one bit, because I am a huge Adele fan. Sharing similar tastes in music with my students is kinda fun, not to mention that it makes me seem much cooler to them ;)
Cydney has been working on this song for just a few weeks, and we decided that she should record it at her last lesson. I think it turned out very well! Take a listen:
How about that voice? Cydney is a powerhouse — I never have to worry about the piano drowning her out! Oh, and she can yodel too. I never cease to be amazed by my students.
by Rachel | Uncategorized
One of the highlights of my week is working with Tony and Patrick, two multi-talented brothers with a penchant for Billy Joel and the Beatles. Tony sings and plays the piano, and Patrick plays guitar and piano. Both brothers have been taking lessons with me for less than a year, but have proved to be extremely quick studies.
Last week we had our very first recording session, during which the boys sang and played Imagine. We actually recorded two versions — one with Tony on vocals and Patrick on piano, and the other with Tony on piano and vocals with Patrick on guitar. Below is the latter version:
Next up for Tony & Patrick? Piano Man, Strawberry Fields, Come Sail Away, and several others. I’m looking forward to lots more recordings from this duo!
by Rachel | Uncategorized
In all my years of voice lessons — beginning at the age of 12, all the way through college — I don’t remember singing any “pop” songs. My repertoire was made up of foreign language arias, art songs, and show tunes. And while I’m a lot more lenient with my own students’ repertoire choices than my teachers were with mine, I like to maintain a little bit of tradition (no pun intended).
It doesn’t get much more traditional than Fiddler on the Roof, where the song “Far From the Home I Love” comes from. Emma did a beautiful job singing this song, and even used it as an audition piece for the musical in which she was recently cast.
Though many of my students would be perfectly content singing Taylor Swift and Greyson Chance songs exclusively, I love that they humor me by balancing them out with songs that won’t be on the radio anytime soon. The best is when they end up actually enjoying those songs, which is usually the case!
