woman in green jacket holding a microphone

Changing the Feel of a Cover Song with Limited Instrumental Skills // Jess Baldwin

There’s no shame in not having major instrumental skills, and it definitely doesn’t have to hold you back in helping your student (or yourself!) reimagine a cover song in a style that feels more authentic. Here are a few tools you can use. Ballad-ize It If you want to ballad-ize something, Look on YouTube/iTunes for stripped down versions of a song. Search terms like “piano … Continue reading Changing the Feel of a Cover Song with Limited Instrumental Skills // Jess Baldwin

The Importance of Rhythm in Singing Modern Black American Music Styles // Alison Crockett

As voice teachers, we commonly work on how the voice sounds, feels and how to produce the sound necessary to create a beautiful tone that can be reproduced consistently without difficulty and strain. We as a community are starting to embrace teaching techniques that allow for health, well being and good sound production within modern music styles and singing practices. We are no longer afraid … Continue reading The Importance of Rhythm in Singing Modern Black American Music Styles // Alison Crockett

Is It Truly Pop, or Is It Musical Theater? // Laura Donohue

This is a blog about listening.  Specifically, this is a blog about listening very closely to vocal sounds and styles in musical theater and other commercial styles of singing.  But first I want to tell you a story about opera. There was a moment, early in my undergrad studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, that I remember very clearly.  It was a … Continue reading Is It Truly Pop, or Is It Musical Theater? // Laura Donohue

Teaching CCM Styles, Finding Your Voice, and Appropriating Styles…and Yourself // Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin

Dr. Trineice (creator of Soul Ingredients® and author of So You Want to Sing Gospel) shares some fantastic wisdom with us about the ways academia can helpfully structure programs for singers of CCM genres, how she found her own voice and helps others find theirs, and ways we can be mindful of potential appropriation. Transcript: Jessica Baldwin:Hey everybody. I am Jess Baldwin, and this is … Continue reading Teaching CCM Styles, Finding Your Voice, and Appropriating Styles…and Yourself // Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin

Love the Music? Love the People: Moving Beyond Style to the Heart and Soul of Genre // Jess Baldwin

A call to action for voice teachers and music educators on behalf of BIPOC and all singers of popular musics. Continue reading Love the Music? Love the People: Moving Beyond Style to the Heart and Soul of Genre // Jess Baldwin